Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and undergraduate liberal education

Abstract

In November of 2006, ASBMB received a grant from the Teagle Foundation. The Foundation hopes to engage disciplinary societies in assessing the relationship of the goals of undergraduate concentration in their discipline to those of liberal education. This grant provides an opportunity for ASBMB to examine undergraduate programs in biochemistry and molecular biology and evaluate the success of their graduates. The Teagle Working Group has conducted interviews and surveys. Results so far confirm that graduate faculty and employers value research experience above all other types of preparation. The chairs’ survey indicates that about half of departments are working with the ASBMB guidelines, while the other half were unaware of these recommendations. Since the introduction of the guidelines, about one‐third of departments have added specific coursework and more undergraduate research; under 20% have added skills‐based requirements, and the same number reported a movement away from lecture‐based teaching. About one‐quarter have paid more attention to assessment of student learning. We will highlight examples of courses that emphasize skills rather than content. Following the education award presentation, we will hold an open‐mike session on undergraduate education in BMB fields: the relevance of ASBMB guidelines, how to assess students’ success, and the interaction with other goals of a liberal education.