Utah State University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

USU's Office of Analysis, Assessment and Accreditation tracks official learning outcomes. They were reviewed for references to sustainability. Programs with a sustainability outcome were included. Programs that require a sustainability-focused course as identified by AC-1 were also included. USU's Office of Analysis, Assessment and Accreditation provided total graduates for those programs.

Individual programs can choose to include learning outcomes related to one or more aspects of sustainability. It is not required. Graduates from programs that have a learning outcome related to sustainability are included. The attached spreadsheet has a tab with an easier to read version.

Course Sustainability learning outcome
Agricultural Machinery Technology - AAS Provide viable solutions to situations within existing economic, environmental, social, political, health & safety and sustainability constraints.
Agricultural Systems Technology - BS Provide viable solutions to situations within existing economic, environmental, social, political, health & safety and sustainability constraints.
Agricultural Systems Technology and Agribusiness (Composite) - BS Provide viable solutions to situations within existing economic, environmental, social, political, health & safety and sustainability constraints.
Biological - APE Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
Biological Engineering - BS Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
Biological Science—Composite Teaching - BA, BS Graduates will understand the historical and social context of biological thought and research, and the contributions of biology to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues in human affairs.
Biology: Biology - BA, BS Graduates will understand the historical and social context of biological thought and research, and the contributions of biology to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues in human affairs.
Biology: Cellular/Molecular - BA, BS Graduates will understand the historical and social context of biological thought and research, and the contributions of biology to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues in human affairs.
Biology: Ecology/Biodiversity - BA, BS Graduates will understand the historical and social context of biological thought and research, and the contributions of biology to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues in human affairs.
Biology: Environmental - BA, BS Graduates will understand the historical and social context of biological thought and research, and the contributions of biology to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues in human affairs.
Biology: Human Biology - BS Graduates will understand the historical and social context of biological thought and research, and the contributions of biology to the resolution of ethical, social, and environmental issues in human affairs.
Civil Engineering - BS Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
Computer Science - BS, Social Studies (Composite Teaching) - BA, BS "An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues and responsibilities
An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society
** This program also includes environmental components of sustainability within it's courses, such as analyzing smart grids, solar energy, and electric vehicles, specifically within "
Conservation and Restoration Ecology - BS Ability to analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of natural resource management strategies and decisions
Ecology - BIOL MS "Blocks
Biophysical Ecology
Organismic, Population, and Evolutionary Ecology
Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology
Quantitative Ecology
Human Ecology: policy; recreation; planning; economics, sustainability, and translational Science; anthropology, history, psychology, and sociology"
Ecology - ENVS MS "Blocks
Biophysical Ecology
Organismic, Population, and Evolutionary Ecology
Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology
Quantitative Ecology
Human Ecology: policy; recreation; planning; economics, sustainability, and translational Science; anthropology, history, psychology, and sociology"
Ecology - WATS MS "Blocks
Biophysical Ecology
Organismic, Population, and Evolutionary Ecology
Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology
Quantitative Ecology
Human Ecology: policy; recreation; planning; economics, sustainability, and translational Science; anthropology, history, psychology, and sociology"
Ecology - WILD MS "Blocks
Biophysical Ecology
Organismic, Population, and Evolutionary Ecology
Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology
Quantitative Ecology
Human Ecology: policy; recreation; planning; economics, sustainability, and translational Science; anthropology, history, psychology, and sociology"
Ecology - PhD "Blocks
Biophysical Ecology
Organismic, Population, and Evolutionary Ecology
Community, Ecosystem, and Landscape Ecology
Quantitative Ecology
Human Ecology: policy; recreation; planning; economics, sustainability, and translational Science; anthropology, history, psychology, and sociology"
Electrical and Computer Engineering Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
Environmental Engineering - BS Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
Environment & Society MS, PhD These degrees are aimed at students who desire to be problem-solvers with an ability to integrate the human and biophysical aspects of ecosystems and to analyze policies and decisions that encourage the sustainability of human communities and ecosystems. The MS degree prepares students for professional practice in natural resources and environmental planning and management, policy and program analysis, public affairs, environmental education, community assessment and collaboration, conflict management, and extension/outreach. The PhD program places a greater emphasis on theory and research methods in one or more social science disciplines, and thus prepares students for university teaching, research, and extension; for conducting agency and private organizational research; and for positions in formal policy and program evaluation.
Environmental Studies - Minor Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
Forestry - BS Ability to analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of natural resource management strategies and decisions
Geography - Minor Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
Geography Teaching Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
Geography Teaching - Minor Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
Geography: Geographical Analysis and Bioregional Planning Emphasis - BS Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
Geography: Human-Environment Emphasis - BS Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
Geography: Physical Geography Emphasis - BS Understand and integrate ideas from the ecological, social, and physical sciences
History Teaching - Minor describe the influence of political ideologies, economic structures, social organization, cultural perceptions, and natural environments on historical events
History: Teaching Emphasis - BA. BS describe the influence of political ideologies, economic structures, social organization, cultural perceptions, and natural environments on historical events
Land Plant Climate Systems: Applied Climatology Option - BA, BS "Identify definitions of sustainability, common misconceptions of sustainability, and key principles of sustainability.
Understand the relationship of values to sustainability; how values influence sustainability goals; and how values affect sustainability monitoring. Be able critically to evaluate sustainability goals and monitoring; Understand the role of energy and other resources in sustainability; how resource use and/or conservation affect sustainability outcomes; and how technological innovation affects sustainability; Learn how sustainability emerges from peoples’ efforts to solve major problems."
Land Plant Climate Systems: Environmental Soil Science Option - BA, BS "Identify definitions of sustainability, common misconceptions of sustainability, and key principles of sustainability.
Understand the relationship of values to sustainability; how values influence sustainability goals; and how values affect sustainability monitoring. Be able critically to evaluate sustainability goals and monitoring; Understand the role of energy and other resources in sustainability; how resource use and/or conservation affect sustainability outcomes; and how technological innovation affects sustainability; Learn how sustainability emerges from peoples’ efforts to solve major problems."
Land Plant Climate Systems: Sustainable Food Production Option - BA, BS "Identify definitions of sustainability, common misconceptions of sustainability, and key principles of sustainability.
Understand the relationship of values to sustainability; how values influence sustainability goals; and how values affect sustainability monitoring. Be able critically to evaluate sustainability goals and monitoring; Understand the role of energy and other resources in sustainability; how resource use and/or conservation affect sustainability outcomes; and how technological innovation affects sustainability; Learn how sustainability emerges from peoples’ efforts to solve major problems."
Landscape Architecture - BLA · Understand the principles of sustainability and be able to synthesize and evaluate their application.
Landscape Architecture - Minor, Agricultural Communication and Journalism - BS · Understand the principles of sustainability and be able to synthesize and evaluate their application.
Landscape Architecture - MLA · Understand the principles of sustainability and be able to synthesize and evaluate their application.
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
Natural Resources MNR "MNR students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to advance their careers and function better in natural resource management positions. Upon completion, MNR students will be able to:

Distinguish between natural resource treaties, laws, regulations and policies.
Apply economic principles to natural resource management issues or problems.
Learn leadership and administrative skills important for management positions in natural resource agencies.
Explain ecological principles at individual, population, community and ecosystem levels and apply them to resource management practices.
Acquire geospatial data and understand how the data is created and collected. Develop maps and conduct basic-to-advanced spatial analyses relevant to natural resource issues.
Manipulate and analyze data using statistical tools such as “R”, and interpret associated results.
Articulate the important human linkages to natural resources and how these linkages affect management practices.
Synthesize the above skills and knowledge areas into a well-written report that demonstrates how these core areas apply to a specific natural resource issue or problem."
Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences: Coordinated Dietetics Emphasis - BS Learn the impact of biological, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors on eating behavior.
Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences: Didactic Dietetics Emphasis - BS Learn the impact of biological, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors on eating behavior.
Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences: Food Science Emphasis - BS Learn the impact of biological, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors on eating behavior.
Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences: Nutrition Science Emphasis - BS Learn the impact of biological, socioeconomic, cultural, and psychological factors on eating behavior.
Outdoor Product Design and Development - BS Assess and evaluate the manner in which historic, cultural, economic, and environmental factors impact outdoor products.
Plant Science - BS "Identify definitions of sustainability, common misconceptions of sustainability, and key principles of sustainability.
Understand the relationship of values to sustainability; how values influence sustainability goals; and how values affect sustainability monitoring. Be able critically to evaluate sustainability goals and monitoring; Understand the role of energy and other resources in sustainability; how resource use and/or conservation affect sustainability outcomes; and how technological innovation affects sustainability; Learn how sustainability emerges from peoples’ efforts to solve major problems."
Rangeland Resources - BS Ability to analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of natural resource management strategies and decisions
Residential Landscape Design and Construction - BS "Identify definitions of sustainability, common misconceptions of sustainability, and key principles of sustainability.
Understand the relationship of values to sustainability; how values influence sustainability goals; and how values affect sustainability monitoring. Be able critically to evaluate sustainability goals and monitoring; Understand the role of energy and other resources in sustainability; how resource use and/or conservation affect sustainability outcomes; and how technological innovation affects sustainability; Learn how sustainability emerges from peoples’ efforts to solve major problems."
Wildlife Science - BS Ability to analyze the economic, environmental, and social consequences of natural resource management strategies and decisions