Departmental Assessment Update - Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Report

Department: Food Science and Human Nutrition
Program: ANSC
Level: Undergraduate

1. List in detail your undergraduate Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for each degree/certificate offered.

Students will:

1. Know and understand the basic principles of applied animal biology.
2. Understand the fundamental tenets of animal science disciplines including genetics, growth and development, meat science and muscle biology, comparative nutrition, feeds and feeding, anatomy, basic and environmental physiology, endocrinology and reproduction.
3. Apply this knowledge to the basic understanding and application of appropriate husbandry best practices to animals of economic value.
4. Read and be able to analyze scientific or technical papers critically.
5. Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
6. Develop problem-solving skills for lifetime learning.
7. Understand the importance of good citizenship in both personal and professional habits.
8. Understand the scientific method and design of experiments to test hypotheses and as such experience the process of discovery.
9. Explore the relationship between applied animal biology and society, including contemporary ethical issues raised by animal research, the use of animals by humans, and the role and impact of animal agriculture and applied animal biology on the planet.

2. Where are these SLOs published (e.g., department web page)?

3. Explain how your SLOs map onto your curriculum, i.e., how does your curriculum produce the specific SLOs in your students?

1. Applied animal biology starts with a strong background in the basic sciences including chemistry, physics and biology. The basic knowledge obtained is applied to animal biology throughout the courses offered in the department.
2. Fundamental tenets of animal science disciplines provide the basic structure of the curriculum, with courses offered focusing on the different disciplinary areas.
3. Knowledge is applied to husbandry practices in the livestock and aquaculture production courses, and in the internship course.
4. In the senior year students are expected to read and analyze scientific papers (reproduction, meat science and muscle biology, etc.) and technical papers (production courses and internship).
5. Written communication is emphasized in writing intensive courses offered at each level of the curriculum. Oral communication is learned throughout the curriculum in many courses which require oral presentations or other oral work. At this time the major does not have an “O” focus course, but is planning to develop such a course from the “Journal Clubs” which are currently offered in ANSC 499.
6. Problem solving is learned throughout the curriculum. An example is the internship class, in which students develop their own learning objectives, actions to attain them, time-lines, and assessment.
7. Good citizenship is learned in the general education core (global and multicultural perspectives), in the internship experience, and in extracurricular and service activities (e.g. Pre Vet Club). The ability to build effective interpersonal relationships is learned in many team products throughout the curriculum.
8. The scientific method is learned in the required statistics class and through reading articles in peer-reviewed journals. The process of discovery is experienced in the many laboratories and projects within the curriculum.
9. Issues and ethics are introduced at the 200 level through the course Humans, Animals and Agriculture, and explored in greater depth in the E focus course on Humans, Food and Animals: Ethics, Issues and Controversies.

4. What specific methodologies were used to collect data? In developing your response, consider the following questions:

5. How were the assessment data/results used to inform decisions concerning the curriculum and administration of the program?

6. Has the program developed learning outcomes? Please indicate yes or no.

7. Has the program published learning outcomes? Please indicate yes or no.

8. If so, please indicate how the program has published learning outcomes.

9. What evidence is used to determine achievement of student learning outcomes?

10. Who interprets the evidence?

11. What is the process of interpreting the evidence?

12. Indicate the date of last program review.