Arizona State University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

ASU's current general studies requirements for undergraduate programs (our predominant student body) include sustainability learning outcomes:

A baccalaureate education should prepare students for a particular profession or advanced study and for constructive and satisfying personal, social and civic lives as well. In addition to depth of knowledge in a particular academic or professional discipline, students should also be broadly educated, including knowledge of transdisciplinary solutions to address interdependent economic, environmental, and social challenges, and develop the general intellectual skills they need to continue learning throughout their lives. Thus, the General Studies requirement complements the undergraduate major by helping students gain mastery of critical learning skills, investigate the traditional branches of knowledge and develop the broad perspective that frees one to appreciate diversity and change across time, culture and national boundaries.

General studies requirements are available here: https://catalog.asu.edu/ug_gsr

As a mechanism to assess how well ASU is contributing to the knowledge, skills, and personal development of its students, graduating seniors are asked to complete the ASU Graduating Senior Report Card. The general undergraduate education section seeks to check achievement of ASU's general studies requirements and asks graduating seniors if they received instruction from ASU in areas such as:
- Acquiring a broad general education
- Writing clearly and effectively
- Speaking clearly and effectively
- Thinking critically and analytically
- Analyzing quantitative problems
- Sustainability (Addressing the balance between environmental, social, and economic concerns)
- Using computing and information technology
- Understanding ethical standards in your field
- Incorporating multiple perspectives when solving problems
- Engaging with the community to address global and local issues
- Demonstrating social responsibility
- Thinking creatively

However, it must be noted that a new thematic approach is in development to replace the above learning outcomes. In July 2019, the Arizona Board of Regents approved Policy 2-210 General Education, calling for a restructuring of general education programs. Faculty at ASU are developing a thematic approach to general education. The program is organized around 4 key competencies, reflective of ASU:
1. Inquiry: The ability to critically think, analyze and evaluate data or evidence in an ethical, systematic manner to determine the strength of an argument or conclusion.
2. Collaboration: The ability to listen to diverse views, to empathize with others' perspectives, to seek to understand others, and to effectively disagree through civil discourse. Additionally, collaboration entails the ability to successfully communicate knowledge and points of views while respecting others.
3. Innovation: The ability to innovate requires convergent and divergent thinking across multiple disciplines by pushing boundaries in one's discoveries, creations, oral or written communication, philosophical thinking, or systematic inquiries.
4. Engagement: The ability to engage diverse people, cultivate cultural understanding, promote civil discourse, understand American institutions, build inclusive networks, and direct democratic capital in pursuit of complex goals. Engagement is the foundation for applying academic knowledge to effective leadership at a local, national and global level.

Students will take courses from a controlled and curated selection, including studies in:
• Literature, Fine Arts and Humanities
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• American Institutions (including economic theory and U. S. history)
• Natural Sciences
• Composition, Communication and Rhetoric
• Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning

Embedded in the core competencies of inquiry, collaboration, innovation and engagement are topics and skills related to ethics, civility, diversity and inclusion, and the challenges of sustainability.

This new thematic approach will be piloted at ASU's West campus in Fall 2020, with plans for eventual expansion across all of ASU. We believe a thematic approach will provide a more cohesive approach to teaching overarching concepts such as ethics, civility, diversity and inclusion, and the challenges of sustainability. Additionally, per the policy of the Arizona Board of Regents, ASU must report on the inclusion of ethics, civility, and diversity and inclusion content in course materials. ASU's Office of the Provost has directed that this reporting process will also assess the inclusion of sustainability content.

Learning outcomes were reviewed by program to identify sustainability learning outcomes or sustainability-focused courses that were required.

Data represents unique graduates from ASU as some students may graduate from multiple programs.

Architecture, M. Arch.
Architecture (Energy Perf/Climate Responsive Arch), MS
Graphic Design, BSD
Industrial Design, BSD
Interior Design, BSD
Landscape Architecture, BSLA
Urban Planning, BSP
PhD in Urban Planning
Architectural Studies, BSD
Architectural Studies, Minor
Urban and Environmental Planning, MUEP
Applied Social Sciences, Certificate
Environmental Science, BA
Environmental Science, BS
Biology (Environmental Science), BS
Biology (Pharmacology/Toxicology), BS
Business (Global Logistics Management), BA
Business (Retail Management), BA
Business (Sustainability), BA
Educational Studies, BAE
Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics), BSE
Aerospace Engineering (Autonomous Vehicle Systems), BSE
Aerospace Engineering (Aeronautics), BSE
Biomedical Engineering, BSE
Civil Engineering, BSE
Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering), BSE
Civil Engineering (Sustainable Engineering), BSE
Chemical Engineering, BSE
MS in Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
MSE in Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
PhD in Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering
Construction Engineering, BSE
Construction Management and Technology, BS
Computer Systems Engineering, BSE
Electrical Engineering, BSE
Electrical Engineering (Electric Power and Energy Systems), BSE
MS in Environmental and Resource Management
MS in Environmental and Resource Management (Water Management)
Environmental Engineering, BSE
Industrial Engineering, BSE
Mechanical Engineering (Computational Mechanics), BSE
Mechanical Engineering (Energy and Environment), BSE
Mechanical Engineering, BSE
Materials Science and Engineering, BSE
MSE in Sustainable Engineering
Innovation in Society, BA
Innovation in Society, BS
Digital Culture (Arts and Design Studies), BA
Digital Culture (Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance), BA
PhD in Design, Environment and the Arts (Design)
Digital Culture (Art), BA
Digital Culture, BA
Digital Culture (Design), BA
Digital Culture (English), BA
Digital Culture (Film), BA
Digital Culture (Music), BA
Digital Culture (Media Processing), BA
Digital Culture (Media Processing), BS
Digital Culture (Theatre), BA
Digital Culture (Graphic Information Technology), BA
Environmental Design, BS
MS in American Indian Studies (Indigenous Rights and Social Justice)
Applied Mathematics for Life and Social Sciences, BS
Anthropology, PhD
Biomimicry (Graduate Certificate)
MS in Biomimicry
Biological Sciences (Conservation Biology and Ecology), BS
Biological Sciences (Biology and Society), BS
Economic Justice, Certificate
Earth and Environmental Studies, BA
Environmental Humanities, Certificate
PhD in Environmental Social Science (Complex Adaptive Systems Science)
Earth and Space Exploration (Astrobiology and Biogeosciences), BS
Earth and Space Exploration (Astrophysics), BS
Earth and Space Exploration, BS
Earth and Space Exploration (Exploration Systems Design), BS
Earth and Space Exploration (Geological Sciences), BS
Global Health, BA
Global Health, Minor
Water Resources, Certificate
Applied Biological Sciences (Natural Resource Ecology), BS
International Public Health, BIPH
Public Health, BS
Community Health, BS
Community Health, Minor
PhD in Community Resources and Development
MS in Community Resources and Development (Parks and Recreation Management)
MS in Community Resources and Development (Sustainable Communities Concentration)
MS in Community Resources and Development (Tourism)
Community Sports Management, BS
Community Sports Management (Events), BS
MA in Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Community Resilience)
Nonprofit Leadership and Management (American Indian Studies), BS
Nonprofit Leadership and Management, BS
Public Service and Public Policy (Sustainability), BS
Parks & Recreation Management, BS
Parks and Protected Area Management, Minor
Parks and Recreation Management (Therapeutic Recreation), BS
Public Policy (Environmental Policy), MPP
Recreation Therapy, BS
Social Entrepreneurship and Community Development (Graduate Certificate)
MAS in Sustainable Tourism
Sustainable Tourism, MST
Social Work, BSW
Tourism Development and Management, BS
Tourism Development and Management (Meetings and Events), BS
Tourism Development and Management, Minor
Tourism Development and Management (Resort and Hotel Leadership), BS
Tourism Development and Management (Sustainable Tourism), BS
Biomimicry, Certificate
Executive Master of Sustainability Leadership (EMSL)
Energy and Sustainability, Certificate
Energy and Sustainability (Certificate)
Sustainable Food Systems, Certificate
Food System Sustainability (certificate)
Sustainable Food Systems, BS
Master of Sustainability Leadership (MSL)
Sustainability, Minor
Master of Sustainability Solutions (MSUS)
Sustainability, BA
Sustainability, BS
PhD in Sustainability (Complex Adaptive Systems Science)
MA in Sustainability
MS in Sustainability
PhD in Sustainability
International Trade, BS
Elementary Education (Biligngual Education and English as a Second Language), BAE
Elementary Education, BAE
Elementary Education, BAE
Special Education and Elementary Education, BAE
Environmental Education, Certificate
Special Education and Elementary Education, BAE
Applied Biological Sciences (Applied Ecology and Preveterinary Medicine), BS
Applied Biological Sciences (Sustainable Horticulture), BS
Engineering, BSE
Engineering (Electrical Systems), BSE
Engineering (Robotics), BSE
Engineering (Automotive Systems), BSE
Engineering (Mechanical Engineering Systems), BSE
Environmental and Resource Management, BS
Hazardous Materials and Waste Management, Certificate
Manufacturing Engineering, BS
Software Engineering, BS
Environmental Life Sciences, PhD
Environmental Life Sciences, MSP
Technology (Environmental Technology Management), MSTech
Computer Systems Engineering (BSE)
Design, Environment and the Arts, PhD
Environmental Soc Sci-MAP