The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences evaluates student learning and success consistent with our mission to fundamentally advance global health and to find cures for pediatric catastrophic diseases by enhancing education across disciplines and training future leaders and innovators.
What are Student Learning Outcomes?
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) are statements of the knowledge, skills and abilities individual students should possess and can demonstrate upon completion of a program. Program data allows us to critically analyze information about our activities, characteristics and outcomes to improve its effectiveness. Data also helps inform programming decisions for the purpose of improving student learning and development.
Our SLOs are a collection of performance indicators and statements that clearly state the expected knowledge, skills, attitudes and competencies students are expected to acquire in their program of interest. We collect and analyze data to inform institutional decision-making, improvement planning, problem identification, curriculum planning, goal setting, faculty development, course revision, program review and accountability.
SLOs for each academic program are listed below.
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
- SLO 1: Apply an understanding of the fundamental concepts of Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Cancer Biology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology, Biostatistics and Computational Biology to the research project.
- SLO 2: Critically evaluate scientific literature in biomedical sciences, including the choice of methods applied to problems and the interpretation of results.
- SLO 3: Design and conduct research using laboratory skills, data acquisition, management and analysis to investigate a selected research problem at a level appropriate for a beginner researcher.
- SLO 4: Communicate clearly, accurately and professionally to disseminate scientific concepts and research results in both oral and written form.
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences
- SLO 1: Plan and execute, with considerable independence, original and extensive laboratory research that advances understanding of a significant question in the biomedical sciences.
- SLO 2: Effectively communicate original research results in both oral and written form.
- SLO 3: Relate in-depth knowledge of the literature to the field related to dissertation research.
Master of Science in Clinical Investigations
- SLO 1: Apply an understanding of the fundamental concepts of biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical research and research methods to the research project.
- SLO 2: Critically evaluate scientific literature in clinical research, including the choice of methods applied to problems and the interpretation of results.
- SLO 3: Design and conduct clinical research using advanced research skills, data acquisition, management and analysis to investigate a selected research problem.
- SLO 4: Communicate clearly, accurately and professionally to disseminate scientific concepts and research results in both oral and written form.
Master of Science in Global Child Health
- SLO 1: Demonstrate competency in basic research methods and their applications, including research design, data analysis and interpretation.
- SLO 2: Identify the concepts, determinants and implementation principles of global child health, health systems and policy.
- SLO 3: Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, integrate and apply appropriate information from various sources to identify problems, evaluate problem-solving strategies, and create evidence-based programs and policies through critical thinking.
- SLO 4: Apply leadership and management tools and strategies to effectively and efficiently implement programs and policies.