| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.87 |
| Liaison | Carrie Metzgar |
| Submission Date | Nov. 5, 2024 |
University of California, San Diego
AC-2: Learning Outcomes
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
8.00 / 8.00 |
Carrie
Metzgar Campus Sustainability Officer Utilities & Sustainability |
Part 1. Institutional sustainability learning outcomes
Which of the following best describes the sustainability learning outcomes?:
A list of the institution level sustainability learning outcomes:
At UC San Diego, sustainability learning outcomes are deeply integrated into the academic experience, with a focus on equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to address the complex environmental challenges of the 21st century. By incorporating sustainability learning outcomes into its academic programs, UC San Diego aims to empower students to become active contributors to a more sustainable future, both locally and globally.
JANE TERANES CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION REQUIREMENT (JTCCER)
In late 2023, UC San Diego established the Jane Teranes Climate Change Education Requirement (JTCCER), a new graduation requirement for all incoming first-year students. Starting with the first-year student cohort entering in fall 2024, all bachelor's degree candidates will be required to complete a one-quarter course approved by the Academic Senate.
The JTCCER aims to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed to confront the urgent global challenge of climate change. The courses that fulfill the JTCCER requirement invite students to examine the complex nature of climate change and potential solutions from a variety of perspectives, including scientific, technical, cultural, psychological, political, and economic. This interdisciplinary approach encourages students to develop a comprehensive understanding of climate change and its far-reaching impacts. Students will gain knowledge and skills in areas such as:
-
Understanding the scientific background of climate change
-
Exploring societal impacts and social dimensions of climate change
-
Developing potential solutions, including mitigation, adaptation, and justice
-
Engaging in hands-on projects or experiential learning opportunities related to climate change
Further information about the JTCCER sustainability learning outcome is available here:
Part 2. Program-level sustainability learning outcomes
Number of graduates from degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
A brief description of how the figure above was determined:
UC San Diego Staff utilized the following methodology to determine the number of students who graduated from degree programs with an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
-
UC San Diego Institutional Research Dashboards: https://ir.ucsd.edu/dashboards/index.html
-
-
Gathered total number of undergraduates and graduates who received degrees in 2022-2023 (the most recent data available).
-
Gathered total number of undergraduates and graduates who received degrees from each school/academic department, using the “Undergraduate Degree Recipient Dashboard” and “Graduate Degrees Awarded Dashboard.”
-
-
Undergraduate Learning Outcomes:
-
-
Consulted the published program learning outcomes for each undergraduate school, department, and program (https://undergrad.ucsd.edu/assessment/learning-outcomes.html). Reviewed the learning outcomes and identified all sustainability-focused learning outcomes referencing both the interdependence of ecological systems and social/economic systems, or that include the term “sustainability.”
-
Verified learning outcomes are up to date by cross-referencing with department websites and corresponding via email with academic department/programs point of contacts.
-
-
Graduate Learning Outcomes:
-
-
Consulted the published program learning outcomes for each graduate school, department, and program (https://undergrad.ucsd.edu/_files/lo-programs/Graduate_Division_Inventory_of_Educational_Effectiveness_Indicators_2015.pdf). Reviewed the learning outcomes and identified all sustainability-focused learning outcomes referencing both the interdependence of ecological systems and social/economic systems, or that include the term “sustainability.”
-
Since the learning outcomes for graduate programs are not as detailed as undergraduate programs, we cross-referenced with department websites and corresponded via email with academic department/programs point of contacts.
-
A list of degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
The following is a list of degree programs that have published sustainability-focused learning outcomes. For rationales, please visit the attachment below.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES:
B.S. Biology, Specialization in Bioinformatics
B.S. Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
B.S. General Biology
B.S. Human Biology
B.S. Microbiology
B.S. Molecular and Cell Biology
B.S. Neurobiology
SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY:
B.S. Geosciences
B.S. Marine Biology
B.S. Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences
B.S. Environmental Systems
M.A Climate Science and Policy
M.A.S. Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
M.S. Applied Ocean Science
Ph.D. Geophysics
Ph.D. Geosciences
Ph.D. Marine Biology
Ph.D. Oceanography
Ph.D. Applied Ocean Science
SHU CHIEN-GENE LAY DEPARTMENT OF BIOENGINEERING:
B.S. in Bioengineering: Bioengineering
B.S. in Bioengineering Biotechnology
B.S. in Bioengineering Bioinformatics
B.S. in Bioengineering BioSystems
AIISO YUFENG LI FAMILY DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND NANO ENGINEERING:
B.S. Chemical Engineering
B.S. NanoEngineering
MECHANICAL & AEROSPACE ENGINEERING:
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
B.S. Environmental Engineering
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING:
B.S. Structural Engineering
CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY:
B.S. Chemistry
B.S. Environmental Chemistry
B.S. Pharmacological Chemistry
B.S. Molecular Synthesis
B.S. Biochemistry
ANTHROPOLOGY:
B.A. Archaeology
B.A. B.S. Biological Anthropology
B.A. Climate Change and Human Solutions
B.A. Sociocultural Anthropology
URBAN STUDIES & PLANNING:
B.A. Urban Studies and Planning
B.S. Real Estate and Development
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE:
M.D. Medicine
Ph.D. Bioinformatics & Systems Biology
Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences
Ph.D. Neurosciences
Independent PhD
M.S. Clinical Research
PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN LONGEVITY SCIENCE:
B.S. Public Health
M.P.H. Public Health
RADY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT:
M.B.A. Master of Business Administration
GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAM:
B.A. Global Health
B.S. Global Health
M.A. Global Health
Documentation supporting the figure reported above (upload):
Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
Percentage of students who graduate from programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
At UC San Diego, sustainability-related student learning outcomes are a key focus of the university's academic programs. Two additional noteworthy sustainability-focused and sustainability-inclusive learning outcomes include:
SEVENTH COLLEGE: “A CHANGING PLANET”
Seventh College's theme "A Changing Planet", which aims to empower students to confront the challenges of a rapidly changing world and promote sustainability. The College’s theme and its associated curriculum and programs are designed to promote sustainability learning outcomes for students, empowering them to confront the challenges of a rapidly changing world and to contribute to a more sustainable future. More information about the Seventh College sustainability-focused learning outcome: https://seventh.ucsd.edu/about/index.html
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Requirement at UC San Diego is sustainability-inclusive in that it aims to promote a culture of inclusivity and respect for diversity, which is essential for creating a sustainable and equitable environment. The requirement is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with topics on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to challenge structural racism and other forms of oppression. By doing so, the DEI Education Requirement helps to foster a sense of community and belonging among students, which is critical for building a sustainable and inclusive campus culture. More information about the DEI Education Requirement: https://undergrad.ucsd.edu/programs/dei/index.html
Points of contact for credit information:
-
Carrie Metzgar, Campus Sustainability Officer, Utilities & Sustainability
-
Mike Salisbury, Sustainability Data Analyst, Utilities & Sustainability
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.