DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL ENGINEERING AND SCIENCES
B.S. Geological Engineering
B.S. Geology
B.S. Geophysics
M.S. Geological Engineering
M.S. Geology
M.S. Geophysics
Ph.D Geology
Ph.D. Geological Engineering.
UNIVERSITY GOAL STATEMENT
Disciplinary Knowledge and Skills
At the core of MTU's intended outcomes is learning in the students' major discipline. The specific essential knowledge and skills that students acquire for successful careers in the discipline are identified by the disciplinary faculty.
Breadth of Understanding and Skills for Life-Long Learning
The faculty as a whole share in a wider community of interest concerning students' understanding of the contexts of their work, and their development of skills for continued learning. It is increasingly important for our graduates to be prepared to work effectively with others and to develop and apply science and technology in ways that will be constructive within economic, social, cultural and environmental contexts on scales that range from local to global. With the globalization of the world economy and the accelerating rate of scientific and technological growth, our graduates will be able to meet demands of the future only if they can support their own continued learning.
Acquisition of Values and Attitudes Consistent with the Tradition of Scholarship
All members of the University community share in the concern that our graduates acquire values and attitudes consistent with the central traditions of scholarship and higher education. We must ensure that our graduates value and respect knowledge and learning in their own right, the role of information and reason in decision making, and the value of diversity of opinion and perspective for a healthy society, and the special responsibilities that accrue to them as educated persons.
DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
The Department of Geological Engineering and Sciences intends to provide
the best possible education for undergraduate students by promoting a
holistic problem solving approach. Courses will span the spectrum of
geological engineering and sciences. The undergraduate curriculum will
help students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to prosper as
geological engineers, geologists, or geophysicists in a competitive,
environmentally conscious global economy.
The Department of Geological Engineering and Sciences intends to provide the best possible education for graduate students by promoting a interdisciplinary approach to creative problem-solving. Graduate students will be encouraged to utilize quantitative skills traditionally used in other disciplines to solve increasingly complex earth systems¹ problems. This interdisciplinary approach will give our MS and Ph.D. students the skills necessary to successfully compete in an environmentally conscious global economy.
DEPARTMENT INTENDED OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES - BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
1. Students completing the Baccalaureate Program in Geological Engineering, Geology, and Geophysics will have a fundamental background in the geological core and skills areas. The core areas include physical geology, mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and geophysics. The demonstrated skills include identification of minerals and rocks and geologic map interpretation.
2. Baccalaureate graduates will have advanced background in their specific discipline (geological engineering, geology, or geophysics).
3. Baccalaureate graduates will have demonstrated the ability to communicate technical and professional material in written form.
DEPARTMENT INTENDED OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES - MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREES
1. MS graduate students should be able to execute a complete research project, including its written and oral communication.
2. MS graduate students should understand the broad context and relevance of their major research area, and have the supporting knowledge/skills needed to apply that research.
3. The MS student should be ready at graduation for a career in the geological profession.
DEPARTMENT INTENDED OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVE - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREES
1. Ph.D. students should be able to carry out an advanced and original
research project, including its written and oral communication, that
synthesizes knowledge from different scientific disciplines.
2. Ph.D. students should be experienced research proposal writers.
3. Ph.D. students should forge a productive career in their area of specialization.
DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA- BACCALAUREATE DEGREES
Intended Outcome/Objective 1.
Students completing the Baccalaureate Program in Geological Engineering, Geology, and Geophysics will have a fundamental background in the geological core and skills areas. The core areas include physical geology, mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy, structural geology, and geophysics. The demonstrated skills include identification of minerals and rocks and geologic map interpretation.
Assessment Criteria
Direct Measure
1A. Comprehensive exam testing knowledge in the core areas with specific multiple choice questions from each of the core areas.
1B. A skills exam where the student is expected to identify 10 minerals, 10 rocks and construct and interpret geologic maps.
Indirect Measure
1C. An active student survey with specific questions about learning of fundamental background in geological core areas. The survey will include specific questions for each of the various core areas and its subparts that focus on self evaluation of knowledge and skills (depth, breadth, weaknesses, etc.).
Intended Outcome/Objective 2.
Baccalaureate graduates will have advanced background in their specific discipline (geological engineering, geology, or geophysics).
Assessment Criteria
Direct Measure
2A. A comprehensive discipline specific advanced exam. A separate exam will be given for each curriculum with specific questions for each of the various advanced subspecialties within that curriculum.
Indirect Measures
2B. The Department Chair will do an exit interview with every graduating senior. For each student the Chair will complete during the interview a standardized set of questions focused on advanced learning provided by the curriculum.
2C. An alumni survey within 5 years of graduation. The survey will include specific questions for each of the various subspecialties of each curriculum that focus on self evaluation of preparation provided by the curriculum.
Intended Outcome/Objective 3.
Baccalaureate graduates will have demonstrated the ability to communicate technical and professional material in written form.
Assessment Criteria
Direct Measure
3A. Technical reading and writing exam consisting of students reading a technical paper and then writing a 2 page summary of the major points. The exam will be scored for specific traits by a faculty jury of no less than three.
Indirect Measure
3B. An alumni survey within 5 years of graduation. The survey will include specific questions about preparation in written communication.
DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA - MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Intended Outcome/Objective 1.
MS graduate students should be able to execute a complete research project, including its written and oral communication.
Assessment criteria
Direct Measure
1A. The quality of research and its oral presentation will be evaluated during the MS defense examination by a committee consisting of both departmental and non-departmental graduate faculty using a standardized questionnaire where faculty rank the above traits numerically.
Indirect Measure
1B. The number of publications and oral presentations resulting from MS theses will be monitored.
Intended Outcome/Objective 2.
MS graduate students should understand the broad context and relevance of their major research area, and have the supporting skills needed to apply that research.
Assessment criteria
Direct Measure
2A. The breadth of the students understanding will be assessed during the oral examination portion of the MS defense using a discipline specific questions asked by the examination committee.
2B. The thesis examiners will be asked to assess, using a short written form, the degree of extramural departmental effort.
Indirect Measure
2C. The number and variety of courses taken both within and outside the department by graduate students will be monitored.
Intended Outcome/Objective 3.
The MS students should be ready at graduation for a career in the geological profession.
Indirect Measure
3A. The success rate of students seeking employment or advance studies will be monitored by surveying new graduates.
3B. Alumni will be surveyed 5 years after graduation measure their progress within the profession.
DEPARTMENT ASSESSMENT CRITERIA - DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
Intended Outcome/Objective 1.
PH.D. students should be able to carry out an advanced and original research project, including its written and oral communication, that synthesizes knowledge from different scientific disciplines.
Assessment Criteria
Direct Measure
1A. The quality of research , its breadth, and its oral presentation will be evaluated during the Ph.D. dissertation defense by a committee consisting of department and non-department graduate faculty, as well as faculty/researchers from other universities or research organizations using a standardized form..
Indirect Measure
1B. The number of written publications and oral presentations resulting from Ph.D. dissertations will be monitored.
Intended Outcome/Objective 2.
Ph.D. students should be experienced research proposal writers.
Assessment Criteria
Direct Measure
2A. The quality of research proposals defended as part of the Ph.D. qualification examination will be assessed.
Indirect Measure
2B. The number of research proposals written, submitted, and funded will be compiled for each Ph.D. student.
Intended Outcome/Objective 3.
Ph.D. students should forge a productive career in their area of specialization.
Assessment Criteria
Indirect Measure
3A. A record of placement will be kept, based on survey immediately after graduation.
3B. Bibliographic sources such as Scientific Citation Index will be monitored for each Ph.D. student at 5 year intervals after their graduation.
3C. A survey of alumni will be carried out after 5 years.
LINKAGE OF DEPARTMENT INTENDED OUTCOME/OBJECTIVE AND UNIVERSITY GOALS
The Department's Intended Outcome/Objectives 1 and 2 for the Baccalaureate programs access knowledge and skills which are at the core of MTU's learning outcomes. Intended Outcome/Objectives 3 is a important component for life-long learning and professional development.
The Department¹s Intended Outcome/Objectives 1 and 2 for both the MS and Ph.D. programs access disciplinary knowledge and skills, breath of understanding, and the use of interdisciplinary approaches which are at the core of MTU¹s learning outcomes. Intended Outcome/Objectives 3 provide the basis for life-long learning and professional development.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND ACCESS
Issues involving equity, diversity, and access will be carefully considered in all assessment activities.
FEEDBACK AND CONTINUOUS CURRICULUM IMPROVEMENT
Baccalaureate Degrees
The department Curriculum and Instruction and Graduate Committees will provide an annual report to the faculty on Assessment of Student Learning. The report will include tabulated results of assessment criteria. This report will be the basis for department faculty review and evaluation of curriculum goals, needed changes and improvements in the curriculum.
Changes and improvements to the curriculum resulting from the department's assessment efforts will be communicated to all of our undergraduate students by electronic mail, to our graduate students through a meeting with the graduate students. and to alumni in our established alumni newsletter.
APPROVAL AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
The department faculty approved the assessment plan. One member of the faculty will serve as the Department's Assessment Coordinator. For Baccalaureate assessment, the Assessment Coordinator will oversee development and continuous improvement of the examinations, selection of a technical paper, and development of questions for the active student survey, exit interview, and alumni survey. For Graduate assessment, the Assessment Coordinator will oversee development of questions for examination committees. ALL ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS WILL BE APPROVED BY THE FACULTY ONCE ASSEMBLED BY THE ASSESSMENT COORDINATOR.
The Assessment Coordinator will prepare a statistical summary of the assessment results for distribution to the Curriculum and Instruction and Graduate Committees. The committees may make recommendations on changes to the assessment program itself and recommendations on changes to the respective curriculum.
DATA COLLECTION
Baccalaureate Degrees
Assessment data will be collected from all active majors, graduating majors, and alumni as specified below. The comprehensive and skills exams (1A and 1B) will be administered during the summer of the junior year in GE350 (required for all undergraduate majors). The discipline specific advanced exams (2A) will be administered in the senior year in several different as all majors are not required to take a single course. The technical reading and writing exam (3A) will be administered during the spring of the junior year in GE306 (required for all undergraduate majors). The exit interviews (2B) will be conducted by the department chair at any time within the last quarter before graduation. The active student survey (1B) will be administered during the summer of the junior year in GE350. The alumni survey (2C, 3B) will be distributed to all appropriate alumni for which addresses are available. once every 3 years.
Graduate Degrees
Assessment data will be collected from all graduate students and alumni. Data for Masters students will be collected during their oral examination and thesis defense(1A, 2A, 2B). A summary of courses taken (2C), publications, and oral presentations (1B) will be compiled yearly. Data from Ph.D. students will be collected during their qualifying exam (2A) and during the defense of their dissertation (1A). The number of written publications (1B), oral presentations (1B), and proposals submitted (2B) will be tabulated yearly. The Science Citation Index of Ph.D. graduates will be compiled every 5 years. The alumni survey (3B-MS, 3C-Ph.D.) will be distributed to all alumni having graduate since 1990.
IMPLEMENTATION
Baccalaureate Degrees
The department's assessment plan requires (1) development of a comprehensive exam testing knowledge in core areas; (2) development of a skills exam; (3) development of discipline specific advanced exams; (4) design of a technical reading and writing exam with specific traits identified for assessment; (5) development of question and rating levels for the exit interview; (6) development of an active student survey; (7) development of an alumni survey. All assessment instruments will be approved by the entire department faculty before being administered.
The department's assessment program will be phased in over a period of three years. During the 1996-97 academic year, a department ad-hoc committee will assemble the questions for the comprehensive and skills exams (1A and 1B) from all faculty. The exams will be administered in GE350 during the summer of 1997. A department ad-hoc committee will prepare questions and ratings for the exit interviews (2B). The exit interviews will begin in the spring quarter of 1997. Each department curriculum specific subcommittee of the Curriculum and Instruction Committee will begin preparation of the advanced exams (2A) during the 1996-97 academic year for administering by the spring of the 97-98 academic year. During the 97-98 academic year a department ad-hoc committee will select a technical paper (3A) and identify specific traits to be assessed and the process for juried review. This exam will be administered in the spring quarter of 1998. The active student survey (1C) will be assembled by an ad-hoc committed during the 97-98 academic year for administering during the summer of 1999. The alumni survey (2C and 3B) will be assembled by an ad-hoc committed during the 97-98 academic year for distribution during the winter of 1998-99. During the 1997-98 the Curriculum and Instruction Committee will provide its first report to the faculty on the results of assessment data.
Graduate Degrees
The Department¹s graduate student assessment plan requires the development of a short form to be completed by the MS and Ph.D. examination committee to assess the quality and breadth of research, bibliography breadth, the degree of extramural department effort. An alumni survey form will also be developed.
The Department¹s graduate assessment program will be phased in over a three-year period. During the 1996-97 academic year, the Department¹s Assessment Officer will oversee the development of forms to evaluate the MS oral examination, the quality of the thesis, and the oral presentation of the thesis. Implementation of these forms will begin Spring Quarter 1997. Also during the 1996-97 academic year, the assessment forms to evaluate the quality of Ph.D. theses, the quality of proposed research to include breadth of knowledge will be developed under the supervision of the Assessment Officer. Use of these forms will be implemented as soon as they are approved by the Department. Development of an alumni survey form to assess employment success rate and to measure progress within the profession will be developed during the 1998-99 academic year by the Department¹s Assessment Officer in consultation with the faculty.
COSTS
The department's assessment plan is designed to be cost effective over the
long term. Significant faculty time is required during the first three
years of implementation. The department will absorb the cost of
questionnaires and surveys. Time needed for assessment will be distributed
to relevant faculty and staff.