University of Colorado Colorado Springs
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

UCCS is deeply committed to a sustainable future for all humans and the planet we share. As part of this commitment, we require all students to take a course that discusses sustainability to help them better understand the interaction between human development and the natural environment. In some courses, the discussion of sustainability is deeply integrated into the practices of that career or field of study, while other courses approach sustainability from a broader disciplinary perspective. In sustainability courses, students will learn about key sustainability principles, including social equity, environmental protection, and economic development. Ideally, students will gain knowledge that helps them promote sustainability in their place of employment (e.g., support diversity and environmental activities such as recycling, waste reduction, etc.).

The UCCS General Education (GE) Goals, approved in fall 2010 and implemented in 2014, apply to all undergraduate students and include the following learning outcomes:

Goal 3) Act and Interact. Students will cultivate self-awareness and understanding of their impact locally, nationally, and globally. Students will be prepared to participate effectively in a society that encompasses diverse experiences, perspectives, and realities. This area includes [among others]: Sustainability-understanding the interaction between human development and the natural environment.

In order to achieve the terms of this goal, students will learn about key principles of sustainability, including social equity, environmental protection, and economic development, among others. The sustainability general education goal will be achieved by integrating teaching about sustainability within discipline-specific coursework and/or other general education components or in general elective courses. Integrated content and/or courses will vary across disciplines and will examine the integrative nature of the sustainability concept to their disciplinary work. Ideally, students will gain knowledge about how to promote sustainability in their place of employment (e.g., support diversity, participate in environmental activities such as recycling, reducing waste, etc.).

Students must take one course to meet their "sustainability" requirement.

https://compasscurriculum.uccs.edu/curriculum/sustainability

A compilation of the programs with sustainability-focused learning outcomes or required courses was compiled and reviewed. Programs were counted if they indicated a sustainability-focused learning outcome, required a sustainability-focused course, or were previously identified as a sustainability-focused program. The spreadsheet below includes a full list of sustainability-focused programs and the number of graduates for each program.   

Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Geography, Specialization: Sustainability Studies
Sustainability studies integrate knowledge and methodologies from the Sciences, Humanities, and Arts to provide a road map that can be applied to the design, selection, and implementation of sustainable policies, practices, technologies, and strategies. Sustainability Studies provide a dynamic feedback loop of information and practice. The Master of Arts in Applied Geography provides opportunities to explore nature-society relations and social equity issues at a variety of scales. (https://ges.uccs.edu/academics/ma) 

Sustainability Undergraduate Minor

This is an interdisciplinary minor with courses offered by departments and colleges across campus. Many courses emphasize experiential, project-based, and service learning. The minor is designed to prepare students for the challenges and obligations of the 21st century, specifically by contributing to UCCS and local organizations on issues relating to the environment and social equity, promoting economic vitality, and recognizing civic responsibilities both at home and abroad. (https://ges.uccs.edu/academics/sustainability-minor#focus) 

Bachelor of Science in Business

The Bachelor of Science in Business program provides students with comprehensive business knowledge with real-world application. As students progress through the program, they learn about their interests and have the opportunity to specialize their degree with one of 12 different business concentrations. Each course is taught by our internationally-recognized professors that specialize in translating current business theory into practice. Students are fully immersed in core principles of ethics education, which provides a framework for ethical decision-making and instruction. Students are required to take the sustainability-focused course Business, Government, and Society (BGSO 4000). In this course, students examine the interdependence between business, government, and society. Explores the legal and ethical constraints to designing holistic business strategies.

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice 

The Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BACJ) program utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to capture both the academic liberal arts emphasis and the professional and policy knowledge required to educate criminal justice professionals.  This program can be completed online, on campus, or a combination of both. Students are required to take the sustainability-focused course Crime Prevention and Analysis (CJ 3170). This lecture-lab course provides an introduction to a geographic information system (GIS) with knowledge of crime hot spots, crime mapping, and spatial analysis. Topics include: ecological theories of crime, crime and place, crime epidemics, displacement and diffusion, journey to crime, spatial aspects of individual crimes, and socio-economic status and racial dynamics of place. The lab portion of the course provides students with hands-on training in crime mapping using geographic information system (GIS) software. Upon completion of the course, students should understand the basic theories of place-based crime, how to analyze real crime data, and how to visualize criminogenic information in a variety of ways, and how racial, socioeconomic, and environmental dynamics of the neighborhood could influence crime.

Bachelor of Science in Biology 

This degree is designed for students seeking an understanding of biologically related processes. Students choose from a set of diverse electives spanning the breadth of biological disciplines, including courses in physiology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, virology, tissue culture, cell, and molecular biology, plant physiology, ecology, and evolution. Students are required to take the sustainability-focused course General Ecology (BIOL 3700). This course surveys the environmental relationships of plants and animals. Topics include speciation, abiotic, and biotic limiting factors, population, community and ecosystem dynamics, and terrestrial and aquatic biomes.

See a full list of sustainability-focused programs in the spreadsheet below.   

Source data confirmed by Office of Institutional Research and Compass Curriculum as Institutional Learning Outcomes as well as reflected in the Academic Course Catalog (also attached). https://ir.uccs.edu/studentdata/visualization https://ir.uccs.edu/studentdata/academic_plans