Master of Science in Marine Sciences

Assessment Report, 2015-2016

COST, Marine Biology (Masters)

Assessment Identifiers

College / School
College of Science and Technology

Department
Marine and Environmental Sciences

Program / Major / Certificate
Master of Science in Marine Sciences

Assessment Coordinator(s)
Dionne Hoskins-Brown

Has there been a change to the Assessment Coordinator(s) since the last assessment plan?
No

Person(s) responsible for writing and/or submitting this report:
Dionne Hoskins-Brown

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Marine Sciences program at Savannah State University is to provide research, education, and outreach programs that contribute to a vital, technically qualified, intellectually thoughtful, and ethnically diverse community of individuals capable of solving problems and answering questions related to coastal and ocean ecosystem health, environmental quality, and fisheries sustainability.

Has this mission statement been revised since the last plan?
No

PSLOs

1. Ocean Literacy: Students will be able to understand the essential principles and fundamental concepts, communicate about the oceans in a meaningful way, and make informed and responsible decisions regarding the oceans and its resources.

2. Analytical and Communication Skills: Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to identify marine science questions and problems; use critical thinking, research, and analytical skills to solve them; and effectively communicate the results using research report and oral presentation formats.

3. Knowledge: Students will be able to demonstrate mastery of designated knowledge in the sciences, oceanography and marine ecology.

4. Quantitative and Analytical Tools: Students will be able to have marine sciences relevant and appropriate quantitative and analytical skills and tools.

5. Resource Policy and Management: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the need for science-driven environmental and resource management decisions and the role of governments and stakeholders in ocean, coastal and environmental policy making.

LINK TO: Assessment Report, 2015-2016 – Supporting Documents

Assessment Results (PSLOs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PSLO	Semester	Professor	Courses	Assessment Artifacts and Instruments	Target Levels	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	1. Ocean Literacy: Students will be able to understand the essential principles and fundamental concepts, communicate about the oceans in a meaningful way, and make informed and responsible decisions regarding the oceans and its resources.	Fall 2015	C. Pride	MSCI 5201 General Oceanography	Term paper and final exam - MSCI Program Rubric	100% will score Level 1; 100 will score Level 2; 80% will score Level 3; and 20% will score Level 4	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 82% scored Level 3; and 9% scored Level 4	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 5: The program will increase rigor; n/a (sample size too small).
			A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 7344 Fisheries Management	Final Paper - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 2 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 67% scored Level 4
			Pride	Thesis Proposal Defense	Defense Report Form - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 3 PARTIALLY MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 0% scored Level 4
		Spring 2016	C. Hintz	MSCI 5402 Marine Sciences Seminar	Final Presentation - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 4 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 100% scored Level 4
		Spring 2016	A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 5202 Coastal Oceanography	exam average, labs 1 & 6 - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 5 PARTIALLY MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 78% scored Level 3; and 22% scored Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	2. Analytical and Communication Skills: Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to identify marine science questions and problems; use critical thinking, research, and analytical skills to solve them; and effectively communicate the results using research report and oral presentation formats.	Spring 2016	C. Pride, D. Hoskins, C. Hintz	MSCI 7992 Thesis II	Final Thesis Draft - MSCI Program Rubric	100% will score Level 1; 100 will score Level 2; 80% will score Level 3; and 20% will score Level 4	TARGET 1 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 40% scored Level 4	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 3: The program will consider continuity of skill development between Thesis I and Thesis and refine, and will increase rigor.
			C.Hintz	MSCI 5202 Seminar	Final Presentation - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 2 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 100% scored Level 4
			A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 6560 Oceanographic Data Methods	Final Presentation - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 3 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 100% scored Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	3. Knowledge: Students will be able to demonstrate mastery of designated knowledge in the sciences, oceanography and marine ecology.	Fall 2015	T. Cox	MSCI 6324 Coastal Zone Management	Exams, state report - MSCI Program Rubric	100% will score Level 1; 100 will score Level 2; 80% will score Level 3; and 20% will score Level 4	TARGET 1 PARTIALLY MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 75% scored Level 3; and 25% scored Level 4	OVERALL: TARGET PARTIALLY MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 - 8: The program will increase rigor, examine need for skill development between levels 3 and 4, and request better access to primary literature for graduate students.
			C. Pride	MSCI 7854 Special Topics (GK12)	Oral lesson delivery - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 2 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 43% scored Level 4
			M. Curran	MSCI 5401 Tech Writing and Communications	Final Research Paper - MSCI Program Rubric		TAREGT 3 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 75% scored Level 4
			M. Curran	Thesis Defense	Defense Report Form - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 4 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 100% scored Level 4
		Spring 2016	Hoskins	Thesis Defense	Defense Report Form - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 5 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 33% scored Level 4
			T. Cox	MSCI 5402 Research Marine Sciences Seminar	Final Presentation - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 6 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 89% scored Level 3; and 22% scored Level 4
			A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 7344 Fisheries Management	Final Paper - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 7 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 67% scored Level 4
			A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 5202 Coastal Oceanography	Exam Average - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 8 PARTIALLY MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 56% scored Level 3; and 11% scored Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	4. Quantitative and Analytical Tools: Students will be able to have marine sciences relevant and appropriate quantitative and analytical skills and tools.	Spring 2016	A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 6560 Oceanographic Data Methods	Final Presentation - MSCI Program Rubric	100% will score Level 1; 100 will score Level 2; 80% will score Level 3; and 20% will score Level 4	TARGET 1 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 100% scored Level 4	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: TARGETS 1 & 2: The program will increase rigor as needed and increase early semester assignments to build skills.
Academic Engagement and Achievement		Spring 2016	D. Hoskins	MSCI 5560 Advanced Environmetrics	Final Paper - MSCI Program Rubric		TARGET 2 MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 20% scored Level 4
Academic Engagement and Achievement	5. Resource Policy and Management: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the need for science-driven environmental and resource management decisions and the role of governments and stakeholders in ocean, coastal and environmental policy making.	Spring 2016	A. Kaltenberg	MSCI 7344 Fisheries Management	Final Paper - MSCI Program Rubric	100% will score Level 1; 100 will score Level 2; 80% will score Level 3; and 20% will score Level 4	TARGET MET 100% scored Level 1; 100% scored Level 2; 100% scored Level 3; and 100% scored Level 4	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will increase rigor.

Assessment Results (POs)

SSU Strategic Plan Goal	PO Goal	Enabling Strategies	Measures	Targets	Results and Analysis of Results	Actions in Response to Results
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Number of graduate students making adequate progress - The total number of full-time students matriculating within the M.S. program in Marine Science making progress toward a two year completion	Have thesis advisors assigned by the program deadline Monitor enrollment and course offerings	# of students with advisors by the deadline #of students enrolled that are on track for them to meet graduation in <2.5 years	100% 80%	TARGET NOT MET N=25 100% N=28 Yes=26.9% Need to review progression rate.	OVERALL: TARGET NOT MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will continue our existing handbook protocol and use spring review and faculty meetings to identify and discuss lag periods in student progress. New enabling strategies needed.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Number of graduate students pursuing approved research projects/ Number of graduate students who have been approved to begin their research via a positive thesis proposal defense report form	Have students begin research project development in their first semester	% of graduate students who have been approved to begin their research via a positive thesis proposal defense report form in their second semester	100% of first year students	TARGET MET N=21 Y=40% N=60%	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will increase writing opportunities and meet with faculty advisors to address obstacles.
Academic Engagement and Achievement	Number of graduate students completing competitive research projects for their degree / Number of graduate students who have been approved to publish their thesis via a positive thesis defense report form	Discuss thesis proposal process with new applicants	% of graduate students who have been approved to publish their thesis via a positive thesis defense report form	100% approval of students who defend final theses each academic year	TARGET MET N=21 Y=28.6% N=71.4%	OVERALL: TARGET MET Description of the expected use of results that will be addressed in the 2016-2017 academic year: The program will increase writing training via a writing retreat for students.