Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

1. Undergraduate Learning Goals. Approved by ESCI faculty, 2012.

When students graduate with a BS in Environmental Sciences, they will be able to:

• Apply quantitative skills to environmental issues.
• Apply critical thinking (analytical) skills to environmental issues.
• Write and speak effectively to professional and lay audiences about issues in the field.
• Use theoretical knowledge of environmental sciences in real world applications.
• Incorporate multiple disciplines into environmental sciences.

Student Learning Goals used to Assess the Undergraduate Learning Goals.

• Number of students completing: 1) senior thesis or project; 2) REU, SULI or similar external research programs designed for undergraduates; 3) Independent Studies courses with a research component; or 4) senior internships.
• Number of undergraduate presentations at public meetings or conferences.
• Campus initiatives led by Environmental Sciences students and faculty.
• Number of 400 level courses with the ESCI rubric compared to 400 level courses with other rubrics.
• Alumni survey on the importance of the Learning Goals in the workplace and whether they were achieved at Huxley. Conducted every 5 years.
• Biennial focus group discussion with current senior students.
• Analysis of Capstone student projects.
• Number of Writing Proficiency credits completed.
• Number of lab reports where students analyze and interpret numbers and data through writing to bring meaning to the data.