Program: Mechanical Engineering (PhD)
Degree: Doctorate
Date: Tue Nov 17, 2009 - 1:03:31 pm
1) List your program's student learning outcomes (SLOs).
The Department of Mechanical Engineering adheres to the student learning outcomes of the Graduate Division: “In general, a student who has successfully completed the graduate degree requirements should be able to
1. Demonstrate mastery of the methodology and techniques specific to the field of study.
2. Communicate both orally and in writing at a high level of proficiency in the field of study.
3. Conduct research or produce some other form of creative work.
4. Perform in their field of study at a professional level.”
2) Where are your program's SLOs published?
Department Website URL: http://www.me.hawaii.edu/
Student Handbook. URL, if available online: Information Sheet, Flyer, or Brochure URL, if available online: UHM Catalog. Page Number: Course Syllabi. URL, if available online: Other: Other: 3) Upload your program's current curriculum map(s) as a PDF.
- File (03/16/2020)
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
SLOs 1 through 4 (see responses to Question 1).
6) State the Assessment Question(s) and/or Goal(s) of Assessment Activity
If SLOs 1 through 4 are met:
PhD level: The Department assessments are done to ensure that the Course, Qualifying, Comprehensive, Dissertation, Final Examination, and Seminar Requirements are satisfactorily achieved. The assessments for Courses is done by the Graduate Chair. Qualifying, Comprehensive, Dissertation, and Final Examination are assessed by the advisor (and the committee members). For the Seminar, the faculty in charge of the Seminar for that semester, make the assessment.
7) State the Type(s) of Evidence Gathered
7.1. Assessment at Admission Level:
Ph.D. Degree Entry Requirements: Acceptance of Ph.D. applicants is based on undergraduate and graduate performance in course work and research, TOEFL, and GRE scores, letters of reference, any program course deficiencies, and the applicant’s Statement of Objectives (description same as M.S. degree). Also, Ph.D. applicants are required to have an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
7.2. Assessment at Program Level:
PhD Level:
Course Requirement: There is a minimum GPA to maintain in course work via grade-based written and, occasionally, oral exams. Written exams in courses are used to assess mastery of subjects pertinent to a student’s area of concentration for the Ph.D. program.
Examinations: The examinations described in Sections A.2 to A.5 are used to monitor student progress. A written document is prepared by the Ph.D. students for each of the exams described in Sections A.2 to A.5. In addition, the student must make an oral defense of these documents. The exam committee members assess the quality and the level of acceptability of the students’ performances. For the PhD degree Qualifying Examination, students must write a report documenting research completed during one semester. This examination, consisting of the report and an oral defense, is used to assess if the student is capable of independent research. For the PhD degree Comprehensive Examination, students must write a report documenting research completed to the point when they complete their course work. This examination, consisting of the report and an oral defense, is used to assess students’ technical skills needed to carry out research as an independent researcher, their progress in their research, to assess the level of contribution to the field, and to evaluate students’ mastery in the fundamentals of the course works on topics related to the dissertation. The main body of work for the PhD degree is the dissertation. The doctoral dissertation is expected to be a scholarly, original contribution to knowledge resulting from independent research and should be suitable for publication. The oral Final Examination provides a final evaluation of the original contribution achieved in the research effort.
Research Requirement: Students must demonstrate a novel contribution made to their areas of concentration by writing and orally defending a dissertation documenting their work.
8) State How the Evidence was Interpreted, Evaluated, or Analyzed
PhD Level:
Course Requirement: There is a minimum GPA to maintain in course work via grade-based written and, occasionally, oral exams. Course instructors provide feedback for performance improvement through exams, reports, and projects. The student advisor monitors the students GPA and provides guidance for performance improvements.
Examinations: The examinations described in Sections A.2 to A.5 are used to evaluate student progress and performances. A written document is prepared by the Ph.D. students for each of the exams described in Sections A.2 to A.5. In addition, the student must make an oral defense of these documents. The exam committee members assess and evaluate the quality and the level of acceptability of the students’ performances and suggest improvements at various steps of the students’ graduate studies at the Qualifying, Comprehensive, and Dissertation levels.
Research Requirement: Students must demonstrate a novel contribution made to their areas of concentration by writing and orally defending a dissertation documenting their work. However, the scholarly and novel contributions are assessed, evaluated, and analyzed by the student’s committee, who provide suggestions for improvements. Students often write conference and journal papers for publications with their supervisors, which will also be used as an assessment tool.
9) State How Many Pieces of Evidence Were Collected
PhD Level:
1. Course Requirements & Performances (Assessed by Faculty Instructor)
2. Examinations (Qualifying, Comprehensive, and Dissertation with Oral Presentations; Assessed by Committee Members)
3. Conference & Journal Publications (Assessed by External Reviewers)
4. Research Requirement (Scholarly and Novel Contribution to the Area of Concentration; Assessed by Committee Members)
10) Summarize the Actual Results
PhD Level:
The number of courses offered at graduate level does not seem to be sufficient for some semesters. It is recommended to hire more faculty to remedy the problem. The PhD students write an average of two conference and/or two journal papers at the completion of their degree.
11) Briefly Describe the Distribution and Discussion of Results
Any possible modifications problems are reported to the Graduate Curriculum Committee chaired by the Graduate Chair of the Department. The committee considers recommendations for modifications and takes action. The number of courses offered at graduate level does not seem to be sufficient for some semesters. It is recommended to hire more faculty to remedy the problem.
12) Describe Conclusions and Discoveries
The number of courses offered at graduate level does not seem to be sufficient for some semesters. It is recommended to hire more faculty to remedy the problem.
13) Use of Results/Program Modifications: State How the Program Used the Results --or-- Explain Planned Use of Results
In terms of Course Requirements for the graduate students, the faculty and students noticed that for some semesters, the number of courses offered at graduate level was not sufficient as related to research work as well as graduation. The graduate committee considered the issue and recommended to the Department Chair and the Dean to hire more faculty to remedy the problem.
14) Reflect on the Assessment Process
It is recommended that the Department Graduate Students Association meet with the Department Graduate Curriculum Committee for direct feed back from the graduate students.
15) Other Important Information
N/A
16) FOR DISTANCE PROGRAMS ONLY: Explain how your program/department has adapted its assessment of student learning in the on-campus program to assess student learning in the distance education program.
N/A.
17) FOR DISTANCE PROGRAMS ONLY: Summarize the actual student learning assessment results that compare the achievement of students in the on-campus program to students in the distance education program.
N/A.