Name of Academic Department: Civil Engineering

Degree(s) or Program(s) covered by this report: MS Environmental Engineering

Date Submitted: June 22, 2006

Submitted by (Departmental Assessment Representative): Jerry Lin

For each outcome identified in your IE Plan, describe the assessments used to gather data, summarize the results (data gathered), describe how the results have been reviewed, and describe actions (changes or improvements) planned or accomplished to improve student learning or program effectiveness:

Outcome 1 - Student learning

State the outcome:

For the non-thesis option students: ability to pass the comprehensive examination in three subjects in Environmental Topics after 39 credit hours of coursework.

Assessment(s) conducted:

Three close-book comprehensive exams were conducted in the fall semester and spring semester, and in summer II session. Each comprehensive exam will test a minimum of three engineering design subjects from a course list consisting of air pollution, water quality and treatment, environmental hydraulics and hydrology, engineering statistics and project management. Students are required to pass all three subjects in order to graduate.

Actual results (data gathered):

During the FY05-06, there are 16 students registered in Fall 05 and 9 students registered in Spring 06 in the Master of Science Program in Environmental Engineering. Five students in this degree program took and passed the comprehensive exam during the long semesters.  The passing rate is 100 %.

How review of results was conducted:

The review was conducted by the program coordinator in the degree program using the statistics of the comprehensive exams.

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

The current plan seems working well, except that we need more faculty members to strengthen the degree program and offer more environmental courses in the Department

Outcome 2 - Student learning

State the outcome:

For the thesis option students: ability to formulate and draft a master thesis and pass the oral defense in an environmental research area in addition to 30 hours of credit hours of coursework.

Assessment(s) conducted:

Students are required to perform independent research in an environmental topic and draft a master thesis based on the research performed. The contents of the thesis must include Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results and Discussion, and Conclusions and Recommendations. The student must perform a technical presentation and defend for his/her thesis work. 

Actual results (data gathered):

During FY 05-06, there is one (1) thesis student in the degree program. The student is expected to defend for the thesis in Summer 2006.

How review of results was conducted:

The review of results was conducted by the MS Candidates’ advising committee which is comprised of 3-4 faculty members from the College of Engineering. The committee has a chair person who is supervise the students’ research work, and the committee members help the supervisor to evaluate the student’s independent study ability and performance.

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

We are attempting to secure the resources to hire more environmental faculty and encouraging the existing faculty to perform funded research to support thesis students in the degree program.

Outcome 3 - Student learning

State the outcome:

Successfully pass

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

Outcome 4 (optional)

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement:

Outcome 5 (optional)

State the outcome:

Assessment(s) conducted:

Actual results (data gathered):

How review of results was conducted:

Actions planned or accomplished for improvement

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