The specific objectives for the Natural Sciences category include the outcomes that the student should be able to:
- demonstrate the ability to apply the logical structure of scientific methodology in the laboratory setting,
- demonstrate the ability to comprehend how scientific concepts originate, are validated and refined,
- demonstrate the ability to use the specialized vocabulary needed to understand matter and energy.
For 2002 and 2003 the chemistry students in Chemistry 160 and Chemistry 161 were given the ACS a standardized chemistry exam. The data reflects the exam scores by course topic and the percentage of questions answered correctly (see the following table). Chemistry 160 is "the first semester of a comprehensive year course in Chemistry..." CHEM 160 if followed by CHEM 161. Successful completion of CHEM 161 with a "C" grade or better is a prerequisite for Organic Chemistry and is a foundation course for science majors.
The Chemistry Department is an American Chemical Society (ACS) approved program.
| Course Topic |
Chemistry 160
|
Chemistry 161
|
| Chemical Foundations |
71.6
|
1st four sections combined
55.5
|
| Dalton's Atomic Theory, The Mole |
52.3
|
| Stoichiometry |
54.0
|
| Chemical Reactions |
54.1
|
| Gases |
47.3
|
56.9
|
| Thermodynamics |
45.4
|
58.7
|
| Atomic Structure |
59.3
|
54.4
|
| Chemical Bonding |
56.2
|
| Covalent Bonding (Orbitals) |
48.3
|
| Liquids and Solids |
54.1
|
47.5
|
| Laboratory |
63.3
|
68.8
|
| Kinetics |
-
|
62.8
|
| Equilibrium |
-
|
36.6
|
| Acid-Base Chemistry |
-
|
45.2
|
| Electrochemistry |
-
|
54.5
|
| Descriptive and Nuclear Chemistry |
-
|
51.5
|
| Total |
55.7%
(49th percentile)
|
54.6%
(58th percentile)
|
The most relevant score for the assessment of General Studies is the total score which places these students at the 49th percentile for the CHEM 160 class and at the 58th percentile for CHEM 161 relative to national norms provided by the ACS.