The Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering seeks to accomplish its goals within the St. Ambrose stated mission. The St. Ambrose mission is to stress excellence in teaching and learning in the liberal arts environment, to encourage research and public service, and to enable its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically in order to enrich their own lives and the lives of others.

The Department strives to provide a nurturing environment to all its students with close student-faculty interaction to develop the student's knowledge and abilities of problem-formulating, problem-solving, and experimental measurements and designs in physics and engineering. In addition, the Department seeks to produce graduates with sufficient knowledge of physics and mathematical and experimental skills so that they are successful in the pursuit of their graduate education, they can perform competently in industrial environment and can adapt to the changing work conditions, they can teach competently in secondary education, and they can successfully complete their engineering education at other institutions after completion of pre-engineering study at St. Ambrose.

1: To provide the student with elementary knowledge of subject matter, problem-formulating and problem-solving abilities and skills, and laboratory measurement and analysis skills on the elementary level of physics so that the student is prepared to go on to a physics or engineering program.

2: To provide the student with theoretical knowledge of mechanics, electromagnetic theory, optics, thermodynamics, electronics, and modern physics, and to develop the student's abilities in analytical and computational mathematical techniques, and problem-formulating and problem-solving abilities.

3: To develop the student's ability in the design, fabrication of devices, and execution of advanced laboratory experiments in classical and modern physics.

4. To develop the student's abilities in oral and written communications.

5. To develop the student's ability in accessing reference materials.

6. To develop the student's ethical and social responsibilities.

3. Method of assessment of each objective for physics, engineering physics, and pre-engineering majors

Objective 1: To provide the student with elementary knowledge of subject matter •••

Physics 251, 253 and 254 are designed to provide all physics and engineering majors with the basic training in the subject matter and basic mathematical and experimental skills for physics, engineering physics and pre-engineering majors for their programs.

Engineering 101 and 202 are beginning courses designed for students majoring in engineering physics or pre-engineering. Engr. 101 introduces the student with the basic training of engineering drawing. Engr. 202 trains the student in the use of the physical principles and mathematical techniques in dealing with realistic problems in mechanics.

Outcome assessment:

1. Homework assignments, and laboratory reports evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 251, 253, 254, and Engr. 101, 202.

2. Examinations created and evaluated by instructors: Phys. 251, 253, 254, and Engr. 101, 202.

3. Treatment of issues of Science, Technology and Society: Phys. 251, 253, 254.

Objective 2: To provide the student with the intermediate and advanced level of theoretical knowledge in mechanics, electromagnetic theory, optics, thermodynamics, electronics, and modern physics, and to develop the student's abilities in analytical and computational mathematical techniques, and problem-formulating and problem-solving abilities.

All courses discussed here are intermediate or advanced level physics and engineering courses demanding the knowledge of algebra, calculus, and/or ordinary and partial differential equations, and linear algebra. They all require as a prerequisite one or more courses in the introductory sequence physics courses: Phys. 215, 253, and 254 course. With the exception of electronics, all other courses are theory courses. These courses all emphasize abilities in problem-formulating and -solving using advanced mathematical techniques, both analytical and numerical. These courses have aspects of written communication in homework assignments written examinations, and some have oral presentations for projects or research projects. In particular, WI-317 emphasizes written communication.

Outcome assessment:

1. Examinations created and evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 304, 309, 312, WI-317, 321, and 403; and Engr. 302, 303, 306, 310, 312 (same as Phys. 321), and 320 (Phys. 304).

2. Homework assignments evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 304, 309, 312, WI-317, 321, and 403; and Engr. 302, 303, 306, 310, 312 (Phys. 321), and 320 (Phys. 304).

3. Term papers or projects evaluated by the instructor: Engr. 101, and 310.

4. Projects evaluated by several members of the Department and outside observers: Phys. 403.

5. Papers evaluated for the University writing competency requirement evaluated by several members of the Department: Phys. WI-317.

6. Shorter oral presentations on analytic and numerical techniques for selected homework assignments evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 304, 306, 309, 312, 317, 321, and 403; Engr. 310.

7. Formal oral presentation of research projects or group projects evaluated by the several members of the department: Phys. 403.

8. Ability to assess reference material evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 306, 321, WI-317, and 403; Engr. 310, and 312.

Objective 3: To develop the student's ability in the design, fabrication of devices, and execution of advanced laboratory experiments in classical and modern physics.

Outcome assessment:

1. Laboratory reports or project reports evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 306, 325, 326, and 329; Engr. 341.

2. Short oral presentations of design, fabrication and execution of experiments evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 306, 325, 326; Engr. 341.

3. Formal oral presentation of research projects or group projects evaluated by several members of the department and outside observers: Phys. 329.

4. Ability to assess reference materials evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 306, and 329.

Objective 4. To develop the student's abilities in oral and written communications.

All courses have aspects of oral and written communication, especially those laboratory courses or courses with laboratories. The assessment of the student's abilities in oral and written communications has been incorporated in the assessment of each individual course.

Outcome assessment:

1. Laboratory reports or project reports evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 251, 253, 254, 306, 325, 326, 329; Engr. 341.

2. Short oral presentations of selected homework assignments evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 304, 306, 309, 312, 317, 321, 403, 306, 325, 326, and 329.

3. Papers evaluated for the University writing competency requirement evaluated by several members of the Physics Department: Phys. WI-317.

4. Formal oral presentation of research projects or group projects evaluated by the several members of the department: Phys. 329, 403.

Objective 5: To develop the student's ability in accessing reference materials.

The advanced physics courses Phys. WI-317, 329 and 403 require the student to develop ability in assessing reference materials for concepts, theories, designs, and analytical and numerical techniques for course assignments, papers and research projects.

Outcome assessment:

1. Ability to locate reference materials evaluated by the instructor: Phys. WI-317, 329, 403.

2. Ability to understand and use the referenced materials evaluated by the instructor: Phys. WI-317, 329, 403.

Objective 6: To develop the student's ethical and social responsibilities.

All laboratory courses emphasize honesty in data acquisition, analysis and reporting, and some selected courses emphasize a scientist's responsibilities to the society

Outcome assessment:

1. Responsible behavior in laboratory data acquisition, analysis and reporting evaluated by the instructor: all physics and engineering laboratory courses.

2. Treatment of issues on science, technology and society evaluated by the instructor: Phys. 251, 253, 254, WI-317.

4. Documentation of Student Learning in the Major

 

The Department will keep the following files for documentation concerning the student learning related to the departmental objectives:

(a) A portfolio file for each physics, engineering physics, physics education, and pre-engineering major containing the following indicators related to the student's learning:

(1) the student's transcripts with the grades earned,

(2) (i) for physics majors only, copies of papers or projects and evaluations from Phys. WI-317, Phys. 403, and Phys. 329,

(ii) for engineering physics majors only, copies of papers from Phys. WI-317, and laboratory reports of Phys. 306,

(iii) for physics education major only, copies of papers from Phys. WI-317,

(3) placement information on graduate school or employment, and

(4) records of an exit interview conducted by departmental members,

(b) A file of the results of alumni surveys conducted by the Office of Assessment.

These records will be safely stored in a Departmental file cabinet assessable by all members of the Physics Department.

Rationale for Selecting these Indicators

The transcript of a student is a record show a student's performance over a period of time. It will probably give the most accurate account of the intellectual growth of the student, and it is probably the best way to see how a student has developed over the course of his undergraduate years at St. Ambrose.

The courses Phys. WI-317, projects for Phys. 403 and Phys. 329, and laboratory reports of Phys 306 are courses that are most crucial for the perspective majors in the Department. These courses involve most widely a student's previous understanding of all previous courses in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and experimental skills. Their records will reflect most accurately the overall growth of the student.

Placement information concerning graduate school or employment will reflect the relevance of the physics curriculum and how St. Ambrose physics graduate will compare with the graduates of other schools.

Exit interviews provide a feedback mechanism from students to the Department with the wisdom accumulated by students over several years. They will tell the department how the students feel about the curriculum and other important aspects of learning in Physics Department.

 

Alumni survey will indicate the overall strength, weakness and relevance of the programs in industries and graduate school.

5. How the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Engineering intends to use Assessment Information to Improve Education

During the year prior to the next departmental program review, the faculty members of the Physics Department, in conjunction with some current students, will review the portfolio records and discuss the strength and weakness of the physics programs. All necessary changes resulted from the review will be incorporated into the next program review in the following year.

6. Assessing the Departmental Assessment Plan

The members of the Physics Department and the staff of the Office of Assessment of the University will periodically review the assessment plan of the Department and devise and implement any necessary changes.

7. Assessment of Courses for General Education

The department offers courses to satisfy contribution to general education. These courses differ widely in the depth of presentation of the material presented, the mathematical background assumed and the subject matter covered. Most courses aim to improve the laboratory skills of students, all involve some form of problem solving and learning of factual material.

The following courses in the Department of Physics, Engineering and Astronomy have been approved for general education:

Physics 110 Sound and Light

Physics 160 Concepts in Electronics

Physics 203 College Physics I

Physics 251 General Physics I.

In addition members of the department teach the following Natural Science courses approved for general education:

Natural Science 105 Physical Science

Natural Science 202 Earth Science

Natural Science 201 Astronomy.

All courses teach the student knowledge, problem solving skills, and laboratory measurement techniques in physics. These courses also teach the student how to apply the basic principles of physics to solve problems in everyday life and in technology. Furthermore, some courses (for example, Natural Science 105, Physics 251, 253) also deal with contemporary issues, such as safety issues around the household, acid rain, nuclear wastes, future energy sources, conservation of energy in home heating, etc. All laboratory courses require laboratory reports, and Natural Science 105 requires a term paper on scientific topics of current interest, where the student is trained in the skills of communication in presenting scientific data and facts. We therefore believe that the courses offered by the department satisfy the goals for general education. The goals for general education in the Natural and Mathematical Sciences as approved by Educational Policies are:

1. To familiarize students with the methods, goals and limitations of science;

2. To communicate scientific concepts and facts that explain the functioning of the natural world;

3. To apply scientific principles to contemporary issues in order to develop scientifically literate citizens; and

4. To provide practice in the basic skills of communication, logical thinking and computation.