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Original Text of Survey
with Results Below.
Survey was adapted from
American Institute of Physics Survey by Dr. Karen Williams
who also paid for the
FormSite.come services.
Graduate email addresses were emailed a link to survey.
Survey was anonymous. Results were not examined per form but
collectively.
Emailed to 34 addresses, 2 were bad. In one month received 27
responses. (6/14/06-7/14/06).
The ECU
Administration requires that the ECU Physics Faculty assess our physics
graduates. Dr. Rutledge and Dr. Williams would like you to take a few
moments of your time and fill out this online survey. It is used for
our assessment of the BS physics degree you earned. We appreciate the
time and honesty in completing the survey. This survey is anonymous, so
answer freely. Thank you in advance.
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1. Select the degree you received from ECU. |
26
1
0 |
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For preparing you for a CAREER or GRADUATE SCHOOL, how adequate was the
education you received as part of your phyiscs-related BS degree in the
area of |
| 1.
Understanding of basic physics principles |
62.9%
|
14.8%
|
22.2%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 2. Scientific
or technical problem solving |
55.5%
|
29.6%
|
11.1%
|
1%
|
0
|
0
|
| 3. Mathematical
skills |
59.2%
|
7.4%
|
25.9%
|
7.4%
|
0
|
0
|
| 4. Scientific
research experience |
25.9%
|
14.8%
|
33.3%
|
14.8%
|
0
|
11.5%
|
| 5. Computer
programming |
7.4%
|
22.2%
|
22.2%
|
26.9%
|
3.7%
|
14.8%
|
| 6. Scientific
software |
22.2%
|
18.5%
|
18.5%
|
25.9%
|
3.7%
|
11.1%
|
| 7. Lab or
instrumentation skills |
55.5%
|
14.8%
|
7.4% |
22.2%
|
0
|
0
|
| 8. Knowledge of
physics |
59.2%
|
14.8%
|
25.9%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 9. Writing
skills |
33.3%
|
18.5%
|
37.0%
|
7.4%
|
0
|
3.7%
|
| 10. Oral
communication skills |
29.6%
|
25.9%
|
29.6%
|
11.1%
|
0
|
3.7%
|
| 11.
Collaboration and team work skills |
51.8%
|
14.8%
|
29.6%
|
0
|
0
|
3.7%
|
|
*
13. If you could have had more training or emphasis in your bachelor's
program, which TWO areas would have been most helpful to you?
Graduate Responses:
More Quantum
Computer Languages (FORTRAN or at least MATLAB)
Because of the
way the class schedule fell, I had to take the GRE without having had
Quantum. I do not know if there is a solution, but it is the only thing
that I think could have been more helpfull. Everything else was very
well done.
More math
classes and more upper level classes, the research experience can be
upped through summer programs. Maybe also more knowledge of
applications and possibilities of a physics degree in the work force.
Scientific
Software and instrumentation skills
because i was
teacher ed i would have liked to have had more lab instruction for high
school applications.
Mathematics and
scientific software
Programming Oral
Communication
I know funding
is tight at such a small school, but more advanced equipment in the
laboratory would be something to sork towards. Other than this, I can't
think of anything that could be improved upon.
Making
Differential Equations and Statistics mandatory for Physics majors,
possibly more Computer Programming too.
phsical
application
computer modeling
more diverse
courses like digital logics, circuit designs more of hands on related
classes, maybe something like projects etc.
no response
Chemistry &
Statistics
An emphasis in
technical writing and statistics would have been extremely helpful
1. More group
work / team assignments would have been helpful. Working with a lab
group is great, but possibly the intergration of more small and/or
large group assignments would help to prepare physics majors for the
real world work force more effectively.
2. ?
Writing skill;
oral communication skills.
A History of
Physics course, and an additional Modern Physics course
I wish I would
have had more kinesiology.
Fluid Mechanics
(We skipped this section). Statics & Dynamics (Strength of
materials).
Chemistry
Computer Science
Lab or
instrumentation skills Writing skills
Using computer
progams such as Excel to produce/report scientific information.
Techinical writing
I would say that
more exposure to software packages is definitely necessary (covers 6
& 7 both in my opinion). Having used Matlab, Pspice (or Spice), and
even Excel would have been a big help in graduate school. Additional
opportunites to present results to a group would have been beneficial
as well (e.g presenting experimental results to a lab class).
Instructions say two areas, but the addition of a project-type class
would be great. Maybe even two classes one junior-level and one
senior-level (both required for the degree).
I would have
enjoyed more APPLIED PHYSICS (mechanical, structural, etc). Also, wider
exposure to software applications (finite element analysis, etc) would
have been nice. Those are both a little outside the scope of a BS in
physics, though.
More emphasis on
reports and documentation. Perhaps more diagnostics and lab oriented
problem solving.
I would have
like more classes involving team oriented research projects.
|
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14. How has your undergraduate education shaped your career or success
in graduate school? Describe the ONE or TWO most important influences
of your undergraduate education on your career/graduate school. |
Graduate Responses
Understanding of physics concepts
It might just have been the class that I was in, but we learned to work
in groups very well. In todays business world, that is an extremely
valuable skill.
Being able to work together with the other students for studying (good
study skills in general), and the ability to approach teachers for
help.
Smaller class sizes and proffessors who really wanted the students to
understand the material.
N/A
The encouragement from the professors to do summer research. The time
the professors took to make sure the student was understanding the
material.
The ability to use scientific reasoning to solve problems.
The ability to work through difficult, and sometimes, seemingly
impossible problems, as well as learning to work within a team towards
a common goal. These are probably the most important skills anyone can
get out of any field of study.
Yes, very much. I give my number one skill believe it or not to
strategic problem solving and analyzing. The techniques that I use to
do this have made me excellent at resolving problems and situations. I
also give my mathematical skills a big plus too.
work ethic
overall knowledge of physics and the ability to solve problems are most
useful in my present position.
helped me get to the graduate school.
no response
Problem solving abilities & mathematics
My undergraduate education helped to prepare me for the grueling tasks
of lots of research and studying for graduate school.
I am now out of my major field, but constantly use knowledge I gained
from ECU Physics that I wouldn't have gained from some other major. Ex
- problem solving, measurement devices, real world physics application,
etc.
I got a broad background in the mathematical sciences and that helped
me greatly.
It has made the graduate courses I have taken seem like a true breeze,
because I learned how to study in my undergraduate courses.
It has helped me to think more critically and to assess problems in a
different way.
It taught me very good analytical/problem solving skills. It also shows
any potential employers that I have the ability to learn.
I is probably the primary reason that I was hired into my current
position.
fundamental problem solving skills strong support from physics dept.
staff
The mathematical and physics principals learned at ECU laid the
groundwork for all of the engineering courses and work that I have
performed.
My main influence was the people - Drs. Rutledge and Williams. Having
instructors (aka mentors) like them make learning fun. They were also
always willing to help. The curriculum was another influence - provided
sufficient base of knowledge for graduate school.
PROBLEM SOLVING and APPLYING BASIC PRINCIPLES to everyday challenges
It gave me a lot of confidence that I could learn to do wide variety of
things. Again, the knowledge that I could understand and learn a wide
spectrum of material helped me a lot.
My physics degree gave me the ability to solve problems. With this
knowledge, almost any career is achievable.
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How satisfied are you with the physics-related bachelor's degree
program you completed with respect to
|
| 15. Curriculum |
55.5%
|
26.9%
|
11.1%
|
3.7%
|
0
|
| 16. Teaching in
your major |
77.7%
|
14.8%
|
7.4%
|
0
|
0
|
| 17. Professors
in your major as mentors or role models |
88.8%
|
7.4%
|
3.7%
|
0
|
0
|
| 18. Advising in
your major |
88.8%
|
7.4%
|
3.7%
|
0
|
0
|
| 19.
Supportiveness of professors in your major |
96.2%
|
0
|
3.7%
|
0
|
0
|
| 20. Working
relationships with the professors in your major |
96.2%
|
0
|
3.7%
|
0
|
0
|
| 21. Working
relationships with the other students in your major |
62.9%
|
37.0%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
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The Physics dept. mission statement is to prepare students to enter the
work force in a career and to prepare students for graduate school.
Overall, did the ECU physics dept. (physics curriculum & faculty) |
| 22. Prepare you
well for entrance to the work force (career) ? |
66.6%
|
3.7%
|
29.6%
|
| 23. Prepare you
well for entrance into graduate school ? |
59.2%
|
0
|
44.4%
|
24. And the last
question, when did you graduate with your BS Physics degree?
Before 1998: 7 (25.9%)
After 1998: 20 (74.0%)
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