| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 78.00 |
| Liaison | Katie Maynard |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2024 |
University of California, Santa Barbara
AC-3: Undergraduate Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Katie
Maynard Sustainability Coordinator Geography & Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Majors, degrees and certificate programs
Yes
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program:
Environmental Studies Program B.A
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program:
The Environmental Studies Program produces transformative ideas through research and educates students to become agents for change for a healthy environment. The program trains and prepares students to be world-class leaders in multidisciplinary analysis and problem-solving for environmental health and sustainability, and transformative social change in the 21st century.
The Environmental Studies BA emphasizes identifying the societal (social, political, economic, cultural, and ethical) agents and structures that contribute to environmental change. Students are introduced to the major through a series of interdisciplinary lower-division courses (ENV S 1, 2, and 3), which emphasize integrated thinking across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They then acquire basic disciplinary expertise by completing a range of lower-division prerequisites.
The next stage of training reemphasizes integration and interdisciplinarity. Under the upper division requirements, Environmental Studies majors select three courses, one from each of three clusters (Ecology and Society; Energy/Water/Climate; The Built Environment). Although these clusters and the associated courses vary in focus, each tackles a key environmental topic by drawing on research from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, each emphasizes solutions, and each requires critical thinking.
Finally, students complete their training by acquiring in-depth expertise through upper division Environmental Studies electives and an outside concentration. Through the outside concentration, students complete courses from one or more UCSB departments or programs relating to their emphasis. Approximately one-third of all environmental studies B.A. majors elect to use this section to complete either a double major or minor or to participate in a field studies or study abroad program.
The Environmental Studies BA emphasizes identifying the societal (social, political, economic, cultural, and ethical) agents and structures that contribute to environmental change. Students are introduced to the major through a series of interdisciplinary lower-division courses (ENV S 1, 2, and 3), which emphasize integrated thinking across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. They then acquire basic disciplinary expertise by completing a range of lower-division prerequisites.
The next stage of training reemphasizes integration and interdisciplinarity. Under the upper division requirements, Environmental Studies majors select three courses, one from each of three clusters (Ecology and Society; Energy/Water/Climate; The Built Environment). Although these clusters and the associated courses vary in focus, each tackles a key environmental topic by drawing on research from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, each emphasizes solutions, and each requires critical thinking.
Finally, students complete their training by acquiring in-depth expertise through upper division Environmental Studies electives and an outside concentration. Through the outside concentration, students complete courses from one or more UCSB departments or programs relating to their emphasis. Approximately one-third of all environmental studies B.A. majors elect to use this section to complete either a double major or minor or to participate in a field studies or study abroad program.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program:
Additional degree programs (optional)
Global Studies B.A
None
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The Global Studies major provides a well-rounded liberal arts degree that will help prepare students for a variety of careers in the international arena, although it is not strictly a business-oriented major. It will, however, help prepare students for further graduate study in international affairs, international business, peace, and world order studies, area studies, and the emergent global civil society.
Global Studies is an established interdisciplinary major focused on preparing students to be active global citizens. The major provides a broad background in world history, politics, culture, and economy that will equip students to “think globally” and prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century. It also ensures that students graduating in the major can explain the basic contours of contemporary global social, cultural, economic, environmental, and political issues, thus deeming the program sustainable. The program’s talented and diverse faculty know multiple regions of the world, are interested in the global integration of ideas and are committed to using global thinking to transform world problems.
Global Studies is an established interdisciplinary major focused on preparing students to be active global citizens. The major provides a broad background in world history, politics, culture, and economy that will equip students to “think globally” and prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century. It also ensures that students graduating in the major can explain the basic contours of contemporary global social, cultural, economic, environmental, and political issues, thus deeming the program sustainable. The program’s talented and diverse faculty know multiple regions of the world, are interested in the global integration of ideas and are committed to using global thinking to transform world problems.
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Geography B.A
None
A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The Geography program emphasizes that students can describe the interrelationships of physical, biological, sociocultural, and economic components of the Earth system. Also, Explain how geography, the study of Earth as the home of humanity, integrates biophysical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities. The program's vision is to lead the integration of natural, social, and information sciences to solve problems of people and the environment.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Geography provides students with comprehensive and varied exposure to all topical areas of study and significant scholarly and analytic approaches within the discipline of geography, and the study of Earth as the home of humanity. These topical areas include the study of the biophysical Earth, including atmosphere and climate, oceans, soil and landforms, rivers and lakes, and plants and animals; of the human Earth, including mind, activity, culture, society, population, and economics; and of geographically-referenced information and techniques for applying it, including cartography, remote sensing, mathematical modeling and statistics, and geographic information systems (GIS).
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Geography provides students with comprehensive and varied exposure to all topical areas of study and significant scholarly and analytic approaches within the discipline of geography, and the study of Earth as the home of humanity. These topical areas include the study of the biophysical Earth, including atmosphere and climate, oceans, soil and landforms, rivers and lakes, and plants and animals; of the human Earth, including mind, activity, culture, society, population, and economics; and of geographically-referenced information and techniques for applying it, including cartography, remote sensing, mathematical modeling and statistics, and geographic information systems (GIS).
Website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
None
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
Chemical Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20CHE%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Computer Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20CE%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Earth Science B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Earth/Earth%20Science%20BA%20Major-2022.pdf
Earth Science B.S- Climate and Environmental Emphasis:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Earth/Earth%20Science%20Major,%20Climate%20and%20Environment%20Emphasis-2022.pdf
Electrical Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20EE%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Environmental Studies B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/EnvSt/Environmental%20Studies%20BA%20Major-2022.pdf
Environmental Studies B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/EnvSt/Environmental%20Studies%20BS%20Major-2022.pdf
Geography B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Geog/Geography%20Major-2022.pdf
Global Studies B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Globl/Global%20Studies%20Major-2022.pdf
Hydrological Sciences and Policy B.S:
https://es.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/Degrees%20Offered/Hydro/HYDRO_22-23_BS_Worksheet.pdf
Mechanical Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20ME%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Physical Geography B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Geog/Physical%20Geography%20Major-2022.pdf
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20CHE%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Computer Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20CE%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Earth Science B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Earth/Earth%20Science%20BA%20Major-2022.pdf
Earth Science B.S- Climate and Environmental Emphasis:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Earth/Earth%20Science%20Major,%20Climate%20and%20Environment%20Emphasis-2022.pdf
Electrical Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20EE%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Environmental Studies B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/EnvSt/Environmental%20Studies%20BA%20Major-2022.pdf
Environmental Studies B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/EnvSt/Environmental%20Studies%20BS%20Major-2022.pdf
Geography B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Geog/Geography%20Major-2022.pdf
Global Studies B.A:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Globl/Global%20Studies%20Major-2022.pdf
Hydrological Sciences and Policy B.S:
https://es.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/Degrees%20Offered/Hydro/HYDRO_22-23_BS_Worksheet.pdf
Mechanical Engineering B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/ENGR/22-23%20ME%20Curriculum%20Sheet.pdf
Physical Geography B.S:
https://my.sa.ucsb.edu/catalog/Current/Documents/2022_Majors/LS/Geog/Physical%20Geography%20Major-2022.pdf
Minors and concentrations
Yes
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration:
Bachelor of Arts - History of Art and Architecture - Emphasis in Architecture and Environment
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration:
The Architecture and environment emphasis allows one to explore how human beings have positioned themselves spatially in relation to the environment at various cultural and historical moments; its focus is on the history of humanity’s interaction with the environment. Also, The Architecture and environment emphasis offers the student a unique way to study architecture in both its historical and contemporary circumstances. It promotes the analysis of conceptual, artistic, and cultural ideas that determine architectural design; as well as the mastery of critiquing the manifold influences architecture has on the environment, including the aesthetic, cultural, social, and ecological.
Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration:
Additional minors and concentrations (optional)
Bachelor of Science - Earth Science - Climate and Environment Emphasis
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (2nd program):
This emphasis focuses on studying Earth’s climate system in the broad context of the environment, including the analysis of past, present and future changes, often drawing on the record of past and present processes preserved in continental and oceanic deposits. Some of the questions asked in this emphasis are: How do climate and surface environments interact, and how have plate tectonics, carbon cycle, and ocean-atmosphere evolution influenced environmental change?
Website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
Undergraduate Specialization Certificate: Literature and the Environment
A brief description of the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
Undergraduate Students majoring in English are encouraged to specialize in a field such as Literature and the Environment. This specialization focuses on how texts of all types shape and respond to conversations about animal welfare, global warming, humanity’s role in the world, and our potential revolutionary futures.
To complete this specialization, students must complete four environmentally oriented courses from a range of over two dozen that are regularly offered. Once completed, students will be awarded a special certificate indicating that they have specialized in Literature and the Environment at the Department of English’s award ceremony.
To complete this specialization, students must complete four environmentally oriented courses from a range of over two dozen that are regularly offered. Once completed, students will be awarded a special certificate indicating that they have specialized in Literature and the Environment at the Department of English’s award ceremony.
Website URL for the undergraduate minor or concentration (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused undergraduate minors and concentrations:
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Optional Fields
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The programs and emphasis reported were the best examples of sustainability-focused programs/emphasis at UCSB. Based on the technical manuals, we included programs heavily focused on sustainability. Other programs could have been included, but their goal measures did not include sustainability aspects as heavily as the undergraduate programs reported. To determine whether a program was a candidate for the report, we used the definition of a sustainable course. To make our decisions, we separated the programs into sustainability and non-sustainability categories. Using the program learning outcomes, which can be found on UCSB's program learning outcomes website, https://assessment.ucsb.edu/learning-outcomes,
and comparing them with the sustainability definition document's goal measures, we made our decisions.
and comparing them with the sustainability definition document's goal measures, we made our decisions.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.