Scientific Understanding Student Outcomes Criteria

Students who have successfully completed their coursework in scientific understanding should

1. have a working knowledge of the fundamental principles of a natural science discipline;
2. be able to use appropriate scientific reasoning skills to interpret and analyze content in the natural sciences;
3. have a basic understanding of the scientific method, scientific concepts, and the evolution of scientific ideas;
4. have a more positive attitude toward science and an increased confidence in their ability to understand science.

Students should recognize that

1. the physical universe is understandable;
2. scientific ideas are not static, but rather are dynamic and change over time;
3. scientific principles are testable;
4. scientific knowledge is based on a vast number of observations.