USE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BOARDS OF GEOLOGY‘S FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY EXAMINATION AS AN ASSESSMENT TOOL

The Mississippi State University (MSU) Department of Geosciences (Department) uses the National Association of State Boards of Geology‘s (ASBOG) Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination as an assessment tool for its undergraduate geology program. Although the Department recognizes that not all geologists will be, or need to be registered, it requires that all of its majors pursuing the geology emphasis take the FG exam as an exit exam. The Department uses the results of those examinations in assessment of its undergraduate geology program is several ways. Officially, the department looks at the number of graduating students who score in the top fifty percent. However, the department also looks at the overall score in relation to the national pass rate on the FG exam because the department wants to provide enough content so that the graduate would have a reasonable chance to pass the “examination of their profession.” In addition, the Department looks at the trend of the average score of all students over time. Assessments from looking at the overall scores have resulted in changes in our curriculum. Aside from the more broad use of the overall scores, specific areas are also assessed. The Department receives data on each of the domains of the FG exam. The domain specific data shows more specific strengths and weaknesses in the program. Once identified, changes have been made in the program to address weaknesses. Those changes have included change in instructors, changes in course content, and changes in curriculum. The resulting curriculum contains a few specified departmental courses, but many choices among upper level departmental courses. Because of those choices the Department has had success in using the ASBOG FG exam as an assessment tool for its undergraduate geology program while maintaining a reasonably flexible curriculum.