Accreditation and Assessment
A full description of our undergraduate programs are available here:
Geology BS,
Geological Engineering BS.
Find additional information, including Objectives and Outcomes for each program below.
Learn more about
Accreditation at South Dakota Mines.
Geology BS
Program Educational Objectives
Program
educational objectives are broad statements that describe what graduates are
expected to attain within a few years after graduation. Program educational
objectives are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies. The program
educational objectives of the South Dakota Mines geology bachelor’s degree program are to
produce graduates who can:
- Pursue productive careers as
geoscientists and/or succeed in graduate or professional educational programs
- Continue professional growth,
including -- but not limited to -- becoming leaders in professional
organizations and/or earning licensures or certifications
- Become advocates for science through
effective communication to broad audiences
Student
Outcomes for Geology are:
Student outcomes describe what students are expected to know or
be able to do by the time of graduation from the geology program. These outcomes
relate to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they
progress through the program.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly defined technical or
scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or
technical topics to areas relevant to the discipline.
- An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure or program to
meet desired needs.
- An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and
interpret data and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the
impact of technical and/or scientific solutions in global, economic,
environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks,
meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.
Geological Engineering BS
The bachelor of science program in geological engineering is accredited
by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org,
415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, Phone +1.410.347.7700
Program Educational Objectives
These program educational objectives describe what graduates of the geological engineering program are expected to attain within a few years after graduation. These objectives are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies.
1. Graduates of the geological engineering program will perform competently in professional practice in the areas of:
- groundwater
- environmental site planning and natural hazards
- geomechanics and geotechnics
- fuels or minerals
2. Graduates will successfully achieve continued professional development and/or licensure.
Student Outcomes for Geological Engineering are:
These student outcomes describe what students are expected
to know or be able to do by the time of graduation from the geological
engineering program. These relate to the
knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through
the program.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve
complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science,
and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to
produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public
health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental,
and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a
range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional
responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which
must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic,
environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team
whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive
environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate
experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to
draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as
needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- An ability to apply geological
engineering principles to field problems.