Master of Natural Science Assessment and Evaluation Plan

This assessment and evaluation plan is for both the Thesis and the Non-Thesis options of the MNS.

MNS Outcomes

• Breadth: Students will develop a sound working knowledge in a major scientific discipline.
• Depth: Students will develop mastery of advanced topics in a scientific discipline or sub-discipline.
• Communication: Students will effectively communicate orally and/or in writing their knowledge of their specific disciplinary area.
• Research: Students will conduct research (laboratory and/or scientific literature) and develop skills of analysis and integration of ideas.

Measures

The student’s Program of Study is reviewed and approved by the student’s committee chair and the MNS faculty administrator after ascertaining that the selected course-work provides a range of knowledge in the student’s scientific discipline. This breadth of knowledge will further be tested and evaluated in the final oral examination.

The student’s Program of Study will be reviewed and approved by the student’s committee chair and the MNS faculty administrator after ascertaining that the student’s course-work provides mastery of advanced topics in the student’s scientific discipline. This depth of knowledge will further be tested and evaluated in the final oral examination.

The final oral exam will evaluate the student communication skills. If the Thesis Option is pursued, the quality of the writing in the discipline will be evaluated by the examining committee. The MNS Committee prepares the rubric for this evaluation.

The student provides his/her committee chair with information of research carried out during the course of study.

The MNS faculty administrator compiles statistics for evaluation. The MNS Faculty Committee evaluates annual statistics, communicates findings to departments and posts them on the program web page.

College of Science Assessment Instrument for the MNS at the Time of the MNS Final Exam