The School of Earth & Sustainability (SES) recognizes seven learning outcomes to transform sustainability learning, moving beyond disciplinary knowledge in a given field to exposing students to sustainability principles and systems thinking with an explicit focus on the interdependence of ecological, social, and economic systems. The sustainability learning outcomes are:
1. Systems thinking and organizing complexity. Students should have a grounded understanding of sustainability and how systems are interrelated. Students should be able to use systems thinking for research and for practical problem-solving.
2. Interdisciplinary collaboration and integration. Students should have experience with multiple disciplines and show the capability to work productively and effectively within cross-disciplinary teams.
3. 21st-century national and international challenges. Students should demonstrate a capacity to address 21st-century environmental and cultural challenges, both national and international.
4. Current local and regional resilience challenges. Students should develop the means to indicate how sustainability issues are impacting their immediate social, economic, and political environment.
5. Civic engagement and community partnership. Students should recognize and advocate for civic engagement and inclusive practices for applying sustainability principles to local issues.
6. Personal agency and professional responsibility. Students should learn the ethical principles of sustainability and how they are connected to practical issues of social justice and environmental and economic equity.
7. Information competency. Students should develop proficiency in finding and using reliable data and documentation to support their sustainability projects.