Student Learning Outcomes
The School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Hajim) aim to prepare students to live and be leaders in an ever-changing global environment. The SAS/Hajim educational objectives provide the foundation for the core learning outcomes for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students develop these essential learnings through both curricular and co-curricular experiences, with emphasis on choice, experiential learning, and engaging opportunities and environments to promote critical and creative thinking, equity, ethics, leadership and teamwork.
Students who successfully complete undergraduate and graduate degrees will be able to demonstrate:
- Research and Scholarship
- Educational Excellence
- Intellectual Agility
- Equity and Inclusivity Mindset
- Cross-cultural Responsiveness
- Appreciation for Lifelong Learning
The College Student Learning Outcomes develop the SAS/Hajim Student Learning Outcomes through incorporating both the MSCHE Essential Skills and the College Competencies. These include demonstrated student proficiency in:
- Written Communication
- Oral Communication
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning
- Problem Solving
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Scientific Reasoning
- Technological Competency
- Information Literacy
- The Study of Values, Ethics, and Diverse Perspectives
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Intercultural and Global Fluency
- Career Design and Management
- Adaptability and Resiliency
Existing infrastructure, committees, and processes are bolstered by targeted initiatives and activities to support student learning with reflection on achievements informing the continual improvement of programs and experiences.
MSCHE Essential Skills
Descriptions
Written Communication: The development and expression of ideas in writing. Written communication involves learning to work in many genres and styles. It can involve working with many different writing technologies, and mixing texts, data, and images. (Adapted from AAC&U VALUE Rubrics)
Oral Communication: The development and expression of ideas in oral format. Oral communication is a prepared, purposeful presentation designed to increase knowledge, to foster understanding, or to promote change in the listeners' attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors. (Adapted from AAC&U VALUE Rubrics)
Scientific Reasoning: The ability of students to demonstrate an understanding of the structure of science, conceptual schemes and procedures employed in scientific investigation, types of reasoning used to reach conclusions, the procedures used to verify the validity of conclusions. (Adapted from Virginia State University, Assessment Plan)
Quantitative Reasoning: The ability to correctly use numbers and symbols, studying measurement, properties, and the relationships of quantities, or formally reasoning within abstract systems of thought to make decisions, judgments, and predictions. (Adapted from University of Virginia Competencies)
Technological Competence: The ability to use information technology as one tool for solving problems, identifying and evaluating information sources, analyzing reports and presentations; ability to use a variety of online or technology-assisted means to present work; understanding of the essentials of technology; including hardware and software, networks and systems. (Adapted from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, General Education Competencies)
Critical Analysis and Reasoning: Inquiry is a systematic process of exploring issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments. Analysis is the process of breaking complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them. (Adapted from AAC&U VALUE Rubrics)
Information Literacy: The ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information for the problem at hand. (Adapted from AAC&U VALUE Rubrics)
The Study of Values, Ethics, and Diverse Perspectives: Becoming aware of the quality and value of ideas and information, using ethical practices in all work and engaging interactions with honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. (Adapted from Cornell University learning outcome descriptions)