Contacting WWU Geology

Faculty/Staff

Grad. Students

Home

Current Students

Prospective Students

Visitors

Alumni

Resources

Mission

Contact

Fac/Staff Directory

Grad. Directory

Displays

Talks

Honors

About the WWU Geology Department

Mission Statement

The Geology Department at WWU is committed to excellence in both teaching and research. We believe the best way to accomplish our educational goals is to integrate active learning and research into the curriculum. For all of our students, we strive to create excitement about discovery and competence in application of the scientific method. We want to develop in all students an understanding of geological processes and their effects on the earth and society so that they will be environmentally responsible, scientifically literate citizens. We strive to produce majors with an interdisciplinary background in geology and the physical sciences who can do original research and effectively communicate the results. We foster a robust and active graduate program emphasizing independent and creative research and mastery of advanced geologic concepts.

Student Learning Objectives

Students will have mastered the essential concepts and facts of geology, and related math, physics, and chemistry.
Students will be proficient at the basic field skills of geological inquiry.
Students will be able to work with others to accomplish shared goals.
Students will be able to effectively communicate their ideas, both verbally and in written form.
Students will be critical thinkers, that is, skeptical, and will be able to rationally analyze arguments.
Students will be able to effectively utilize research technologies.
Students will understand and be able to implement the research process.

Outcomes Assessment (currently undergoing revision as of 1/2008)

The Geology Department strives to produce graduates who know essential geological concepts, facts, and skills, and who are prepared to excel in their future careers by virtue of this knowledge, as well as skills in communication and critical thinking. The following are specific measurable goals, the assessment methods we plan to use to measure the degree to which we are meeting those goals, and details of the specific implementation for each. The approach we are taking is a multifaceted one, which incorporates a variety of tools we can use to measure the job we are doing as teachers and advisers.

Desired Outcome	Assessment Method	Implementation Notes
Students will have mastered the essential concepts and facts of geology.	Alumni questionnaires will link the knowledge gained to that required for jobs and advanced degrees.	Full understanding of one’s learning may not come until one has graduated and is either in a career or pursuing an advanced degree. In order to measure competency in this way alumni surveys will be sent out to alumni who are three years past graduation. This surveying will be done approximately every two years, beginning in 2006-2007.
	Pre- and post-major confidence surveys will demonstrate student perceptions of their concept mastery through the curriculum.	A confidence survey polls a student’s perception of his or her knowledge of a topic. These surveys will be administered through an interactive website, which will allow detailed analysis of the responses. The same survey will be administered when the student declares the major, and just prior to graduation. Increase in concept mastery as a result of the geology curriculum will be demonstrated by the increase in student scores. This will begin in 2006-2007.
Students will be proficient at the basic field skills of geological inquiry.	Tracking of capstone course performance (Summer field camp -- Geol 410/411) will highlight strengths and weaknesses over time.	This assessment is ongoing: Geology 410/411 instructors regularly assess the strengths and weaknesses of the cohort and provide feedback to instructors of courses that are prerequisites for the capstone.
	Alumni questionnaires will assess field skills used in industry or advanced degrees.	This surveying will begin in 2006-2007.
Students will be able to work with others to accomplish shared goals.	Tracking of capstone course performance will shed light on this goal, as many of the tasks are performed in small groups.	This assessment is ongoing: Geology 410/411 instructors regularly assess the strengths and weaknesses of the cohort and provide feedback to instructors of courses that are prerequisites for the capstone.
	Alumni questionnaires will also provide insight into the preparedness of students for teamwork in a professional environment.	This surveying will begin in 2006-2007.
Students will be able to effectively communicate their ideas, both verbally and in written form.	Alumni and senior exit questionnaires will provide feedback on the communication skills of our graduates.	These assessors will begin in 2006-2007.
Students will be competitive in graduate school admissions.	Tracking of graduate school acceptances through senior exit and alumni questionnaires will allow us to determine our graduates’ competitiveness. Alumni tracking will provide a longer-term view.	These assessors will begin in 2006-2007.
Students will be competitive in industry.		These assessors will begin in 2006-2007.
Students will feel that they learned a wide range of useful knowledge and skills, and that their instructors were effective and efficient.	Senior exit interviews with the department chair will elicit student perceptions of the program and their experiences in it.	Exit interviews will begin Winter quarter 2006.