These assignments are guided and evaluated by the instructor. In the senior and capstones courses, students are required to write summary reports and papers on original research, give oral reports on this work, and produce maps and other diagrams to support their written and oral reports. This work is always evaluated by the class instructor, who provides students with both written comments and a grade. Occasionally, fellow students also provide commentary on the oral reports. These assignments range from short homework assignments in classes to multiweek team projects requiring extensive field work.
All work is evaluated by class instructors.
The Department of Earth Sciences does not presently conduct any formal internal feedback reviews of the program. On an informal basis we solicit input from advisees, graduating seniors, and fellow faculty within the university. There is not, however, a formalized process for conducting these evaluations on an annual basis. The faculty thoroughly evaluates and revises the Department of Earth Sciences curriculum every third year. The evaluation takes into account changing job markets, advances in the Earth Sciences, student feedback on courses, and employer feedback on students and their training.