Submitted Fall, 2004
-- Upon completing a course required for a Chemistry degree, students will have developed the ability to critically evaluate and solve problems through the application of appropriate chemistry principles
The learning objectives associated with Department Learning Goal #1 were measured in two ways:
Standardized national exams (Direct Measure category 1. a. i.) produced by the American Chemical Society (ACS). Participants were all students in the following courses, each of which has an associated subject-specific ACS Exam.
| Learning Objective Subject Area |
Course(s) |
Associated ACS Standardized Exam |
| General Chemistry |
- Fall CHEM 160 - 1st−Semester General Chemistry
Spring CHEM 161 - 2nd−Semester General Chemistry
|
- ACS 1st−Term General Chemistry Exam
- ACS General Chemistry Exam (2−semester content)
|
| Organic Chemistry |
- CHEM 361 - 2nd-Semester Organic Chemistry
|
- ACS Organic Chemistry Exam (2-semester content)
|
| Analytical Chemistry |
- CHEM 301 - Techniques of Chemical Analysis
- CHEM 475 - Instrumental Analysis
|
- ACS Analytical Chem. Exam
- ACS Instrumental Analysis Exam
|
| Physical Chemistry |
- CHEM 480 - 1st-Semester Physical Chemistry
- CHEM 481 - 2nd-Semester Physical Chemistry
|
- ACS Thermodynamics Exam
- ACS Dynamics and Quantum Chemistry Exams
|
Direct measure 1. a. ii. - local final exams - were used for assessing academic achievement in CHEM 145 (Introductory Chemistry) and 150 (Introduction to Organic & Biochemistry). Participants were all students in these courses. Instructors divided their final exam questions into sections corresponding to material covered in the course. While individual exam questions may vary slightly from year-to-year, the types of exam sections and relative weighting will remain consistent.
- Standardized national exams -- student exam scores will average at or above the 50th percentile (the national average)
- CHEM 145, 150 Exams -- The average score on each exam section for each course will be no lower than 70%. If this benchmark is not met in three successive years, the format and delivery of the course will be reviewed and modified as appropriate.
Learning Objective
Subject Area |
Courses |
ACS Exam Average(percentile) |
Meets Criterion? |
| General Chemistry |
CHEM 160
CHEM 161 |
51.6
54.6 |
yes
yes |
| Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 361 |
77 |
yes |
| Analytical Chemistry |
CHEM 301
CHEM 475 |
61
course not offered |
yes
n/a |
| Physical Chemistry |
CHEM 480
CHEM 481 (dynamics)
CHEM 481 (quantum) |
55
course not offered |
yes
n/a |
All courses met the benchmark criterion. This included CHEM 160 and 480, courses that failed to meet the benchmark criterion last year. Future standardized exam results from all of the above courses will be monitored. Three successive years of failing to meet the benchmark criterion will trigger a more detailed review.
| CHEM 145 Exam Section |
Exam Section Average Score (%) |
CHEM 150 Exam Section |
Exam Section Average Score (%) |
| Atomic Theory |
71 |
Molecular Structure |
73 |
| Elements, Atoms, Ions |
75 |
Functional Groups |
73 |
| Stoichiometry |
72 |
Molecular Properties |
73 |
| Bonding |
63* |
Chemical Reactions |
73 |
| Intermolecular Forces |
68* |
Biochemistry |
73 |
| States of Matter |
70 |
|
|
| *did not meet benchmark criterion |
Scores from two content areas in CHEM 145 failed to meet the benchmark criterion. These results correlated with anecdotal laboratory evidence that students were weakest in the bonding and intermolecular forces material. Future exam results will be monitored. Two more successive years of failing to meet the benchmark criterion will trigger a more detailed review.