BICH/GENE 432 Laboratory in Molecular Genetics
College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Biochemistry and Biophysics
Type: W
Status: Approved
REPORT ON RECERTIFICATION OF W COURSE: BICH/GENE 432
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 1/1/22 to 1/1/26
We recommend that BICH/GENE 432 Laboratory in Molecular Genetics be certified as a writing (W) course. We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria: (1) 60% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 4000; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:13; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
BICH 432 is a two-credit course. Graduate teaching assistants help with each section of the course. Students write a final paper, for which two drafts are submitted; they also write a lab notebook, submitted at mid-term for review and a grade and then again at the end of the semester. There are three writing workshops and an average of six days to work on writing assignments in class. During this time, students receive extensive instruction and feedback by the instructor and participate in open discussions with their peers for additional feedback, if needed. Each rough draft is also peer-reviewed before submission for a major grade. They also receive extensive written instructor feedback on the drafts. The class participates in Journal Clubs where a previously published article is broken down into sections and explained in the form of student presentations.
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 1/1/22 to 1/1/26
We recommend that BICH/GENE 432 Laboratory in Molecular Genetics be certified as a writing (W) course. We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria: (1) 60% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 4000; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:13; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
BICH 432 is a two-credit course. Graduate teaching assistants help with each section of the course. Students write a final paper, for which two drafts are submitted; they also write a lab notebook, submitted at mid-term for review and a grade and then again at the end of the semester. There are three writing workshops and an average of six days to work on writing assignments in class. During this time, students receive extensive instruction and feedback by the instructor and participate in open discussions with their peers for additional feedback, if needed. Each rough draft is also peer-reviewed before submission for a major grade. They also receive extensive written instructor feedback on the drafts. The class participates in Journal Clubs where a previously published article is broken down into sections and explained in the form of student presentations.