Biological Sciences Learning Outcomes

The expected learning outcomes for students graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Biological Sciences include:

1. Process of Science: Scientific Thinking and Information Literacy
   1. Explain how science generates knowledge of the natural world, and locate, interpret, and evaluate scientific information.
   2. Apply science process skills to address a research question in a course-based or independent research experience, which includes being able to: pose testable questions and hypotheses to address gaps in knowledge, plan, evaluate, and implement scientific investigations, and 
      interpret, evaluate, and draw conclusions from data to make evidence-based arguments about the natural world.
   3. Recognize the important roles that scientific models and simulations of many different types (conceptual, mathematical, physical, etc.) play in predicting and communicating biological phenomena, making inferences, and solving problems.
2. Interdisciplinary and Communicative Nature of Science
   1. Connect scientific knowledge by integrating concepts across multiple fields of biology (e.g., cell and molecular biology, ecology and evolution, anatomy, physiology) and other STEM disciplines (e.g., chemistry, physics) in order to generate interdisciplinary solutions to real-world problems.
   2. Communicate ideas, data, and findings clearly and accurately with others to enable productive teamwork among people of diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives, which includes being able to:
      1. Provide and respond to constructive feedback to improve individual and team-based work while reflecting on your learning, performance, and achievements.
      2. Critically analyze ethical issues in the conduct of science while considering the potential impacts of outside influences (historical, cultural, political, technological, etc.) on how science is practiced.