Bucknell University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

As part of the college’s core curriculum, the College of Arts and Science which accounts for ~80% of graduating seniors, requires each undergraduate student to successfully complete a course with the environmental connections designation and one with the diversity in the United States designation. As a result, a large percentage of Bucknell graduates have completed the environmental connections and diversity in the US college core curriculum. These designated courses challenge students to “analyze, evaluate and synthesize complex interrelationships between humans and the natural world. Students evaluate critically their personal connections to the natural world in one of the following ways: reasoning about ethical issues, directly experiencing the natural world, connecting to their community, or relating individual choices to larger societal goals.” Also, Students will use concepts and tools of inquiry from at least one discipline to analyze issues related to the diversity of cultural experiences in the United States. Students will reflect critically on the ways in which diversity (broadly understood) within the United States shapes the experience of citizens and persons residing in the United States.

These students have to demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of the physical, cultural, or social connections between humans and the natural world, according to their interests and disciplinary preferences, in at least one of the following ways:
• Tracing the fundamental physical interconnections between humans, other species, and the environment.
• Explaining how natural systems function and how human actions affect them.
• Distinguishing between human impacts and natural changes.
• Elucidating the concept of sustainability.
• Analyzing past cultural constructions of the environment.
• Analyzing current cultural narratives that shape our relationship to the environment.
• Analyzing societal mechanisms that influence our relationship to the environment.
• Assessing the governance and political conflicts regarding human-environment relationships.
• Understanding the role of technological, economic, and scientific knowledge in environmental decision-making and power relations between social actors.

https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-arts-sciences/about-college-arts-sciences/college-core-curriculum/tools-critical

Using the AASHE stars guidelines, we ascertained which majors have enough of a focus on sustainability to qualify for a sustainability learning outcome. We used the 2022-23 Bucknell Fact Book (attached) to obtain the number of students in each major.

In the Freeman College of Management, students have the opportunity to major with a degree in Managing for Sustainability (MSUS). MSUS students upon graduating should have a firm understanding of managerial challenges to realizing sustainability but also possess the courage and passion for achieving sustainable environmental, social, and economic goals.

https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/freeman-college-management/majors-departments/management-organizations

In the College of Arts & Sciences (A&S), students can major in Environmental Studies and Sciences (ENST). ENST students have the choice of two majors, Environmental Studies or Environmental Sciences. Environmental studies is an interdisciplinary major for students with an abiding interest in the environmental problems faced by humans, with special concern for their humanistic, policy, and social science aspects. Environmental science allows students majoring in the natural sciences to add an environmental concentration to another degree. It focuses on the technical aspects of the discipline and is only open to students who also major in biology, chemistry, or geology. Upon completing either major, students should be able to integrate and apply perspectives from across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in the context of complex environmental problems.

https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-arts-sciences/academic-departments-programs/environmental-studies-sciences

In the College of Engineering, students can major in Environmental Engineering (EVEG). As an environmental engineering major, students learn to design, construct and operate systems that protect the environment and human health, recover resources and enable society's continued development. One of the goals of the EVEG program is to prepare students to be successful professionals recognized for their consideration of global and societal concerns, ethics, and sustainability when making engineering decisions.

https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-engineering/majors-departments/civil-environmental-engineering

The College of Engineering requires all Engineering students to take ENGR 100 Exploring Engineering in the fall semester of their first year. This is a hands-on course designed to immerse students in the field of engineering. It introduces them to all eight of our engineering majors through hands-on activities and labs, and learn through experience how their major fits into the bigger picture. One of the learning outcomes of this college-wide required course is to understand the formal engineering design process that includes developing evaluative criteria to assess the environmental impact of the design.
https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-engineering/signature-engineering-programs

Also, a learning objective for all College of Engineering students is to have the ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

All College of Engineering students are also required to take an engineering ethics class (specific class varies by major). As part of the ethics code, students learn that engineers are encouraged to adhere to the principles of sustainable development in order to protect the environment for future generations. For this purpose, ""Sustainable development"" is the challenge of meeting human needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, and effective waste management while conserving and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future development. https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-engineering/majors-departments

Geography

https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-arts-sciences/academic-departments-programs/geography

Sociology

https://www.bucknell.edu/academics/college-arts-sciences/academic-departments-programs/sociology-anthropology

We know many students take courses with sustainability-related outcomes as electives. Therefore, many undergraduates take multiple classes with sustainability-related learning outcomes.