[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-595484-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-595484-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","the-biology-major-capstone-experience-measurements-of-accountability-capstone-experience","The Biology Major Capstone Experience: Measurements of Accountability - capstone experience","","Loras College requires senior biology majors and biology research majors to complete a comprehensive exam, deliver an oral presentation, produce a thesis based on the talk, and participate in an exit interview with a non-biology faculty member prior to graduation. The article outlines ideal capstone components—exam, oral presentation, 1–2 year research, publishable-style thesis, and hands-on skills assessment—and describes how these elements are implemented at Loras to demonstrate accountability and improve curriculum outcomes.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-biology-major-capstone-experience-measurements-of-accountability-capstone-experience/595484/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-biology-major-capstone-experience-measurements-of-accountability-capstone-experience/595484.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Well Done","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What capstone experiences are required for Loras College biology seniors?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Senior biology and biology research majors must take a comprehensive exam, give an oral presentation, write the talk into their thesis, and complete an exit interview with a non-biology faculty member before graduating.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What components does the article define for an “ideal” biology major capstone?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The ideal capstone includes a comprehensive recall-based exam, a 30-minute oral presentation on a biological hot topic, a 1–2 year research experience with publishable results, a journal-article-style thesis, and a hands-on skills/techniques assessment test.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How is the comprehensive exam structured and used at Loras College?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"It is an online, 57-question passage-based exam (similar to the MCAT) covering six curriculum subdivisions: Physiology, Molecular, Evolution, Ecology, Plant/Animal Biology, and Genetics. 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Davis  \nProgram in Biology, Loras College, 1450 Alta Vista, Dubuque, IA 52004-0178  \nEmail: [tom.davis@loras.edu](tom.davis@loras.edu)  \nAbstract: Loras College senior biology and biology research majors are required to take a comprehensive exam, give an oral presentation, write this talk into their thesis and participate in an exit interview with a non-biology faculty member before they graduate. Details of these capstone experiences will be discussed further. Other capstone experiences that might be included were discussed such as a hands-on lab skill assessment test, a 1-2 year research experience, and making an e-portfolio to include a resume and class artifacts. Suggestions for other items to consider in a senior capstone experience are included.  \nKey Words: capstone experience, biology major requirements,  \nINTRODUCTION  \nCollege and university biology faculty and graduating senior biology majors need ways to show that the educational experiences they have participated in together in the previous 3.5 years have resulted in measureable increases in scientific knowledge, writing, speaking, techniques or skills and critical thinking. College faculty need to generate artifacts that confirm their accountability. Learning outcomes that were presented early in the careers of college students need to be measured during the senior year for their level of accomplishment. Many of the recommendations of Bio 2010 (NRC, 2003) can be addressed by finishing an undergraduate experience in biology with a comprehensive senior capstone experience. The purpose of this article is to give some examples of activities of some capstone experiences so that more colleges and universities can incorporate some of them into their program outcomes, be more accountable for their teaching and use the results to improve their curriculum.  \nCOMPONENTS OF AN “IDEAL” CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE  \nOverall, the “ideal” biology major senior capstone experience would contain the following components to measure essential aspects of their four years of training:  \n􀀂 A comprehensive exam that measures their recall knowledge.  \n􀀂 A 30 minute oral presentation on a recent biological hot topic and be able to show that they are an expert on this topic by answering questions well and confidently from their peers, faculty or the public.  \n􀀂 A 1-2 year research experience where their results are publishable and they have mastered several basic scientific research skills.  \n􀀂 A written thesis in the format of a scientific journal article that is ready to be sent in for publication.  \n􀀂 A skills/techniques assessment test where they work hands-on in front of a peer or faculty member to show their competence level in 1-5 above.  \nAN EXAMPLE AT LORAS COLLEGE  \nSeniors in biology at Loras College choose between a biology major and a biology research major. The biology major requires 34 credits of courses with accompanying support courses in Math, Chemistry and Physics. These students in their junior year in consultation with a biology faculty advisor pick a topic of personal interest. They construct a learning plan for this topic that includes a bibliography, a proposed timeline of study and culminates in a 30 minute oral presentation on this topic to their peers and faculty in senior seminar in their last spring semester. Essentially they train themselves to be an expert on this topic and present a written thesis in review paper format. In the past 5 years about 75% of graduating majors have chosen this option.  \nBiology research majors also take the same 34 credits and supporting courses but also get one more credit for doing their own research project that is supervised by a biology faculty member. They consult with a biology faculty member early in their junior year to construct a research proposal plan and timeline for the next 3 semesters. This work culminates in a 30 minute oral pr","cbCaiqX8iY9VeQVC","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqX8iY9VeQVC","pdf",65326,"English","# Introduction\n# Components of an “Ideal” Capstone Experience\n# An Example at Loras College","[{\"question\":\"What capstone experiences are required for Loras College biology seniors?\",\"answer\":\"Senior biology and biology research majors must take a comprehensive exam, give an oral presentation, write the talk into their thesis, and complete an exit interview with a non-biology faculty member before graduating.\"},{\"question\":\"What components does the article define for an “ideal” biology major capstone?\",\"answer\":\"The ideal capstone includes a comprehensive recall-based exam, a 30-minute oral presentation on a biological hot topic, a 1–2 year research experience with publishable results, a journal-article-style thesis, and a hands-on skills/techniques assessment test.\"},{\"question\":\"How is the comprehensive exam structured and used at Loras College?\",\"answer\":\"It is an online, 57-question passage-based exam (similar to the MCAT) covering six curriculum subdivisions: Physiology, Molecular, Evolution, Ecology, Plant/Animal Biology, and Genetics. Results support year-to-year comparisons and evaluate retention within each subdivision.\"}]","The Biology Major Capstone Experience: Measurements of Accountability - capstone experience | PDF",1792081229]