Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of chemical reactivity and the ability to predict products from common reactions.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of chemical structure and properties. 
3. Interpret whether data from chemistry laboratory experiments are accurate and statistically valid, by understanding the errors and limitations inherent in laboratory techniques and instruments.
4. Explain the principles of operation for common chemistry laboratory instrumentation, using knowledge of chemical structure and properties and instrument design.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the college and departmental levels through papers, exams and other projects completed in the following required courses: CHM 3120C Analytical Chemistry; BCH 3023C Biochemistry; BCH 3025C Analytical Biochemistry, CHM 4140 Senior Research Project; CHM 4141 Senior Research Presentation; CHM 4139C Instrumental Analysis; and CHM 3005C Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Employ the conventions of standard written English.
2. Select a topic, and develop it for a specific audience and purpose, with respect for diverse perspectives.
3. Select, organize, and relate ideas and information with coherence, clarity, and unity.

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Communication skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed in ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Communication skills are also assessed in the capstone courses CHM 4140 Senior Research Project and CHM 4141 Senior Research Presentation.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Select and organize information.
2. Identify assumptions and underlying relationships.
3. Synthesize information, and draw reasoned inferences.
4. Formulate an appropriate problem solving strategy.
5. Evaluate the feasibility of the strategy.

Critical thinking skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Critical thinking skills are also assessed in the capstone course CHM 4140 Senior Research Project and CHM 4141 Senior Research Presentation.