AC-2 Learning Outcomes (Examples)

Examples of Possible Learning Objectives for Environmental Awareness and Environmental  Explain fundamental environmental concepts using appropriate vocabulary.  Articulate and apply the scientific method and its role in scientific inquiry concerning the environment.  Explain the co-evolution of humans with their environment and the limitations of human interactions with it.  Analyze environmental problems in a structured way and develop strategies for solutions that indicate how scientific principles interact with ethical, political and/or economic principles.  Describe the state of the environment in relation to the social structure and human health.  Analyze the complexities of phenomena that link , , culture, history, biology, geology, and physical processes.  Engage in dynamic, vigorous exchange across the traditional disciplinary boundaries within and between natural and social/human sciences.  Work with specific communities to facilitate self-conscious, reflective engagement with  Linked socio-environmental processes.

Sustainability in day-to-day life  Students will learn ways in which natural resources are used to produce what they consume, such as the food they eat, the water they drink, and the energy they use.  Students will understand ways in which their lifestyle and well-being are interconnected with those of diverse producers and consumers around the world, including impoverished communities.  Sustainability knowledge and skills  Students will learn core concepts of and develop skills relevant to their chosen field to provide a basis for environmental sustainability.  Students will learn to think holistically about sustainability using perspectives across multiple disciplines.  Sustainability as Personal Vision  Students will understand relationships between global environmental and economic trends and their impact on diverse cultures and communities.  Students will develop an integrated vision for sustainability that embraces their personal lives, professions, local communities, and the world-at-large.

Colleges and departments outside of SoGES frequently incorporate sustainability learning outcomes into their curriculum. A full description of learning outcomes is available for each department through the course catalog. The following provides examples of learning outcomes which ensure that students are prepared to think critically and engage with contemporary issues around sustainability and the environment.

Environmental Horticulture: "Management and leadership skills necessary for a successful career in the green industry. Technical competencies in their understanding of growth and development of horticultural plants and landscapes, including development as influenced by manipulation of horticulture technologies, such as fertility and water management, and integrated pest management for all aspects of landscape horticulture. Skills to assess site issues, provide creative environmentally sound solutions and manage designed and built landscapes"

Agricultural and Resource Economics: "Successful [graduating] students will demonstrate...an ability to solve real world problems beyond the pedagogical context. Students will be able to identify a problem and its scope, evaluate resources available to address the problem, formulate alternative solutions, and select the solution(s) most consistent with a stated objective." Learning Outcomes - upon completion of the minor in Sustainability Studies a student should be able to…  demonstrate an understanding of our roles: a well-grounded understanding—informed by natural science, social science, and humanistic perspectives—of the parts humans have played in creating current environmental challenges, and that they must play in devising and implementing sustainable solutions to environmental problems;  conduct an analysis of sustainability, that includes the ability to apply the concept of sustainability in critically examining social issues related to the use of Earth’s natural resources and the quality of life;  consider ethical dimensions: thinking critically about the diversity of ethical issues raised by human interactions with the environment, and using these ethical insights as a foundation for responsible behavior seeking and supporting social Justice

Campus Wide Sustainability Learning Outcome Students will identify, act on, and evaluate their professional and personal actions with the knowledge and appreciation of interconnections among economic, environmental, and social perspectives in order to create a more sustainable future. Specific Learning Outcomes  Students will be able to describe the environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainability and how they are interrelated.  Students will be able to explain how sustainability relates to their lives and how their actions impact sustainability.  Students will learn how to apply concepts of sustainability locally and globally by engaging in the challenges and solutions of sustainability in a broader context.  Institutional Assessment Council - Sustainability Subcommittee http://iac.pdx.edu/content/sustainability