|
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 15 addresses (1 graduate from 2005, others were from
2006-2009).
9 appeared to be good emails, one was found on Facebook, 8 responded
with their advisor/employer
email address. We had 10 complete this survey
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.
|
| *
1. Select the degree you received from ECU. |
7
(70%)
1 (10%)
2 (20%) |
|
|
| *
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 |
60%
|
0%
|
30%
|
10%
|
0
|
0
|
| 2. Scientific
or technical problem solving |
60%
|
20%
|
10%
|
10%
|
0
|
0
|
| 3. Mathematical
skills |
50%
|
0%
|
30%
|
10%
|
10%
|
0
|
| 4. Scientific
research experience |
0%
|
30%
|
40%
|
30%
|
0
|
0
|
| 5. Computer
programming |
0%
|
20%
|
20%
|
40%
|
0
|
20%
|
| 6. Scientific
software |
20%
|
10%
|
20%
|
30%
|
0
|
20%
|
| 7. Lab or
instrumentation skills |
20%
|
10%
|
70% |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 8. Knowledge of
physics |
40%
|
20%
|
40%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 9. Writing
skills |
20%
|
40%
|
40%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 10. Oral
communication skills |
30%
|
20%
|
50%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 11.
Collaboration and team work skills |
50%
|
20%
|
30%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
*
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:
Problem solving Math
An
undergraduate course in Fluid Dynamics would have would be helpful in
the job field I am currently in. However, I do have a strong
mathematics background. I picked up what I needed to know easily. I was
a Chemistry minor. My job mainly uses Chemistry. I did not take
Physical Chemistry or Instrumental Chemistry. I would recommend these
two classes for the laboratory experience gained.
More mathematics! This is where I fall behind the international
graduate students. More research! Although I am quite capable in the
lab, there is no real research going on at ECU. I am unique among my
colleagues in that I did not have a senior thesis as an undergrad.
Quantum mechanics and differential equations.
Speech and/or Public speaking should be a requirement. Though my
advisor urged me to take speech, I chose to take a language instead.
Now that I am older, I realize importance of public speaking and basic
communication skills. Electricity and Magnetism.
1. scientific research experience 2. computer programming
"From the ground up" creation of laboratory and demonstration
activities Motivational/Class management skills
Understanding more of the options presented to a graduate of the
Medical Physics program i.e. what graduate programs to apply to. Also
more instruction on how to apply and what colleges to apply to would be
more helpful. Maybe more one-on-one conferences with students and
advisors on the degree one is ensuing and it's current, real world
applications.
Programming and better understanding of how to aquire parts and peices
for experimentation
More electrical/electronics training would have been useful. The one
class was great, but a next step would be nice.
|
|
|
| *
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
Service Learning helped in TA
Currently I work as a quality control technician in an engineering
department. My undergraduate education gave me strong ethics and
academic integrity. I absolutely refuse to dry lab data. This quality
has gained me respect from third party engineers and reflects well on
the company I work for.
1) I am more familiar with computer programming and computer algebra
systems than my fellow graduate class. 2) I am most competent in the
lab. I adapted quickly to the research group I joined. I have been with
the group for 1 1/2 years and I have given four presentations based on
my research.
The subjects I learned and the quality at which they were taught have
help me to be successful in my area of study.
Physics gives a person a broad working knowledge of all sciences. It
inhances situational awareness in that aspect. Aside from the knowledge
I gained, the hard work that was required to receive my degree greatly
prepared me for my military career.
The exposure to fields where physics concepts are applied, such as
touring a medical physics facility, and the opportunity to discuss the
nature of the work with former ECU students who were at that time
graduate students was a valuable experience.
The problem solving skills I learned in solving physics problems have
helped me to help students not feel so overwhelmed in learning physics
The organizational skills I observed in my instructors have helped me
keep my teaching areas balanced and organized.
It has been difficult to determine which path to take after graduation
even with the great job that the professors have done. The thing that I
take most from my undergraduate education, besides the pure physics
knowledge, is the desire to apply this knowledge to everyday life and
to keep learning new things.
I have excellent problem solving skills. the ability to look at complex
problems and solve them has served me very well. I was taught how to
solve problems in the physics department. My degree and the skills I
was taught while in the physics department has served me very well. I
have a very successful career. That success is a result of the best
teachers any physics department anywhere could possibly assemble.
Understanding basic principles and learning to work through technical
challenges in a logical, structured way has been the most helpful think
I could have learned for both my career and daily life in general.
|
|
*
How satisfied are you with the physics-related bachelor's degree
program you completed with respect to
|
| 15. Curriculum |
60%
|
30%
|
10%
|
0
|
0
|
| 16. Teaching in
your major |
60%
|
30%
|
10%
|
0
|
0
|
| 17. Professors
in your major as mentors or role models |
80%
|
10%
|
10%
|
0
|
0
|
| 18. Advising in
your major |
80%
|
20%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 19.
Supportiveness of professors in your major |
80%
|
20%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 20. Working
relationships with the professors in your major |
80%
|
20%
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 21. Working
relationships with the other students in your major |
80%
|
10%
|
10%
|
0
|
0
|
|
| *
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) ? |
80%
|
0
|
20%
|
| 23. Prepare you
well for entrance into graduate school ? |
70%
|
0
|
30%
|
24. And the last
question, when did you graduate with your BS Physics degree?
Before 1998:
After 1998: 100%
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Report
Submitted by Dr. Karen Williams 3/21/11
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