The Provost’s Commission on Learning Outcomes Assessment produced “learning goals that span multiple common expectations for all UM undergraduates, including critical thinking and research skills, written and oral communication, science and quantitative reasoning, information literacy, and technological fluency.” They are available at https://www.irpa.umd.edu/Assessment/LearningOutcomes.
The Provost’s Commission researched and formulated the following University-wide learning goals for UM students, which correspond to the essential elements of an undergraduate education as stated by Middle States Standard 12. These goals articulate the educational outcomes to which we as a University aspire for our graduates. The goals for these elements are not exhaustive, and not every student will necessarily master each goal. Finally, these goals must be understood as articulating with the goals and objectives of our General Education program and those of academic disciplines.
Critical Reasoning and Research Skills
- Goal: University of Maryland undergraduates should learn and develop critical reasoning and research skills that they can apply successfully within a wide range and intersection of disciplines inside and outside of academia.
Written and Oral Communication
- Goal: Using standard English, University of Maryland undergraduates will communicate clearly and effectively in writing and orally for different audiences and purposes.
Science and Quantitative Reasoning
- Goal: University of Maryland undergraduates should understand and be able to apply basic scientific and mathematical reasoning to their research efforts and critical analyses.
Information Literacy Skills
- Goal: University of Maryland undergraduates will learn and develop information literacy skills that they can successfully apply within a wide range and intersection of disciplines inside and outside academia.
Technology Fluency
- Goal: University of Maryland undergraduates will be able to understand basic technologies and how these relate to their specific disciplines, and will be able to apply these technologies to their research and academic efforts.
See https://www.irpa.umd.edu/Assessment/loa_overview.html for a detailed description of each learning goal.