Program Learning Outcomes
Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology
Our curriculum is designed to educate our majors in a variety of important microbiological disciplines, as well as to promote and develop skills and competencies that have enduring value beyond the classroom. These include:
- Molecular Microbiology: the physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of microorganisms, including such topics as structure, function, diversity, metabolism, and the genetics of metabolic regulation;
- Microbial Pathogenesis: the immune response and disease-causing microorganisms, including aspects of the humoral, cell-mediated and non-specific immune responses, as well as the molecular basis for pathogenesis;
- Environmental Microbiology: the taxonomic, ecological, and genetic relationships among microorganisms, including such topics as nutrient cycling, microbial diversity, and the biotechnological application of microorganisms to solve environmental problems;
- Scientific Method: hypothesis generation and testing, including the development of theoretical and practical skills in the design and execution of experiments; and
- Scientific Communication: the development and execution of oral and writing skills necessary for effective communication of experimental results, the ability to think critically regarding a discipline topic, and the conveyance of scientific principles to audiences of both scientists and non-scientists.
Specialized Knowledge
Students graduating with an A.B. in Microbiology will be able to:
- define/explain within multiple microbiology disciplines the core theories and practices;
- describe/explain the processes used by microorganisms for their replication, survival, and interaction with their environment, hosts, and host populations;
- explain the theoretical basis of the tools, technologies and methods common to microbiology; and
- demonstrate practical skills in the use of tools, technologies and methods common to microbiology, and apply the scientific method and hypothesis testing in the design and execution of experiments.
In addition, in upper level courses, students will be able to:
- evaluate and respond to a complex question or challenge, using perspectives and scholarship drawn from microbiology and from cognate and non-cognate fields;
- construct a summative project or paper that draws on current research, scholarship and/or techniques in microbiology.
Intellectual Skills – Communication Fluency:
- Within the framework of specialized knowledge developed in our courses, our students will communicate science as assessed by their ability to:
- utilize microbiological concepts to summarize, analyze, and synthesize scientific and microbiology-related literature,
- describe methodological information,
- apply microbiological concepts and basic research findings through description, interpretation, and analysis,
- articulate conclusions and implications of research, and
- communicate with both specialist and non-specialist audiences using genres commonly used in microbiology.
Bachelor of Science in Microbiology
Applied Learning:
In addition to the learning outcomes described for the A.B. degree, our B.S. in Microbiology also emphasizes a research component. Students earning the B.S. degree will be able to:
- complete a substantial research project related to microbiology; seek and employ insights from others in implementing the project; evaluate a significant challenge or question faced in the project in relation to core concepts, methods or assumptions in microbiology; and describe the effects of learning outside the classroom on his or her research or practical skills.
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
Our Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) curriculum is one of Miami University’s “combined programs”; it integrates an on-campus interdisciplinary blend of courses with a one-year medical laboratory internship. The internship is hosted by an institution that is both formally affiliated with Miami University and offers an intensive laboratory curriculum accredited by the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education through the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
The MLS curriculum is designed to educate our majors in key MLS disciplines, including bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, virology, chemistry, toxicology, hematology and immunohematology. Our expectations are that our majors will use the skills and competencies they develop to contribute to the improvement of local, national and global health.
Specialized Knowledge
Students graduating with a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science will be able to:
- define/explain the fundamental concepts, processes, core theories and practices within multiple MLS disciplines;
- describe/explain the theoretical basis of the tools, technologies and methods within multiple MLS disciplines.
Intellectual Skills – Communication Fluency
- effectively communicate laboratory findings, methodologies and strategies to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Applied Learning
- demonstrate and employ practical skills with both classical and modern laboratory techniques in clinical chemistry, microbiology, hematology and immunohematology, including trouble-shooting and problem solving.
Bachelor of Arts in Public Health: Human Disease and Epidemiology
The Public Health major at Miami University is a field of study focused on preventing illness and promoting health in individuals, communities, and society as a whole. This program builds on the university’s strengths in four areas: human disease & epidemiology; health policy & administration; public health promotion; and behavioral public health.
The Human Disease and Epidemiology concentration utilizes basic concepts in biology and focuses on the factors that cause illness and promote health in human populations. This concentration explores differences in health across time and population subgroups as well as the reasons for those differences.
Core Learning Objectives
Students graduating with a A.B. in Public Health will be able to:
- identify and address the concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions which focus on the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
- describe the basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions of health care and public health policy.
- integrate the core elements of public health with a selected area of specialization to recognize how the field of public health applies to individuals, communities, and society overall.
Concentration-specific Learning Objectives
In addition, students graduating with the Human Disease and Epidemiology concentration will be able to:
- Describe the underlying science of human health and disease including opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
- Demonstrate use of research tools and analytic methods to critically analyze, monitor, and assess the health status of populations and current public health related issues.