University of Texas at Arlington
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Minor in Sustainability Interdisciplinary program Minor in Sustainability Engineering Program

Intended Outcome 1 Students should be able to define basic concepts and principles in environmental and sustainability studies, across disciplines. Action Steps to Achieve Intended Outcome The core course ESST 2300 will include basic concepts and principles in environmental and sustainability studies across the disciplines. Assessment Methodology Description The Director of the ESS Minor will ask the instructor of the core course, ESST 2300 to fill out a form assessing students’ abilities to define and apply basic concepts and principles in environmental and sustainability studies. The instructor will base this assessment on the student’s final exam or final project performance. The instructor will send the data to the Director of the ESS Minor who will report it as required. The criteria for success is that 80% of the students will have scored 4 or 5 on a 5 point scale, ranging from 1 (no ability to define basic concepts and principles of environmental and sustainability studies) to 5 (excellent ability to define or apply basic concepts and principles of environmental and sustainability studies.) Results: 0% rated 1; 8% rated 2; 58% rated 3; 17% rated 4; 17% rated 5. Less than 10% received a below average score; most of the students scored in the middle, and 34% received a high score. This is a solid outcome, yet the high standard we set for success—80% of students receiving a 4 or 5—has not yet been met. There is room for improvement. Proposed Changes: Instructors of ESST 2300 will emphasize core concepts in environmental and sustainability studies throughout the course, requiring students demonstrate their understanding of them. The Director of the ESS Minor will communicate this goal to the instructors of the core course. Intended Outcome 2 Students should be able to apply basic concepts and principles in environmental and sustainability studies, across disciplines. Action Steps to Achieve Intended Outcome The core course ESST 2300 will teach students to apply concepts and principles in environmental and sustainability studies. Assessment Methodology Description The Director of the ESS Minor will ask the instructor of the core course, ESST 2300 to fill out a form assessing students’ abilities to apply basic concepts and principles in environmental and sustainability studies. The instructor will base this assessment on the student’s final exam or final project performance. The instructor will send the data to the Director of the ESS Minor who will report it as required. The criteria for success is that 80% of the students will have scored 4 or 5 on a 5 point scale, ranging from 1 (no ability to apply basic concepts and principles of environmental and sustainability studies) to 5 (excellent ability to apply basic concepts and principles of environmental and sustainability studies.)