Program: Tropical Plant & Soil Sci (PhD)
Degree: Doctorate
Date: Tue Nov 10, 2009 - 10:54:15 am
1) List your program's student learning outcomes (SLOs).
1. A diagnostic exam is required for all students. The exam is used to determine appropriate course work for the student.
2. Students take oral comprehensive examinations covering all subjects relevant to the concentration.
3. Students complete original research, culminating in a dissertation.
4. A final oral exam, which includes a public dissertation defense, is required.
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: 357 Course Syllabi. URL, if available online: 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
The work of the graduate student is assessed at each step of the process noted above to insure satisfactory progress in meeting program expectations and information regarding needed program changes is referred to and discussed by the graduate faculty.
6) State the Assessment Question(s) and/or Goal(s) of Assessment Activity
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.
7) State the Type(s) of Evidence Gathered
Written course examinations and final grades are used to monitor student progress for courses. A student pursuing a PhD is required to pass a comprehensive breadth examination before being admitted to candidacy. Oral presentations are required in the seminar course (TPSS 667) required of all students.
8) State How the Evidence was Interpreted, Evaluated, or Analyzed
The evidence is evaluated by the student's thesis advisor and the graduate chairman
9) State How Many Pieces of Evidence Were Collected
10) Summarize the Actual Results
11) Briefly Describe the Distribution and Discussion of Results
The TPSS students graduate committee meets regularly with their students to evaluate their progress.
The results of the assessment are collected by the student's graduate advisor and a copy place in the students academic folder for the graduate chairman.
12) Describe Conclusions and Discoveries
13) Use of Results/Program Modifications: State How the Program Used the Results --or-- Explain Planned Use of Results
The results are used to determine if additional course work is required and to set goals for the next semester for their thesis project.