Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.60
Liaison Jay Price
Submission Date March 2, 2018
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University of Tennessee at Knoxville
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.57 / 8.00 Preston Jacobsen
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
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Total number of graduates from degree programs (i.e. majors, minors, concentrations, certificates, and other academic designations):
8,126

Number of students that graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
578

Percentage of students who graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
7.11

Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
One

Does the institution specify sustainability learning outcomes at the institution level (e.g. covering all students)?:
No

Does the institution specify sustainability learning outcomes at the division level (e.g. covering particular schools or colleges within the institution)?:
No

A list or brief description of the institution level or division level sustainability learning outcomes:

Academic departments and colleges are required to adopt learning outcomes for each of the degrees they provide. These are learning outcomes are handeled at the program level, rather than at the institution level. Please see the attached four-part document for a detailed list of learning outcomes in individual departments, a simple list of departments, and two lists that show the number of individual students who have been impacted by sustainbility learning outcomes via course enrollemtn.


Does the institution specify sustainability learning outcomes at the program level (i.e. majors, minors, concentrations, degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other academic designations)?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the program level sustainability learning outcomes (or a list of sustainability-focused programs):

The university asks that academic units have student learning outcomes for each of the degree programs. The FY 2017 list was sorted to determine which programs provide sustainability learning outcomes. See attached document for a complete detailed list containing UT programs and their sustainability learning outcomes. Listed below are a few examples:

Natural Resource & Environmental Economics:
Students can explain and illustrate economic concepts and principles related to the market system's role in allocating society's resources to and within the food and fiber system.
Students can explain and illustrate economic concepts and principles related to decision-making by consumers and producers with regard to agricultural commodities, food products, and natural resources.
Students can explain how environmental externalities, public goods, and scarce natural resources cause market failure, identify the effects of market failure on social welfare, and explain how various policy tools can be used to address these effects.
Students can use economic logic and quantitative data to analyze problems and identify solutions related to the food and fiber system, the natural resource base, and environmental quality.

Sustainable Design Certificate:
Selective Skills Acquisition: Learning of new techniques and methodologies specific to issues of sustainable design that can be directly applied to the advancement of sustainable practice upon completion of the certificate. Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Learning about developments in the discipline and profession specific to sustainable technologies and materials research in sustainable design practice, and to place techniques and methodologies into a larger context relative. Intra-disciplinary Knowledge: Learning about developments in the discipline and profession specific to issues of sustainable design practice as indexed across a range of related disciplines and professions.

Interdisciplinary Programs- Sustainability Major:
Gain an understanding of social and physical systems and their interrelationships, and be able to predict, access, and analyze the effects of human activities on those systems.
Explore and critically analyze the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability.
Evaluate and reflect on sustainability theories at local, regional, and global scales.
Engage in and explore methodologies used to research and analyze sustainability issues, and evaluate solutions to sustainability issues.
Participate in activities that explore career opportunities in sustainability and sustainability-related fields.

Urban Design:
Selective Skills Acquisition: Learning of new techniques and methodologies specific to issues of urban design and development that can be directly applied to the advancement of long-term sustainable urban design practice upon completion of the certificate
Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Learning about new developments in the discipline and profession specific to urban design and sustainable urban development in practice, and to place techniques and methodologies into a larger context.
Intra-disciplinary Knowledge: Learning about developments in the discipline and profession specific to issues of urban design practice as indexed across a range of related disciplines and professions.

Conservation and Stewardship Certificate:
Selective Skill Acquisition: Learning of new techniques and methodologies specific relative to issues of conservation and stewardship that can be directly applied to one’s practice upon completion of the certificate.
Interdisciplinary Knowledge: Learning about developments in the discipline and profession specific to issues of conservation and stewardship, to place techniques and methodologies into a larger context relative to national and international market trends.
Intra-disciplinary Knowledge: Learning about developments in the discipline and profession specific to issues of conservation and stewardship as indexed across a range of related disciplines and professions.


Do course level sustainability learning outcomes contribute to the figure reported above (i.e. in the absence of program, division, or institution level learning outcomes)?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the course level sustainability learning outcomes and the programs for which the courses are required:

Department: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Program: Watershed Minor
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Growing awareness of the complexity of water quantity and quality issues related to human activities leads to dealing with those issues on a watershed scale. These Minors are for graduate and undergraduate students wishing to develop expanded upon knowledge and skills in watershed sciences/engineering, planning and design, and culture and policy issues related to water. These are especially useful for careers in natural resource policy, water and land management, sustainable development and design for private industry, and stormwater management for government agencies. Although the minors are house in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, they are designed to be intercollegiate and are available to any graduate or undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, regardless of major, department or college.

Department: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Program: Watershed Minor
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: Growing awareness of the complexity of water quantity and quality issues related to human activities leads to dealing with those issues on a watershed scale. These Minors are for graduate and undergraduate students wishing to develop expanded upon knowledge and skills in watershed sciences/engineering, planning and design, and culture and policy issues related to water. These are especially useful for careers in natural resource policy, water and land management, sustainable development and design for private industry, and stormwater management for government agencies. Although the minors are house in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, they are designed to be intercollegiate and are available to any graduate or undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, regardless of major, department or college.

Department: Agricultural and Resource Economics
Program: Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
Type: Major
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Students majoring in natural resource and environmental economics are prepared for a variety of careers in both the private and public sectors. With increasing competition for limited land, water and other natural resources in the U.S. and throughout the world, as well as growing concern about environmental degradation of various sorts, there is a growing need for professionals who can assist in the process of balancing economic and environmental tradeoffs. Private firms face serious challenges in meeting stricter environmental regulations and achieving self-imposed environmental goals. Public agencies must continually seek to design policies so that society's resource conservation or environmental quality goals are achieved in a cost-effective manner.

Department: Agricultural and Resource Economics
Program: Natural Resource Economics
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: To provide students with natural resource economics skills, the Natural Resource Economics concentration integrates coursework in agricultural and resource economics with courses from other disciplines, such as geography, political science, forestry, bio-systems engineering and sociology. Both concentrations require 31 hours of coursework and a thesis. The Agricultural Economics concentration has a non-thesis option, which requires 36 hours of coursework and a research report.

Department: Agricultural and Resource Economics
Program: Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: Students majoring in natural resource and environmental economics are prepared for a variety of careers in both the private and public sectors. With increasing competition for limited land, water and other natural resources in the U.S. and throughout the world, as well as growing concern about environmental degradation of various sorts, there is a growing need for professionals who can assist in the process of balancing economic and environmental tradeoffs. Private firms face serious challenges in meeting stricter environmental regulations and achieving self-imposed environmental goals. Public agencies must continually seek to design policies so that society's resource conservation or environmental quality goals are achieved in a cost-effective manner.

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Environmental and Soil Science
Type: Major
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Many human activities adversely impact soil, water, and environmental quality, and there is a constant need for experts in the technologies required to collect sound information and to provide food, fiber, and shelter in an environmentally-sound manner. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Soil Sciences provides students with a strong grounding in basic sciences or engineering technology to prepare them for a broad range of possible careers.

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Environmental and Soil Science
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Many human activities adversely impact soil, water, and environmental quality, and there is a constant need for experts in the technologies required to collect sound information and to provide food, fiber, and shelter in an environmentally-sound manner. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Soil Sciences provides students with a strong grounding in basic sciences or engineering technology to prepare them for a broad range of possible careers.

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Conservation Agriculture & Environmental Sustainability
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The Conservation Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability Concentration provides graduates with a well rounded background in soil science, agronomy, pest management, and agribusiness economics. This program is designed to provide students with the skills needed for success as either a manager or consultant in production agronomy. This concentration provides a basic science foundation in soil science, geology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and economics as well as a solid foundation in oral and written communication. From this solid foundation students are introduced to basic and applied sciences many of which include hands-on laboratories and field trips in plant physiology, disease and pest management, and soil science. Students can select from technical electives in their interest areas including agricultural technologies or environmental.

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Environmental Science
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: This four-year Environmental Science Concentration is offered through a B.S. Degree in Environmental and Soil Sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Environmental Science is a blended program of science and technology that provides a strong, broad background in the natural sciences. The plan of study emphasizes human impacts on the long-term use and productivity of land and water resources. Emphasis is also placed on the tools used in the management of these resources. The curriculum provides a good foundation in the collection and analysis of the information required to characterize resource conservation problems and to make good resource use decisions. This concentration has provisions for elective courses to be taken in the specified subject areas. Students consult with their advisors each semester about their interests and the appropriate classes to meet the students' needs.

Department: Interdepartmental
Program: Environmental Soil Science
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: In the Environmental & Soil Sciences masters and doctoral programs, we seek to give students a firm understanding of both soils and their environmental context, enabling them to make informed decisions about conserving and managing our land and water resources. The complementary strengths of our soil scientists, climatologist, together with interaction with the engineering faculty, allow students to gain an understanding of environmental systems that will serve them well in their professional careers.

Department: Interdepartmental
Program: Environmental Soil Science
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: In the Environmental & Soil Sciences masters and doctoral programs, we seek to give students a firm understanding of both soils and their environmental context, enabling them to make informed decisions about conserving and managing our land and water resources. The complementary strengths of our soil scientists, climatologist, together with interaction with the engineering faculty, allow students to gain an understanding of environmental systems that will serve them well in their professional careers.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Forestry
Type: Major
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Forestry
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Forest Resources Management
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The Forest Resources Management Concentration provides an opportunity to obtain an education related to the management of the broad spectrum of wildland resources. In addition to the core of required courses, there are about 18 elective credit hours for broad studies or specialized training in one or more areas of forestry. These areas and related fields of study are: Forest Biology including plant physiology and morphology, ecology, genetics, tree nutrition, forest soils; Forest Business Management including economics, accounting, finance, marketing, management science; Forest Inventory including mathematics, statistics, computer science, photogammetry; Forest Recreation, including natural and social sciences; and Wildlife Management including ecology and botany.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Urban Forestry
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The urban forestry concentration is an interdisciplinary program emphasizing forestry, arboriculture, horticulture, urban forest management and urban wildlife. In addition to the general education courses, the urban forestry curriculum includes core courses in the traditional forestry discipline. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates who can evaluate, plan, and resolve problems in an urban and traditional forest. Foresters work closely with the public and private sector, so the development of excellent personnel management and communication skill is encouraged. In addition to the completion of courses, students are required to complete a 6-10 week professional internship experience (2 credits) in the summer prior to their senior year. Internships are structured to address specific learning objectives established by the instructor and field supervisor.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildland Recreation
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: This concentration is an interdisciplinary degree that prepares students to work in natural resource based recreation settings on private and public lands, including local, state, and national parks, and other state and federal agencies and private or non-profit organizations providing outdoor recreational opportunities. Students prepare for professional positions in the planning, development, interpretation, and management of private and public lands for recreational purposes. Students also learn the basic philosophy and principles associated with the use of leisure time and in the relationship of natural resources to the constructive uses of leisure time.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Forestry
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Natural Resources
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Natural Resource Economics
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildlife Health
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Type: Major
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildlife & Fisheries Management
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension. Wildlife and fisheries management is the science and art of maintaining populations of wild animals at levels consistent with the best interests of wild species and of the public. Management goals may be aesthetic, economic, or ecological. Success depends upon wildlife and fisheries biologists providing assistance; scholarly application of scientific information and methods to these goals; ecological perspective; and execution of programs to maintain past successes, to prevent repetition of past failures, and to prepare for future needs.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildlife Health
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension. The Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Science is pleased to announce a new degree concentration in Wildlife Health. The curriculum provides training for biologists interested in careers in Wildlife Health and meets all entry requirements for Veterinary School. Wildlife Health is the science of wildlife disease issues and impacts on our natural resources. Wildlife Health professionals must also learn about the ecology and management of our wildlife heritage and understand how to maintain healthy populations of animals consistent with the needs of the public.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildlife Health
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: The mission of the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries is to advance the management, utilization, and appreciation of natural resources in Tennessee, the region, and beyond through programs in teaching, research, and extension.


Department: Plant Sciences
Program: Organic Production
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The organic production concentration of study in the Plant Sciences Department, integrates plant science with soil science, agricultural economics, entomology, ecology, and plant pathology to give students the knowledge and skills needed for production and management of organic cropping systems. This program is offered to those interested in owning or managing organic farms, working with agricultural extension or governmental and nongovernmental organizations, joining the Peace Corps or other international agricultural development efforts, consulting, pursuing a graduate education in agronomy or horticulture, or working in other areas of the growing organic foods and agricultural products industry. Students have the opportunity to develop a personalized program in organic production by selecting from technical electives offered in a wide variety of areas, including environmental sciences, food science, marketing, sociology, foreign language, and other areas related to agricultural sustainability. Classroom instruction is enhanced by the 90-acre Organic Crops Research Unit located near the University of Tennessee campus.

Department: Division of Biology
Program: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology concentration in the undergraduate Biology major is appropriate for students pursuing careers or interests that require a better understanding of our natural world. Career opportunities exist in education at all levels: basic and applied research at colleges and universities; in governmental agencies; and in the private sector; ecological consulting; conservation and natural resource management; environmental planning; and the human health and veterinary sciences.

Department: Division of Biology
Program: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology concentration in the undergraduate Biology major is appropriate for students pursuing careers or interests that require a better understanding of our natural world. Career opportunities exist in education at all levels: basic and applied research at colleges and universities; in governmental agencies; and in the private sector; ecological consulting; conservation and natural resource management; environmental planning; and the human health and veterinary sciences.

Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Program: Ecology
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology concentration in the undergraduate Biology major is appropriate for students pursuing careers or interests that require a better understanding of our natural world. Career opportunities exist in education at all levels: basic and applied research at colleges and universities; in governmental agencies; and in the private sector; ecological consulting; conservation and natural resource management; environmental planning; and the human health and veterinary sciences.

Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Program: Ecology
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology concentration in the undergraduate Biology major is appropriate for students pursuing careers or interests that require a better understanding of our natural world. Career opportunities exist in education at all levels: basic and applied research at colleges and universities; in governmental agencies; and in the private sector; ecological consulting; conservation and natural resource management; environmental planning; and the human health and veterinary sciences.

Department: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Program: Environmental Studies
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The Environmental Studies concentration provides sound scientific, socioeconomic, and philosophical background for understanding the Earth’s environment and prepares the student for careers in science, education, law, business, public policy, and many other fields.

Department: Geography
Program: Geography
Type: Major
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Students work alongside award-winning and renowned scholar-teachers who place great value on field work, international travel and scholarship, mapping and location analysis, the natural environment and sustainable development, state of the art technology and data analysis (quantitative and qualitative), community engagement, responsible planning, and social justice.

Department: Geography
Program: Geography
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Students work alongside award-winning and renowned scholar-teachers who place great value on field work, international travel and scholarship, mapping and location analysis, the natural environment and sustainable development, state of the art technology and data analysis (quantitative and qualitative), community engagement, responsible planning, and social justice.


Department: Geography
Program: Geography
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: The faculty, with extensive world-wide experience (Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Asia, Europe, Africa, the American West, and the American South), is exceptionally qualified to direct graduate research in geography of the natural environment (especially biogeography, paleoclimatology, and geomorphology), spatial analysis (especially location analysis, environmental modeling, and geographic information science), and human geography (especially economic, urban, transportation, population, and cultural).

Department: Geography
Program: Environmental Policy
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: The program is designed to give Master’s level graduate students an opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary specialization in environmental policy. While administered through the Economics Department, the program is coordinated by a committee of representatives from the following participating departments: Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Ecology; Economics; Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries; Geography; Management; Political Science; and Sociology.

Department: Geography
Program: Geography
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: The faculty, with extensive world-wide experience (Latin America, the Caribbean, Southern and Eastern Asia, Europe, Africa, the American West, and the American South), is exceptionally qualified to direct graduate research in geography of the natural environment (especially biogeography, paleoclimatology, and geomorphology), spatial analysis (especially location analysis, environmental modeling, and geographic information science), and human geography (especially economic, urban, transportation, population, and cultural).

Department: Interdisciplinary Studies
Program: Sustainability
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The sustainability concentration provides scientific, socioeconomic, and philosophical background for understanding and mitigating human impact on the natural environment.

Department: Interdisciplinary Studies
Program: Sustainability
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The sustainability concentration provides scientific, socioeconomic, and philosophical background for understanding and mitigating human impact on the natural environment.

Department: Sociology
Program: Environmental Issues
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Global warming. Depletion of the ozone layer. The export of First World waste to Third World nations. The razing of tropical forests for cattle grazing. The loss of biodiversity. The premature extinction of the human species. Each day in newspapers, magazines, radio and television news reports, and in various Internet sources, environmental issues are discussed, debated, and hotly contested.Sociologists play a critical role in understanding and resolving environmental problems. Why sociology? Because the sociological perspective is unique and useful for examining environmental problems. It focuses on how social institutions and cultural practices influence behavior rather than attributing behavior to the characteristics of the individual. Although many people view environmental issues as technical problems that require the expertise of only biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers to understand, sociologists recognize the essentially social nature of environmental issues.Sociologists analyze the social causes and consequences of technological choices, policy decisions, and economic production processes affecting resource scarcity and environmental degradation. They probe such questions as: What are environmental problems and who defines them? What happens when citizens hold conflicting values about the environment? What types of people are most likely to be concerned about protecting the environment? What role do population issues play in environmental problems? How do urban environmental problems differ from rural environmental problems? What social groups suffer the most from environmental problems? What is the role of government policies in resolving environmental problems? What role has the environmental movement played in the raising of environmental consciousness? What is the relationship between economic production and environmental problems? Is a sustainable future a possibility?

Department: Sociology
Program: Environmental Issues and Globalization
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Global warming. Depletion of the ozone layer. The export of First World waste to Third World nations. The razing of tropical forests for cattle grazing. The loss of biodiversity. The premature extinction of the human species. Each day in newspapers, magazines, radio and television news reports, and in various Internet sources, environmental issues are discussed, debated, and hotly contested.Sociologists play a critical role in understanding and resolving environmental problems. Why sociology? Because the sociological perspective is unique and useful for examining environmental problems. It focuses on how social institutions and cultural practices influence behavior rather than attributing behavior to the characteristics of the individual. Although many people view environmental issues as technical problems that require the expertise of only biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers to understand, sociologists recognize the essentially social nature of environmental issues.Sociologists analyze the social causes and consequences of technological choices, policy decisions, and economic production processes affecting resource scarcity and environmental degradation. They probe such questions as: What are environmental problems and who defines them? What happens when citizens hold conflicting values about the environment? What types of people are most likely to be concerned about protecting the environment? What role do population issues play in environmental problems? How do urban environmental problems differ from rural environmental problems? What social groups suffer the most from environmental problems? What is the role of government policies in resolving environmental problems? What role has the environmental movement played in the raising of environmental consciousness? What is the relationship between economic production and environmental problems? Is a sustainable future a possibility?

Department: Sociology
Program: Environmental Sociology
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: Global warming. Depletion of the ozone layer. The export of First World waste to Third World nations. The razing of tropical forests for cattle grazing. The loss of biodiversity. The premature extinction of the human species. Each day in newspapers, magazines, radio and television news reports, and in various Internet sources, environmental issues are discussed, debated, and hotly contested.Sociologists play a critical role in understanding and resolving environmental problems. Why sociology? Because the sociological perspective is unique and useful for examining environmental problems. It focuses on how social institutions and cultural practices influence behavior rather than attributing behavior to the characteristics of the individual. Although many people view environmental issues as technical problems that require the expertise of only biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers to understand, sociologists recognize the essentially social nature of environmental issues.Sociologists analyze the social causes and consequences of technological choices, policy decisions, and economic production processes affecting resource scarcity and environmental degradation. They probe such questions as: What are environmental problems and who defines them? What happens when citizens hold conflicting values about the environment? What types of people are most likely to be concerned about protecting the environment? What role do population issues play in environmental problems? How do urban environmental problems differ from rural environmental problems? What social groups suffer the most from environmental problems? What is the role of government policies in resolving environmental problems? What role has the environmental movement played in the raising of environmental consciousness? What is the relationship between economic production and environmental problems? Is a sustainable future a possibility?

Department: Sociology
Program: Environmental Sociology
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: Global warming. Depletion of the ozone layer. The export of First World waste to Third World nations. The razing of tropical forests for cattle grazing. The loss of biodiversity. The premature extinction of the human species. Each day in newspapers, magazines, radio and television news reports, and in various Internet sources, environmental issues are discussed, debated, and hotly contested.Sociologists play a critical role in understanding and resolving environmental problems. Why sociology? Because the sociological perspective is unique and useful for examining environmental problems. It focuses on how social institutions and cultural practices influence behavior rather than attributing behavior to the characteristics of the individual. Although many people view environmental issues as technical problems that require the expertise of only biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers to understand, sociologists recognize the essentially social nature of environmental issues.Sociologists analyze the social causes and consequences of technological choices, policy decisions, and economic production processes affecting resource scarcity and environmental degradation. They probe such questions as: What are environmental problems and who defines them? What happens when citizens hold conflicting values about the environment? What types of people are most likely to be concerned about protecting the environment? What role do population issues play in environmental problems? How do urban environmental problems differ from rural environmental problems? What social groups suffer the most from environmental problems? What is the role of government policies in resolving environmental problems? What role has the environmental movement played in the raising of environmental consciousness? What is the relationship between economic production and environmental problems? Is a sustainable future a possibility?

Department: Landscape Architecture Program
Program: Landscape Architecture
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MLA)
Learning Outcomes: At the University of Tennessee, we believe that the role of landscape architecture is to steward our natural resources and integrate the experience and performance of natural and constructed place into the design of healthy communities and memorable landscapes. As a partnership between the College of Architecture and Design and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the Landscape Architecture Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers a dynamic educational and research environment. Our program positions its students and faculty to address contemporary issues facing landscapes and communities of our region, our state, and those posed to the broader profession of landscape architecture. We accomplish this by committing ourselves to: Promote an ethic of environmental and cultural stewardship, sustainable practice and critical thinking as a means to achieve exemplary research, planning, design and management of developed and naturally occurring landscapes and enhance public health, safety and welfare in Tennessee and beyond. The graduate program in Landscape Architecture is distinguished by a commitment to sustainable landscapes, cities and communities.

Department: School of Architecture
Program: Sustainable Design
Type: Concentration
Level: MArch
Learning Outcomes: The College of Architecture and Design offers a concentration in sustainable design incorporating knowledge from a wide range of disciplines, ranging from technical to philosophical. This concentration explores the interrelation between decisions made when designing the built environment and their short-term and long-term impacts on the ecological environment. Students are asked to take responsibility for the role architecture plays in the consumption of natural resources, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary dialogue and leadership at building, site, city, and regional scales.

Department: Chemistry
Program: Environmental Chemistry
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee. We offer a long-standing tradition of excellence in chemical research and education, stretching from 1947, when the department granted the University's first Ph.D. degree, to the present. Our 30 faculty members have research interests that both span the traditional areas of chemistry and encompass new interdisciplinary fields such as materials chemistry, chemistry of the life sciences, and environmental chemistry.

Department: Chemistry
Program: Environmental Chemistry
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: Welcome to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Tennessee. We offer a long-standing tradition of excellence in chemical research and education, stretching from 1947, when the department granted the University's first Ph.D. degree, to the present. Our 30 faculty members have research interests that both span the traditional areas of chemistry and encompass new interdisciplinary fields such as materials chemistry, chemistry of the life sciences, and environmental chemistry.

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Environmental Engineering
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Consistent with the mission of the university and college, the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is three-fold: (1) to educate the engineers of tomorrow such that they are prepared to practice in a global economy; (2) to contribute to state and national economic growth through effective and visible research; and (3) to serve the public through the efforts of individual faculty and students. The department aims to contribute to the economic and social development of the state, region, and nation by maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with the public and private sectors. The College of Engineering offers a Minor in Environmental Engineering to undergraduate students.

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Environmental Engineering
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: Consistent with the mission of the university and college, the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is three-fold: (1) to educate the engineers of tomorrow such that they are prepared to practice in a global economy; (2) to contribute to state and national economic growth through effective and visible research; and (3) to serve the public through the efforts of individual faculty and students. The department aims to contribute to the economic and social development of the state, region, and nation by maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with the public and private sectors. The College of Engineering offers a Major in Environmental Engineering to masters students.

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Water Resources Engineering
Type: Concentration
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: Consistent with the mission of the university and college, the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is three-fold: (1) to educate the engineers of tomorrow such that they are prepared to practice in a global economy; (2) to contribute to state and national economic growth through effective and visible research; and (3) to serve the public through the efforts of individual faculty and students. The department aims to contribute to the economic and social development of the state, region, and nation by maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with the public and private sectors. The College of Engineering offers a Concentration in Water Resources Engineering to masters students.

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Climate Impacts Engineering
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: Consistent with the mission of the university and college, the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is three-fold: (1) to educate the engineers of tomorrow such that they are prepared to practice in a global economy; (2) to contribute to state and national economic growth through effective and visible research; and (3) to serve the public through the efforts of individual faculty and students. The department aims to contribute to the economic and social development of the state, region, and nation by maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with the public and private sectors. The College of Engineering offers a Climate Impacts Engineering Concentration to doctoral students.

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Environmental Engineering
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (PhD)
Learning Outcomes: Consistent with the mission of the university and college, the mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is three-fold: (1) to educate the engineers of tomorrow such that they are prepared to practice in a global economy; (2) to contribute to state and national economic growth through effective and visible research; and (3) to serve the public through the efforts of individual faculty and students. The department aims to contribute to the economic and social development of the state, region, and nation by maintaining mutually beneficial partnerships with the public and private sectors. The College of Engineering offers an Environmental Engineering Concentration to doctoral students.

Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Program: Water Resource Engineering
Type: Minor
Level: Graduate (PhD)

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Agricultural Systems Technology
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Provide the skills required to manage the sophisticated technological systems that are increasingly essential to modern agricultural production. The program starts with a basic science foundation, adds courses in crop production, pest control, and protection of soil and water resources, then introduces the technologies and control systems available to make production more efficient and environmentally sound. It rounds out the curriculum with analysis and management courses to tie all the information together and to most effectively use it in making and carrying out management decisions. Directed technical electives allow the student to concentrate in a particular area of agricultural production or to develop increased skills with particular technologies or management tools.

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Construction Science Concentration
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The concentration is designed to prepare students for entry into the very broad and diverse range of careers related to construction. This field relies on knowledge from engineering, construction, and business; skills related to teamwork and leadership are important as well. The program is designed to provide a strong background in science and math, adds fundamental concepts from engineering, and exposure to relevant technology and techniques such as CAD, land surveying, and GPS/GIS. The business related coursework in the Construction Science track leads to a Minor in Business Administration. This business background is supplemented with courses addressing construction-specific issues in accounting, finance, and law; issues related to green/sustainable construction practices are also covered.

Department: Anthropology
Program: Disasters, Displacement, and Human Rights
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: This concentration is intended for current Anthropology majors wishing to develop specialized knowledge and research skills in the anthropological study of natural and unnatural disasters and humanitarian crises, forced migration, and human rights investigations, policies, practices, and norms.

Department: College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Program: Science Education Grades 6-8
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Students interested in teaching mathematics (grades 6-8) OR science (grades 6-8) earn a BA or BS in the College of Arts and Sciences in either mathematics OR an area of science (e.g., astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology with an environmental studies concentration, or physics). Students earning a geology major with an environmental studies concentration degree have the required coursework for licensing in both mathematics and science grades 6-8.

Department: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Program: Environmental Studies
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The Environmental Studies concentration provides sound scientific, socioeconomic, and philosophical background for understanding the Earth’s environment and prepares the student for careers in science, education, law, business, public policy, and many other fields.

Department: Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
Program: Restoration and Conservation Science
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The conversation and restoration concentration emphasizes forestry, ecology, soil and waters, and wildlife. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates who can evaluate terrestrial ecosystems and plan for the conservation of healthy ecosystems, the improvement of degraded ones, and the reclamation or restoration of severely disturbed land. Students may choose from a broad range of technical courses, or may choose to focus their program on a particular aspect of restoring or conserving ecosystems such as wildlife habitat, watersheds, ecosystem construction, or ecology and biodiversity.

Department: Plant Sciences
Program: Horticulture Science and Production
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The horticulture science and production concentration is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for production, management and marketing of horticultural crops. This concentration also prepares students with strong interests in science and/or technology to pursue opportunities in research-related fields, including graduate studies. Employment prospects range from managing nursery and greenhouse businesses, to consulting and education, to marketing fruits and vegetables for healthier lifestyles.

Department: Plant Sciences
Program: Landscape Design
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: Students study fundamental and advanced landscape design, landscape design graphics, computer-aided landscape design, surveying, art, socio-economic impact of plants, field botany, professional practices, contracting, basic woody plant identification, landscape construction and maintenance methods. The development of comprehensive design projects helps students prepare for careers in landscape design or advanced studies in landscape architecture.

Department: Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science
Program: Soil Science
Type: Concentration
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: This concentration is a rigorous, science-based program for students interested in the field of soil science. The curriculum emphasizes soils and their long-term use and productivity, as well as surface and sub-surface water resources. Students will understand natural resource problems and their management, including soil and water conservation issues, land use problems, waste disposal, and reclamation of disturbed lands. Other areas of interest can be addressed through the appropriate selection of technical electives in the program. Students in this program will gain the practical knowledge necessary to compete for career opportunities in government, environmental consulting firms, public health services, environmental research laboratories, and agricultural production, while also gaining the theoretical training necessary for continuing on for advanced degrees in a number of environmentally related fields.

Department: College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Program: International Agriculture and Natural Resources
Type: Minor
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: The minor in international agriculture and natural resources is intended for students interested in gaining an international perspective to the world’s food, fiber, and natural resources systems.

Department: Food Science and Technology
Program: Food Science and Technology
Type: Major
Level: Undergraduate
Learning Outcomes: This major had designed programs of instruction to educate scholars in the food industry and allied industries, regulatory agencies, governmental research laboratories, and academia as well as preparation for professional careers in medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. In this requires knowledge of food and environmental health.

Department: Food Science and Technology
Program: Food Science and Technology
Type: Major
Level: Graduate (MS)
Learning Outcomes: This major had designed programs of instruction to educate scholars in the food industry and allied industries, regulatory agencies, governmental research laboratories, and academia as well as preparation for professional careers in medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. In this requires knowledge of food and environmental health.


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