Program: Tropical Plant & Soil Sci (MS)
Degree: Master's
Date: Tue Nov 10, 2009 - 9:56:43 am
1) List your program's student learning outcomes (SLOs).
MS in Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences:
1. A diagnostic exam is required for all students. The exam is used to determine appropriate course work for the student.
2. Plan A students must pass a final oral exam and complete original research culminating in a thesis.
3. Plan B students complete an original project culminating in a Plan B paper.
4. Plan C students take a final exam to complete the program.
5. Master's degree students are not required to pass any comprehensive examinations.
2) Where are your program's SLOs published?
Department Website URL: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/tpss/
Student Handbook. URL, if available online: Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online: UHM Catalog. Page Number: 356-357 Course Syllabi. URL, if available online: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/tpss/courselist.html Other: Other: 3) Upload your program's current curriculum map(s) as a PDF.
4) What percentage of courses have the course SLOs explicitly stated on the course syllabus, department website, or other publicly available document? (Check one)
0% 1-50% 51-80%
81-99% 100%5) State the SLO(s) that was Assessed, Targeted, or Studied
All SLO are assessed
6) State the Assessment Question(s) and/or Goal(s) of Assessment Activity
All are assessed
7) State the Type(s) of Evidence Gathered
Course requirements are established by the student’s graduate committee. Following a preliminary conference with the program advisor and/or committee, and with the approval of the Graduate Program Chairman, the student will be officially advanced to candidacy. After admission to candidacy and the completion of most courses in the candidate’s program, the candidate must take oral comprehensive examinations covering all subjects considered relevant to the concentration. A seminar on the proposed research topic may be also required by the student’s permanent committee. A final oral examination, which includes a public defense of the dissertation, is required of all candidates. This process maps the student course outcomes to the program’s outcomes.
8) State How the Evidence was Interpreted, Evaluated, or Analyzed
Written course examinations and final grades are used to monitor student progress for courses.
The TPSS students graduate committee meets regularly with their students to evaluate their progress.
9) State How Many Pieces of Evidence Were Collected
Course requirements are established by the student’s graduate committee. Following a preliminary conference with the program advisor and/or committee, and with the approval of the Graduate Program Chairman, the student will be officially advanced to candidacy. After admission to candidacy and the completion of most courses in the candidate’s program, the candidate must take oral comprehensive examinations covering all subjects considered relevant to the concentration. A seminar on the proposed research topic may be also required by the student’s permanent committee. A final oral examination, which includes a public defense of the dissertation, is required of all candidates. This process maps the student course outcomes to the program’s outcomes.
10) Summarize the Actual Results
11) Briefly Describe the Distribution and Discussion of Results
The results are assembled by the student graduate chairman and a copy is placed in the student file for Graduate Chairman's review.
12) Describe Conclusions and Discoveries
Majority of students are meeting the graduate program SLOs
13) Use of Results/Program Modifications: State How the Program Used the Results --or-- Explain Planned Use of Results
At the yearly full TPSS graduate faculty meeting, the Graduate Chairman presents a summary report and highlights areas of concern in student performance and program changes are recommended. The major item this year was settling on the MS Plan C entrance requirement and outcome expectations.
The program attempt to provide the student with flexibility in keeping with the diversity of student admitted to the program from different disciplines. The flexibility is given in selecting a course of student that ensure the overall program expectations and outcomes are met.