Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hood College:

1. Information Literacy: Acquire basic knowledge of foundational concepts that encompass all areas of biology, and develop skills to access and use scientific information.

• Recall key concepts of cell biology;
• Recall key concepts of genetics;
• Recall key concepts of animal physiology;
• Recall key concepts of plant physiology;
• Recall key concepts of evolution;
• Recall key concepts of ecology;
• Identify appropriate sources of scientific information;
• Compile information obtained from scientific sources.

2. Written Communication: Develop skills to prepare written reports that demonstrate scientific methodology and convention.

• Synthesize scientific ideas in written format;
• Utilize proper convention for scientific writing;
• Describe experimental design in written format;
• Describe experimental results of a project in written format;
• Explain conclusions of a scientific project in written format.

3. Oral Communication: Develop skills to prepare oral reports that demonstrate scientific understanding and methodology.

• Describe scientific ideas in oral format;
• Describe experimental design in oral format;
• Articulate results of a project in oral format;
• Articulate conclusions of a scientific project in oral format.

4. Quantitative Analysis: Develop skills to analyze scientific data.

• Analyze data acquired in the laboratory;
• Prepare visual diagrams depicting analyzed data.

5. Critical Reasoning: Develop skills to plan experiments and interpret scientific data.

• Outline experimental approach to answer a scientific question;
• Formulate conclusions based on data analysis.

6. Technological Capabilities: Acquire technical skills in the lab.

• Perform basic laboratory techniques
• Identify the purpose of specific laboratory techniques/equipment

Graduates earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from Hood College:

Acquire basic knowledge in environmental science, the major environmental problems facing the world, and the economic and political contexts of those problems; and develop skills to access and use scientific information:

• Recall key concepts of environmental problems;
• Recall key concepts of environmental policy;
• Recall key concepts of animal physiology;
• Recall key concepts of plant physiology;
• Recall key concepts of evolution;
• Recall key concepts of ecology;
• Identify appropriate sources of scientific information; and
• Compile information obtained from scientific sources.

Develop skills to prepare written reports that demonstrate scientific methodology and convention:

• Synthesize scientific ideas in written format;
• Utilize proper convention for scientific writing;
• Describe experimental design in written format;
• Describe experimental results of a project in written format; and
• Explain conclusions of a scientific project in written format.

Develop skills to prepare oral reports that demonstrate scientific understanding and methodology:

• Describe scientific ideas in oral format;
• Describe experimental design in oral format;
• Articulate results of a project in oral format; and
• Articulate conclusions of a scientific project in oral format.

Develop skills to analyze scientific data:

• Analyze data acquired in the lab/field;
• Analyze data acquired by geographic information systems (GIS); and
• Prepare visual diagrams depicting analyzed data.

Develop skills to plan experiments, interpret scientific data, and solve environmental problems:

• Outline experimental approach to answer a scientific question;
• Formulate conclusions based on data analysis; and
• Evaluate proposed solutions to environmental problems.

Develop technical skills in the lab and field:

• Perform basic laboratory techniques;
• Acquire data from the field;
• Acquire data using GIS instruments/databases; and
• Identify the purpose of specific techniques/equipment used in environmental science research.

Graduates earning a bachelor’s degree in sustainability studies from Hood College:

1. Understand and clearly discuss how concepts of sustainability are connected to issues of social justice, the environment, and the economy at both local, national, and global levels.
2. Evaluate complex environmental issues from multiple perspectives to illuminate optimally sustainable solutions.
3. Employ skills and analytical methods that align with the nexus approach to Sustainability Studies.
4. Explain how sustainability relates to their lives and their values, and how their actions impact issues of sustainability.
5. Demonstrate the ability to be an agent for institutional change toward greater sustainability by promoting and supporting new processes and paradigms within diverse organizations.

"The Master of Science in Environmental Biology (ENV) at Hood College is the only part-time graduate program in the region that emphasizes a field and laboratory approach to learning and promotes hands-on research opportunities. ENV courses are offered in the evenings with some supplementary field and laboratory activities on weekends to meet the needs of working professionals; we also offer some hybrid courses. The ENV degree provides a strong foundation in ecology, pollution biology, resource management and biostatistics. The program, with its wide array of electives and specialized research opportunities, provides excellent preparation for environmental professionals and educators who seek to update their knowledge and skill sets, as well as those individuals who are interested in obtaining the essential background knowledge necessary to transition into an environmental career. Students enrolled in the ENV program have the option of earning a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) certificate with the completion of 9 core credits and 9 elective credits. Hood's ENV program strives to educate its students in processes that keep our air, water, land, and their respective resources clean and sustainable. ENV students become well versed in the latest research and methods for analysis regarding environmental biology’s most pressing issues, with an emphasis on climate change. Our program values close partnerships between its students and faculty by maintaining moderate enrollment and a low student-to-faculty ratio. Our program’s ultimate goal is to have our graduates emerge with an expertise in environmental biology that will enable them to assume key positions in the public and private sectors charged with protecting our environmental future."

Graduates earning a master's degree in environmental biology from Hood College:

Problem solve and apply the scientific method to the field and literature of environmental biology through:

• Identifying gaps in available information surrounding an environmental issue;
• Designing an experiment or study to test a hypothesis or a solution to solve a problem;  
• Evaluating rigor of experimental/ study design and identify potential biases in published work;
• Evaluating if data presented, or collected and analyzed, support a hypothesis and draw appropriate conclusions;
• Expressing relevant information in various mathematical forms (e.g. equations, graphs, diagrams) with appropriate units to perform calculations/ solve problems; and
• Identifying appropriate and critique others' approach(es) for solving a problem based on relevant context and background.

Collect, analyze, interpret, and display scientific data using appropriate, current methods and software through:

• Identifying and using appropriate statistical tests;
• Analyzing data collected in the lab, field, or from publically available sources; and
• Preparing graphs, tables, and/or figures to display data/information.

Effectively communicate scientific information to diverse audiences through writing through:

• Describing background information to frame a hypothesis/scenario in writing;
• Describing methods by which a scientific experiment/study was or will be conducted in writing;
• Articulating results from own or others' project/experiment in writing;
• Articulating conclusions from own or others' project/experiment in writing;
• Synthesizing and organizing information from multiple sources in writing; and
• Using appropriate convention and citation style in scientific writing.

Effectively communicate scientific information to diverse audiences through oral presentation through:

• Describing background information to frame a hypothesis/ scenario in an oral presentation;
• Describing methods by which a scientific experiment/study was or will be conducted in an oral presentation;               
• Articulating results from own or others' project/experiment in an oral presentation;
• Articulating conclusions from own or others' project/experiment in an oral presentation;
• Synthesizing and organizing information in an oral presentation;
• Articulating scientific information clearly and effectively to an audience; and
• Facilitating discussion of environmental issues.

Demonstrate a broad knowledge of environmental biology and ecology through:

• Explaining key concepts of ecology;
• Explaining key concepts of environmental science;
• Explaining how global climate change is impacting/is predicted to have impacts on populations, environments, and ecosystems;
• Explaining basic principles of natural resource management;
• Identifying appropriate primary and secondary sources of information; and
• Describing the contributions of key classic and contemporary scientists to the fields of ecology and environmental science.

The Master of Science degree in Biomedical Science is a 33-credit program of graduate research and academic study developed for:

• Persons holding a bachelor's degree and currently employed in a biomedical or biotechnological research establishment who are seeking additional academic background as part of a career and professional growth program;
• Teachers and other professionals with interests in biomedical science who wish to obtain a graduate degree; and
• Professionals already holding advanced degrees who desire to update or extend their previous academic experiences in biomedical or biotechnological sciences. 

Graduates earning a master’s degree in biomedical science from Hood College:

Develop a comprehensive core knowledge of fundamental elements of biomedical science, and develop skills to access and use scientific information in the pursuit of answering a scientific question through:

• Recalling key concepts of protein biochemistry;
• Recalling key concepts of cell structure and function;
• Recalling key concepts of eukaryotic molecular biology;
• Recalling key concepts of bioinformatics;
• Identifying appropriate sources of scientific information;
• Compiling information obtained from scientific sources; and
• Developing an experimental design needed to answer a scientific question.

Prepare written documents that demonstrate scientific methodology and convention used to communicate complex scientific topics through:

• Synthesizing scientific ideas in written format;
• Utilizing proper convention for scientific writing;
• Describing experimental design in written format;
• Describing experimental results of a project in written format; and
• Explaining conclusions of a scientific project in written format.

Prepare oral presentations that demonstrate scientific understanding and methodology for communicating complex scientific topics through:

• Describing scientific ideas in oral format;
• Describing experimental design in oral format;
• Articulating results of a project in oral format;
• Articulating conclusions of a project in oral format; and
• Defending scientific ideas to a professional audience.

Analyze scientific data through:

• Analyzing data acquired in the lab or from a database; and
• Preparing visual diagrams depicting analyzed data.

Interpret scientific data through:

• Formulating conclusions from scientific results; and
• Proposing new ideas/hypotheses based on conclusions.

Perform and know the appropriate use of common experimental techniques in the lab through:

• Performing biomedical laboratory techniques; and
• Incorporating the use of specific laboratory techniques/equipment in an experimental design.