Biology Learning Goals and Outcomes

Biology Knowledge and Concept Learning Goals

Aligning with the Dominican University learning goal of Knowledge of the Natural World, students in the biology program will gain an understanding of the core concepts of:

• Evolution.
• Structure and function.
• Information flow, exchange and storage.
• Pathways and transformations of energy and matter.
• Systems:  living systems are interconnected and interacting.  (This refers to such concepts as ecology, population genetics, systems biology, etc.)

These major core concepts in biology have been emphasized by a consortium of the National Science Foundation and a number of scientific societies as unifying principles for biology education in the 21st century.  They are published in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education.

Biology / Natural Science Process Learning Goals

In addition to science knowledge learning goals, we also emphasize teaching and learning around the process of science and how knowledge is generated and refined.

We will emphasize the following three learning outcomes related to our larger set of disciplinary practice and competency learning goals:

• Students will communicate scientific knowledge orally and/or through writing at different levels: novice; developing; proficient; expert.
• Students will be able to use critical thinking skills and logical reasoning.
• Students will be able to evaluate scientific data using quantitative analysis and graphical representation.