State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

ESF’s college wide college learning outcomes (CLO’s) feature six areas: (1) Scientific Reasoning; (2) Quantitative Reasoning; (3) Basic Communication Skills; (4) Technological and Information Literacy; (5) Values, Ethics and Diverse Perspectives; and (6) Critical Thinking.

1. Scientific Reasoning: Students will be able to: demonstrate understanding of modern science and the implications of scientific discoveries, apply the scientific method, and use science to address contemporary problems.
2. Quantitative Reasoning: Students will be able to effectively describe, interpret, apply, and evaluate quantitative information.
3. Communication: Students will be able to: formulate and present ideas that reflect critical thinking skills and show awareness of audience, context, and purpose, and present a well-developed argument
4. Technological and Information Literacy: Students will be able to: use critical thinking skills to determine the information needed to solve a problem, access information using appropriate technologies, and effectively and appropriately use information to accomplish a specific purpose.
5. Values, Ethics and Diverse Perspectives: Students will be able to: demonstrate awareness of diverse cultures and values, recognize ethical issues in contemporary society, and apply ethical concepts in addressing diverse personal, professional, and societal settings.
6. Critical Thinking: Students will be able to: identify, analyze, evaluate, and develop well-reasoned arguments. (Note: this area inherently overlaps outcomes in the prior areas.)

See the College-wide Learning Outcomes here:
https://www.esf.edu/assessment/gened.php

The number of graduates from degree programs and from degree programs that require an understanding of sustainability reported above are the number of graduates from Spring and Fall 2022. These numbers were obtained using data provided by the Office of the Registrar. Data provided included the student's graduation date, program, and degree type (B.S., MS., Ph.D., etc.). Using the degree program (major), the Office of Sustainability categorized the data using Y/N for programs that have sustainability-focused learning outcomes or require graduates to take a sustainability-focused course. Students that graduated from programs that had one or both criteria were counted towards this credit.

Programs that require an understanding of sustainability (following the above criteria defined by STARS) include:
- Aquatic and Fisheries Science
- Construction Management
- Conservation Biology
- Environmental Education and Interpretation
- Environmental Biology
- Environmental Health
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental Resources Engineering
- Forest Ecosystem Science
- Forest Health
- Forest Resources Management
- Landscape Architecture
- Natural Resources Management
- Sustainability Management
- Sustainable Energy Management
- Wildlife Science


See the attached spreadsheet for more detail.

Programs with Sustainability-Focused Learning Objectives or Program Descriptions:
Construction Management (B.S.)
- Program Description
- With a continuing emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability in construction, ESF integrates the latest principles of sustainable construction into all of our courses. From day one, students learn and practice the guiding sustainability principles and many successfully earn the distinguished LEED Green Associate credential.

Environmental Education & Interpretation (B.S.)

- Program Description
- Students become well grounded in natural sciences and in the skills specific to communication and informal education. This major seeks to integrate training in organismal biology, including a required field component, with in-depth training in the literature and context of natural history and a suite of environmental interpretation offerings. Students gain work experiences through a professional internship, where the recently acquired knowledge and skills in this arena can be applied. Where most people in the environmental education and interpretation fields have a background either in science or in education, the ESF program provides skills in both. Through the art of interpretation, students will learn how to help people make connections with the natural world and science through educational programs and materials.

Environmental Health (B.S.)

- Program Description
- Environmental health focuses on the study of how people interact with their environment—the air and water, the plants and animals encountered, and workplaces and
homes. The field is broad, encompassing the direct effects of the environment on human health, and the factors that adversely affect the ecological balances essential to human health and environmental quality.
- Learning Outcomes
- Are knowledgeable of examples of global, regional and local environmental problems and issues
- Are competent to perform in a graduate education or entry-level work environment
- Have a sufficient knowledge base and tools to function effectively
- Have the ability to conceptualize environmental problems in terms of unifying principles
- Are capable of utilizing a systems approach to problem solving, and
- Can communicate their ideas and expectations effectively

Environmental Resources Engineering Program (B.S.)

- Learning Outcomes
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Environmental Resources Engineering (M.S., M.P.S., Ph.D.)

- Program Description
- Areas of study for the Environmental Resources Engineering programs include Ecological Engineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Resources Engineering, Geospatial Information Science & Engineering (GISE), and Water Resources Engineering. All except (GISE) require an acute understanding of the intersections of ecology, society, and the economy as it applies in environmental engineering and management. More information: https://www.esf.edu/ere/graduate/

Environmental Science (B.S., M.S., M.P.S., Ph.D.)

- Program Objectives
- Prepare students who will engage in environmental work while employed by government agencies and industry or in private consulting jobs that specialize in public works and the inventory, management, design, use, restoration and protection of natural and cultural resources
- Prepare students to enter advanced academic studies involved with any of the many aspects of environmental science
- Continue to develop the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to changing technological, environmental and business conditions to the benefit of society, employer and self

Environmental Studies (B.S, M.S., M.P.S.)

- Learning Outcomes
- Critical Thinking
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills in relation to environmental affairs
- Communication
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of communication skills and the ability to write effectively in a variety of contexts
- Interdisciplinary Synthesis
- Demonstrate an ability to integrate the many disciplines and fields that intersect with environmental concerns
- Ecological Literacy
- Demonstrate an awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the intrinsic values of ecological processes and communities
- Sustainability
- Demonstrate an integrative approach to environmental issues with a focus on sustainability

Forest Resources Management (B.S.)

- Program Objectives
- Understand forest ecosystems
- Identify the major species, both flora and fauna, in a given area
- Describe relationships among flora and fauna including the biological and physical requirements
- Describe and analyze forest ecosystems
- Describe technical forestry terms to different audiences using consistent and accurate terminology
- Plan, conduct, analyze forest inventories, including biological, physical, and social characteristics, using different statistical sampling methods, and communicate results in both written and oral form
- Explain forest development in both written and oral form and apply computer growth and yield models to project stand and forest development
- Analyze how forest resources are managed
- Describe and explain to different audiences in both written and oral form alternative ways to change or maintain forest structure
- Evaluate tradeoffs among biological sustainability, economic feasibility, and social acceptability with respect to alternative forest management plans
- Explain the conceptual framework and systematic process for problem solving and demonstrate effective teamwork skills and ethics
- Describe and apply appropriate decision-making tools and techniques to evaluate alternative forest management practices appropriate to ownership goals and objectives
- Describe influence of government policies
- Explain how U.S. and state government policies influence the management of forest resources on public and private lands
- Describe how government policies impact management opportunities

Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.)

- Nature
- The practice of Landscape Architecture is deeply dependent upon both an understanding of, and sensitivity for nature and ecology. Landscape architects today are poised as leaders in a world faced with environmental challenges of great complexity and scope, locally, nationally, and internationally.
- Technology
- Digital technology provides landscape architects with tools for understanding, visualizing, and predicting change in complex natural and built environments. Landscape Architects use a variety of technologies, including Computer Aided Design (CAD), 3D Modeling and Fabrication, Geographic Information Systems, and Digital Imaging and Publishing.
- Culture
- Just as an understanding of nature is important to the landscape architect, understanding the people for which designed environments are intended is every bit as critical. In a world which is rapidly evolving toward a global economy, cultural awareness is even more significant as a factor in successful design.
- Professionalism
- Landscape Architecture is a licensed profession serving the public in a variety of roles, including services such as site design and planning, urban design, community design, city planning, environmental planning and restoration, historic preservation planning, and a multitude of specialty services in both private firms and public agencies.

Landscape Architecture (M.L.A., M.S.)

- Program Description
- Areas of study for the Landscape Architecture Master's programs include Community Design and Planning, Cultural Landscape Studies and Conservation, and Landscape and Urban Ecology. All require an acute understanding of the intersections of ecology, culture (society), and the economy as it applies in landscape design. More information: https://www.esf.edu/la/graduate/areas.htm

Natural Resources Management (B.S.)

- Program Objectives
- Understand natural ecosystems
- Identify the major species, both flora and fauna, in a given area
- Describe relationships among flora and fauna including the biological and physical requirements
- Describe and analyze natural ecosystems
- Describe the similarities and differences among major categories natural resources – i.e., soil, water, plants, wildlife and recreation
- Plan, conduct, analyze forest inventories, including biological, physical, and social characteristics, using different statistical sampling methods, and communicate results in both written and oral form
- Analyze how natural resources are managed
- Describe and explain to different audiences in both written and oral form alternative ways to change or maintain natural resources, ecosystem functions and biodiversity
- Evaluate tradeoffs among biological sustainability, economic feasibility, and social acceptability with respect to alternative management options
- Explain the conceptual framework and systematic process for problem solving and demonstrate effective teamwork skills and ethics
- Describe and apply appropriate decision-making tools and techniques to evaluate alternative natural resources management practices appropriate to ownership goals and objectives
- Describe influence of government policies
- Describe how laws governing business and management influence both large and small natural resource organizations
- Explain how U.S. and state government policies influence the management of natural resources on public and private lands

Natural Resources Management (M.S., M.P.S., Ph.D.)

- Program Description
- The Natural Resources Management program focuses on both the underlying theory and on-the-ground application of practices to achieve sustainable outcomes in natural resource systems.

Renewable Materials Science Program (B.S.)

- Program Objectives
- Impactful careers applying the science of renewable materials to societal development, sustainability and industrial growth with environmental stewardship
- Career growth with progressively increasing responsibility and contributions and continued life- long learning

Sustainability Management (B.S.)

- Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the complex interactions among and between the three pillars of sustainability: the environment, the economy, and society with a focus on identifying areas of potential conflict / opportunity
- Apply qualitative and quantitative skills appropriate to the sustainability field (e.g., energy modeling, budgeting, financial analysis, GIS, life cycle assessment, interviewing & surveying, environmental and risk communication)
- Analyze data and develop reports and presentations relevant to sustainability and its implementation (e.g., scientific publications, policy documents, sustainability indicators, public audience presentations)
- Work independently and collaboratively for effective and successful project and people management, communication, and to institutionalize sustainable practices
- Apply knowledge of principles and best practices to the analysis of real-world sustainability problems in public, private and non-profit contexts
- Develop solutions that balance the priorities of sustainable development, social equity and human nature interaction

Sustainable Construction Management (M.S., M.P.S., Ph.D.)

- Program Description
- Students look at the broad environmental implications of the construction process, to be efficient and environmentally responsible in their use of materials, and to integrate current technology to a practicum or thesis, as appropriate to the graduate degree. This program is best suited for students interested in sustainable construction practices including topics such as energy use in buildings, material use in sustainable construction, life cycle analysis, environmental rating systems and environmental performance measures.

Sustainable Energy Management (B.S.)

- Program Description
- The Sustainable Energy Management program is based on a vision that combines professional competency in management skills with a strong foundation in the social and biophysical sciences. The study of responsible energy resources use, and the development of sustainable sources of energy, has become a critical national and global issue. Energy issues include concerns about the quality and quantity of the different potential resources, energy security, and potential impacts of each on the environment and human health. It is essential that our society and energy professionals gain an understanding of production and conversion of different forms of energy, their current and future supplies, the markets and policy mechanisms that regulate their supply, and the associated impacts on the environment for each fuel.

Programs requiring sustainability-focused course(s):
- Aquatic and Fisheries Science, Conservation Biology, Environmental Biology, Forest Health, and Wildlife Science all require:
- EFB 120: Global Environment and the Evolution of Human Society (sustainability-focused)

- Forest Ecosystem Science requires:
- FOR 465/665: Natural Resources Policy (Sustainability-focused)

See ESF's Sustainability-Focused & Sustainability-Inclusive Courses under AC-1

2022-23 Academic Catalog:
https://www.esf.edu/catalog/documents/2022-2023.pdf
- Catalogue includes program & course requirements

Related Academic Programs
https://www.esf.edu/sustainability/relatedprograms/