The assessment process begins with the University, College, and Departmental mission statements, and includes the development of program educational objectives and desired student learning outcomes, collection of student data and work samples, preparation of detailed assessment documents, evaluation of the collected data, and a feedback loop that produces continuous improvement.

Departmental Mission

Our primary mission is to provide a high quality undergraduate education leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in either Agriculture, Geosciences, or Natural Resources Management. These programs are distinctive, in that students are exposed to all principal disciplines within each program and have the flexibility to choose a students are exposed to all principal discipline that interests them. Students in each program have opportunities to obtain field experience, prepare, for postgraduate studies, and engage in scholarly and professional activities

AGN Department Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Departmental graduates will understand foundational principles and technology in major/concentration.
  2. Departmental graduates will effectively apply knowledge and skills necessary to function in chosen field.
  3. Departmental graduates will apply experiential learning and critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  4. Departmental graduates will demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.

AGN Concentration Student Learning Outcomes

Agriculture

Agricultural Science

  1. Demonstrate proficient ability in written and oral communication.
  2. Experiential opportunities in classroom management teaching.
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of common agricultural concepts needed for teaching agriculture courses in high school.
  4. Ability to manage and interact with potential students in a professional atmosphere.

Agricultural Business

  1. Analyze agriculture and business data.
  2. Demonstrate proficient ability in written and oral communications.
  3. Understand global issues facing agriculture & gain practical job experience.

Agricultural Engineering Technology

  1. Enhance quality undergraduate education by demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, in agriculture engineering technology.
  2. Demonstrate critical thinking ability and problem solving to enhance the undergraduate education in agriculture engineering technology
  3. Demonstrate critical thinking ability and problem solving to enhance the undergraduate education in agricultural engineering technology through distance learning opportunities
  4. Frame a problem’s current and future importance to the regional and global community.

Animal Science

  1. Student will demonstrate the ability to control and handle animals.
  2. Student will properly identify equipment needed for animal procedures and use it safely and proficiently.
  3. Student will demonstrate competency and critical thinking in the areas of animal nutrition, reproduction, genetics, health, anatomy, and physiology.
  4. Student will develop and improve soft skills needed to attain the career of their choice through experiential learning.

Land Surveying and Geomatics Certification

  1. Students will demonstrate critical thinking ability and problem solving in land surveying and geomatics.
  2. Frame a problem’s current and future importance to land surveying and geomatics.

Plant and Soil Science

  1. Students will demonstrate experiential learning and professional experience through internships in the plant and soil science profession.
  2. Students will demonstrate understanding of acceptable scientific practices in the plant and soil science industry.
  3. Students will effectively apply knowledge of scientific writing skills and develop research strategies through preparation of documents in plant and soil sciences.
Geosciences

Geographic Information Systems Certification Program

  1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in obtaining data for use in GIS systems.
  2. Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of database design and management.
  3. Students will demonstrate proficiency in spatial analysis and modeling in GIS systems.
  4. Students will demonstrate proficiency in interpretation of spatial data.
  5. Students will demonstrate proficiency in design of graphic output from geospatial information.

Geology

  1. Student will demonstrate a basic understanding of geological concepts.
  2. Effectively communicate both orally and in written form. Conducts a narrative or inquiry concerning a topic in geology in writing and at least one other medium (e.g. oral) to general and specific audiences.
  3. Investigates an important problem in geology. Students will produce an investigative work that draws on specific theories and methods from at least two core geology courses.

Geography

  1. Geography majors will know locations of major cultural and physical features across the earth.
  2. Geography majors will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of topics related to the field of geography, including climatology, political geography, economic geography, remote sensing or GIS.
  3. Geography majors will develop detailed knowledge of Tennessee, North America or Europe and be proficient in analyzing any region’s geography.
  4. Geography majors will develop skills in advanced geospatial information gathering and analysis techniques.

Meteorology

  1. Students will be proficient in taking and interpreting weather observation, including taking temperature, precipitation, pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, visibility and sky conditions.
  2. Students will develop skills in analyzing weather maps, charts, satellite imagery, and radar imagery, and students will develop skill in analyzing micro-scale, meso-scale, and macro-scale weather and climate patterns and processes.
  3. Students will master the concepts of energy/radiation budget, weather systems, hydrologic cycle, general circulation of the atmosphere, and atmospheric chemistry makeup.
  4. Students will gain experience in forecasting at least a week in advance.
  5. Students will develop skills in using mathematical and statistical techniques for analyzing meteorological and climatological data and in communicating the results of their analysis to the scientific community and general public.
Natural Resources Management

Environmental Management

  1. Students will apply professional knowledge through internships or independent research projects.
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of current environmental management principles and practices by interviewing industry professionals.
  3. Students will demonstrate functional understanding of foundational principles of natural resources management including ecology and management of soil, water, forest, wildlife, energy, and other resources.
  4. Students will demonstrate ability to clearly & concisely communicate NRM issues to peers, clients, and general public, including variety of audiences & settings, orally and in writing.
  5. Students will apply critical and creating thinking and writing skills to effectively carry out scientific method in the natural resources arena.

Park Administration

  1. Students will have functional understanding of foundational principles of natural resources management including ecology and management of soil, water, forest, wildlife, energy, and other resources.
  2. Students will demonstrate ability to clearly & concisely communicate NRM issues to peers, clients, and general public, including variety of audiences & settings, orally and in writing.
  3. Students will demonstrate ability to analyze geographic, quantitative, and qualitative data.
  4. Students will collaborate to design creative approaches to solve park management problems.

Soil and Water Conservation

  1. Students will apply professional knowledge through internships or independent research projects.
  2. Students will demonstrate knowledge of current soil and water conservation principles and practices by interviewing industry professionals.
  3. Students will demonstrate understanding of acceptable scientific practices in soil and water conservation.
  4. Students will apply field skills appropriate for a soil and water conservation professional.
  5. Students will demonstrate understanding of foundational principles of natural resources management including ecology and management of soil, water, forest, wildlife, energy, and other resources.
  6. Students will demonstrate ability to clearly and concisely communicate NRM issues to peers, clients, and general public, including variety of audiences & settings, orally and in writing.
  7. Students will apply critical and creating thinking and thinking skills to effectively carry out scientific method in the natural resources arena.

Wildlife and Fisheries Biology

  1. Students will exhibit functional understanding and command of foundational and emerging principles of natural resources management in their major and specific areas of study including ecology and management of soil, water, forest, wildlife, energy, and other resources.
  2. Students will show information literacy by evaluating existing information and identifying and applying pertinent information, and will apply critical and creative thinking skills to effectively carry out scientific method in the natural resources arena.
  3. Students will collaborate to design creative approaches to solve natural resource issues & demonstrate ability to clearly & concisely communicate NRM issues to peers, clients, and general public, including variety of audiences & settings, orally and in writing.
MSANR
  1. Students are able to apply appropriate statistical and quantitative techniques to solve problems.
  2. Students effectively communicate information from research projects.
  3. Students will identify current issues emerging in industry.
  4. Students develop research strategies to help fulfill the university mission of scholarly actives and research.