The Middle States Commission on Higher Education accredits Universities and Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region. Middle States has recently begun employing Learning Outcomes and Assessments, (LOA), which comprise the basic goals which guide us, as a faculty, as we strive continually to improve our efforts in education. We have an ongoing assessment of our undergraduate major, our graduate programs, and of our minors.

Our LOA:

Bachelors - Students will demonstrate competence in the design and execution of research in Geology, and in the standard media of professional scientific communications (including writing theses, and giving both oral and poster presentations). Students will also demonstrate both competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geological subject material, as well as an in-depth knowledge of a specific area of Geology in the context of active scientific research.

Masters - Students will make significant scholarly contributions to science, and will demonstrate knowledge of their content area to an appropriate depth and breadth. We will also assess the successful placement of Masters students in appropriate jobs. Finally, our students will demonstrate, during their Masters studies, a commitment to education and community outreach activities.

Doctorate - Students will make significant scholarly contributions to science, and will demonstrate deep knowledge of their content area to an appropriate breadth. We will also assess the successful placement of our Doctoral students in appropriate jobs. Finally, our students will demonstrate, during their Doctoral studies, a commitment to education and community outreach activities.

Minors – Students will demonstrate competent written communications skills consistent with the general standards of natural sciences, and will demonstrate competent knowledge of a broad cross-section of Geology subject material. Students will also demonstrate competence in library research.

Further information on the efforts of our Campus to evaluate our educational programs, and to fulfill the requirements of the Middle States Accreditation Review, can be found at http://www.ms07.umd.edu.