University of South Carolina Columbia
Act 629 - Summary Reports on Institutional Effectiveness
Fiscal Year 2001 - 2002

Biological Sciences, BS, MS, PhD

As the result of a recent assessment iin the Bachelor of Science program, it was discovered that the current second year 300 level curriculum still has, according to student and internal review, both considerable overlap and some weaknesses, particularly in the area of developmental biology. The curriculum committee is undergoing a complete review of the content of the common 300 level core and is modifying the content to include additional instruction in cell and development and to remove duplications in the general area of molecular genetics. It was also discovered that assessment of student skills, particularly in the areas of physics and statistics, indicates that students are not leaving the school adequately prepared in these areas. The curriculum committee has begun to consider making physics a required course for graduation in the biological sciences. The committee has also recommended and the Department passed the requirement that all students must meet the new College of Science and Mathematics requirement that all students take at least one course in statistics. The Department has established a standardized outline for a course syllabus to be provided to all students. It includes time and place of office hours along with other essential course information needed for the students to better assess the content and goals of the course, the expectations the instructor has of the students, and the method(s) of assessment that are to be used in assigning grades.

As the result of a recent assessment at the graduate level, it became clear that students in these programs are lacking in analytical reasoning skills, particularly concerning assessment of primary literature. Furthermore, they also need additional skill development in public presentation of research materials. Through student feedback it became clear that there was a lack of uniformity and coordination in instruction in the core curriculum that resulted in both student confusion as to specific course goals and duplication and or omission of key topics. Assessment results indicate that some specific adjustments in the programs may be helpful. Specifically, the following steps are being taken to improve the programs, in part as a response to students' comments and other feedback.

1. All second year and above students are now required to present in at least one graduate seminar each year in order to increase both analytical and oral presentation skills.
2. A reconvening of the graduate core curriculum committee and the instructors from both the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Department of Biological Sciences who share the teaching responsibilities of the courses occurred. the two faculties have isolated the primary source of the problems identified by the students and made adjustments to both the course content and instructors as necessary.