In addition the graduate students prepare a written field research proposal and present it orally to their committee. The thesis defense constitutes the captive oral presentation. In addition, most graduate students present oral progress reports on a regular bases within their research groups. All graduate students present the results of their research at a regional or national scientific meeting at least once in their careers. Problem-Solving Skills 9.
Problem solving skills are an integral part of every chemistry course given.
Analytical thinking and synthesis are a particularly important part laboratory activities especially in the context of determining laboratory unknowns. Graduate students develop these skills in pursuit of their thesis research. Each year the department considers the recommendations of the advisory committee at the weekly department meetings with particular emphasis on the student feedback obtained by the board. The department curriculum committee considers the results of the standardized tests and makes recommendations to the faculty in noted deficiencies. Individual mentoring of both undergraduate and graduate students regarding their performance in oral and written presentations is a very important part of communicating assessment outcomes.