Integrative Science

Welcome to the Integrative Science webpage. On this page you'll find the mission of the department, departmental student learning goals, a curricular map and assessment schedule, and progress made from the most recent Program Review Action Plan (2014-2015). If you have questions about the assessment findings or questions about the department, please contact Jen Schaefer, Integrative Science Department Chair, at [email protected].

MISSION

Integrative Science students will make connections within and between two or more natural science disciplines and examine complex issues using multiple disciplinary perspectives.

In completing the major, Integrative Science students will develop the ability to effectively gather, integrate, evaluate, communicate, and responsibly use information to answer scientific questions and/or solve scientific problems.

Our graduates, therefore, will be prepared with the knowledge and skills to examine complex, multidisciplinary issues, and solve the challenging scientific problems that are presented by our complex, interconnected, and rapidly changing world.

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS

Students completing the Integrative Science Major will be able to:

Goal 1: Identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use quantitative and qualitative information to share scientifically related information.

a. Effectively identify and locate reliable resources including both qualitative and quantitative scientific information.

b. Accurately evaluate qualitative and quantitative scientific information to make informed decisions and/or conclusions.

c. Effectively and responsibly use and share scientifically related information.

Goal 2: Use oral and written communication to purposefully and effectively convey scientific information.

a. Practice the qualities associated with effective oral and written communication.

b. Use oral and written communication to effectively convey scientific information.

Goal 3: Effectively use the scientific process to evaluate methodology and original data to synthesize a conclusion based on this evaluation and the context of disciplinary theories and/or the scholarly literature.

a. Synthesize information from scholarly sources to explain or define a scientific problem.

b. Design a methodology to answer a scientific question or to test a scientific hypothesis.

c. Evaluate original data and effectively describe the results as it relates to a scientific hypothesis.

d. Draw conclusions as a logical extrapolation of the original data collected and within the context of the disciplinary theories and/or scholarly literature.

e. Critique the methodology used to collect scientific data and identify limitations and implications of the methodology.

Goal 4: Effectively synthesize concepts, scientific processes, and/or theories from at least two scientific disciplines to help understand and/or solve a scientific question or problem.

a. Explain the advantage of using multiple disciplines to understand and work toward solving complex scientific issues/problems.

b. Identify and explain the concepts, scientific processes, and/or theories from at least 2 disciplines that impact the same scientific question or problem.

c. Synthesize concepts, scientific processes, and/or theories from at least two scientific disciplines to help understand a scientific question or problem.

CURRICULAR MAP and ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

Integrativd Science Curriculum Map;  Submitted Spring 2017
	Dept/Course Number	Dept/Course Number	Dept/Course Number	Dept/Course Number
Program Learning Goals	1st integration point: ISCI 201 or ESSS 273	2nd integration point: ISCI 301 or ESSS 306 or ESSS 308 or NUTR 330 or NUTR 331 or ISCI 310	Capstone: ISCI 398 or ESSS 397 or BIOL 397 or ESSS 396 or NUTR 396	NATS/ISCI 151
Identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use quantitative and qualitative information to share scientifically related information.	B (S18)	I (F17)	A (S18)
Use oral and written communication to purposefully and effectively convey scientific information.	B (S19)	I (F18)	A (S19)
Effectively use the scientific process to evaluate methodology and original data to synthesize a conclusion based on this evaluation and the context of disciplinary theories and/or the scholarly literature.	B (S20)	I (F19)	A (S20)
Effectively synthesize concepts, scientific processes, and/or theories from at least two scientific disciplines to help understand and/or solve a scientific question or problem	B (S21)	I (F20)	A (S21)
Key 1: X is where the goal is assessed (used with Common Curriculum Learning Goals)
Key 2: I where the goal is introduced, P where it is Practiced, and A where it is assessed
Key 3: B where the beginner goal is assessed, I where the Intermediate goal is assessed and A where the advanced goal is assessed