Program Objectives & Outcomes

Mission of Geology & Physics

Geology & Physics is an engaged learning community advancing education and knowledge, enhancing civic and cultural awareness, and fostering partnerships through comprehensive outreach programs. Our students learn by doing through hands-on experience in the laboratory and field, applied technical writing and presentation skill development, and professional growth opportunities. We prepare our graduates to live wisely in a diverse and global community, and to succeed in postgraduate academic programs or meet the demands of the 21^st Century workplace.

Program Objectives and Outcomes

Over the past 10 years, the faculty members of USI Geology & Physics have been committed to improving curriculum, increasing experiential learning, and identifying best practices in teaching through rigorous assessment and review of our programs. In addition, faculty members have identified five overarching program objectives for students graduating with a degree from Geology & Physics. The goal is for a graduating student from our programs to achieve these objectives within 5 years of graduating with their degree. Validation of meeting these objectives is conducted through alumni surveys and detailed communications among faculty members and alumni.  In addition to program objectives, each degree program has a unique vision and list of learning outcomes.

Geology & Physics Program Objectives

Within 4 to 5 years of students graduating with a degree from Geology & Physics at USI, an alumnus should have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Find and evaluate data, models, hypotheses, and conclusions published in publicly available scientific literature. Apply knowledge and techniques from chemistry, biology, geology, physics, mathematics, and computing to help solve scientific problems.
2. Conduct an independent scientific investigations.
3. Make cogent presentations of scientific data, observations, interpretations, and conclusions in written and oral formats.
4. Be aware of scientific issues that affect society at large. Collaborate with others, including multidisciplinary groups, to solve scientific problems, and to recognize ethical issues in each respective profession.
5. Understand the need for, and develop the abilities to engage in, lifelong learning.

Program Vision & Learning Outcomes

While at USI, students in each degree program will learn unique knowledge and skills related to their respective degree program.  Thus, the vision and learning outcomes are unique to each degree offered in Geology & Physics.  Below please find vision and student learning outcomes for the BS/BA-Biophysics, BS-Environmental Science, BS/BA-Geology, and BS/BA-Physics degree programs at USI.

Biophysics Degree Program Vision

Preparing our biophysics graduates with diverse career opportunities through student centered learning and student-faculty research using a mixture of traditional, current, and integrative pedagogical techniques informed by on-going education research.

Biophysics Degree Program (BS/BA) Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand how the scientific method is applied in the natural and physical sciences.
2. Be able to apply knowledge and techniques from biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics to solve problems in biophysics.
3. Be able to identify problems for study, conduct independent studies, and be productive members of collaborative teams.
4. Knowledge and understanding of core concepts in biophysics, including:
   • Mastery of the fundamental principles and applications of classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics along with the associated necessary mathematical skills in differential equations, analysis, and linear algebra.
   • Demonstrate proficiency in basic lab skills, including understanding and using modern instrumentation and computers.
   • Apply scientific methodology to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze a wide variety of physical phenomena.
   • Mastered knowledge in the basic biological sciences.
5. Be able to effectively communicate results of their work to other scientists and the public in both oral and written form.
6. Know and adhere to high professional and ethical standards of scientific work.
7. Understand the need to continue learning new concepts and skills throughout life to remain competent and responsible in the conduct of professional and personal activities.

Environmental Science Degree Program Vision

Provide a hands-on and engaged learning environment that prepares our graduates for environmental careers and intellectual growth in a diverse global community.

Environmental Science Degree Program (BS) Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand how the scientific method is applied to environmental science.
2. Be able to identify problems for study, conduct independent studies, and be productive members of collaborative teams.
3. Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of core concepts in environmental science, including:
   • Interactions of the biosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere.
   • Recognition that environmental issues are multidisciplinary in nature, demanding natural, physical, and social science perspectives and concepts.
   • Comprehend the importance of sustainability to ecosystems, human populations, and the global environment.
   • Understand short and long-term environmental problems across local, regional and global scales, and the critical reasoning necessary for their resolution.
4. Have a basic set of skills that can be applied to research and employment as an environmental scientist, including:
   • Use modern technology to record, illustrate, and present published data, models, hypotheses, and conclusions.
   • Interpret topographic maps and other spatial data unique to the environmental sciences.
   • Apply existing field and laboratory procedures, or devise new ones, to acquire original data, and use appropriate means (e.g., statistics) to analyze research data.
5. Be able to effectively communicate results of their work to other scientists and the public in both oral and written form.
6. Know and adhere to high professional and ethical standards of work as an environmental scientist.
7. Understand the need to continue learning new concepts and skills throughout life to remain competent and responsible in the conduct of professional and personal activities.

Geology Degree Program Vision

Inspiring our geology graduates to be life-long learners in a diverse global community and prepare them to pursue a geoscience career through innovative and hands-on engagement in the classroom, laboratory, and field. 

Geology Degree Program (BS/BA) Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand how the scientific method is applied in the geological sciences.
2. Apply knowledge and techniques from allied fields, including chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, and computing, to solve geological problems.
3. Be able to identify problems for study, conduct independent studies, and be productive members of collaborative teams.
4. Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of core concepts in the geological sciences, including:
   • Earth’s internal structure and composition, and origin of tectonic and surface features in light of plate tectonic processes.
   • Common minerals and rocks, their attributes, how they are classified, and conditions under which they form.
   • Interactions of the atmosphere and hydrosphere with the solid Earth, including how surface processes produce landforms.
   • History of life on Earth, and biological effects on the Earth over time.
   • The magnitude of geologic time and the standard geologic time scale.
5. Have a basic set of skills that can be applied in geological research and employment, including:
   • Using modern technology to locate, record, illustrate, and present published data, models, hypotheses, and conclusions.
   • Reading and interpreting topographic and geological maps and other data displays unique to geology such as geological cross sections, seismic records, and geophysical logs.
   • Applying existing field and laboratory procedures, or devising new ones, to acquire original data, and using appropriate means (e.g., statistics) to analyze research data.
6. Be able to effectively communicate results of their work to geologists and the public in both oral and written form.
7. Understand public issues in the geological sciences and be ready and able to contribute to their resolution.
8. Know and adhere to high professional and ethical standards of geological work.
9. Understand the need to continue learning new concepts and skills throughout life to remain competent and responsible in the conduct of professional and personal activities.

Physics Degree Program Vision

Impart in our students the principles, motivations, and comprehension to prepare them for careers in physics and related fields, for physics teaching careers, and for intellectual growth in a diverse global community.

Physics Degree Program (BS/BA) Student Learning Outcomes

1. Understand how the scientific method is applied in the physical sciences.
2. Be able to apply knowledge and techniques from physics to solve problems in the other physical sciences.
3. Be able to identify problems for study, conduct independent studies, and be productive members of collaborative teams.
4. Knowledge and understanding of core concepts in physics, including:
   • Classical mechanics and electromagnetism, thermodynamics and statistical physics, principles of waves and optics, and quantum mechanics.
   • Setting up experiments, collecting and analyzing data, identifying sources of uncertainty, and interpreting their results in terms of the fundamental principles and concepts of physics.
   • Understand essential aspects of a problem, formulate a strategy for solution utilizing mathematical and computational methods, make appropriate approximations, and evaluate the correctness of their solution.
5. Effectively communicate results of his or her work to physicists and the public in both oral and written form.
6. Understand public issues in the sciences and be ready and able to contribute to their resolution.
7. Know and adhere to high professional and ethical standards of scientific work.
8. Understand the need to continue learning new concepts and skills throughout life to remain competent and responsible in the conduct of professional and personal activities.