Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.80
Liaison Allie McAllister
Submission Date March 27, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Villanova University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.02 / 8.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of graduates from degree programs (i.e. majors, minors, concentrations, certificates, and other academic designations):
3,278

Number of students that graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
418

Percentage of students who graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
12.75

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:
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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):

1) BA, Environmental Studies, Dept of Geography and Environment
This multidisciplinary program focuses on the interface between environmental science and the social sciences, including public policy, political science, law, economics, sociology, geography, and planning.
Learning Outcome: To have fundamental understanding of the scientific processes that underline the composition of the natural landscape, coupled with a foundation in the social sciences that underline the diversity and composition of human landscape. The program is founded on the principle that the social sciences – both as bodies of knowledge and as the basis for structuring human societal norms – must be applied to assess the direct and indirect influences of human activities on the integrity og the Earth’s systems. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate, and present sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

2) BS, Environmental Science, Dept of Geography and Environment
This science program provides the technical background necessary for understanding biological, chemical, and physical aspects of the environment. It focuses on the application of biological, chemical, and physical principles to understanding natural and physical environments.
Learning Outcome: To have understanding of, and appreciation for the processes and interactions that occur both within and between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. The program is founded on the principle that science - both as bodies of knowledge and as process that is grounded in intellectual inquiry – must be applied to assess and address the direct and indirect influences of human activities on the integrity of Earth’s systems. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate, and present sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

3) BS, Center for Real Estate, Co-Major
Learning Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability topics related to Real Estate Development. Students are required to demonstrate knowledge, perform research, and present capstone projects related to sustainable neighborhood development, land use planning, workplace management, automotive trends, and other sustainability related topics.

4.) MS, Enviromental Science, Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: This degree, emphasizes integrated thinking and learning at the nexus of science, policy, and human behavior. Our graduates will see beyond linear and fragmented approaches to solving environmental problems to understand the complex interactions between people and the environment.

5) BSN, College of Nursing
Learning Outcome: The American Nurses Association has a scope & standards of practice that influences our curriculum. Standard 16 of the Scope & Standards is the environmental health standard, it includes environmentally sustainable practices in nursing practice

6) Minor, Sustainability Studies, Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: Describe the technical and social aspects of a commitment to sustainability; describe the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of a commitment to sustainability; evaluate environmental processes and their nexus with human activity to examine sustainable (or un-sustainable) practices; examine and describe the human dimension of global environmental change; describe the links between the global economic environment, resource availability, and distribution, and their effects on sustainable practices; and define the linkages between non-sustainable practices, resource shortages, and regional conflict.

7) Minor, Environmental Studies Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate, and present sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

8) Minor, Geography, Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: Geography focuses on the relationships between people and the natural world, the choices people make, the effects of past actions on people today, and the effects of today’s choices on future generations.

9) Minor, Global Health, College of Nursing
Learning: The health of peoples of the world is influenced and determined by factors as diverse as gender, race, ethnicity, political priorities, socioeconomic status, climate, geography, accessibility and acceptability of care, and cultural and religious traditions. The College of Nursing recognizes this and as such created the Global Health Minor aimed at educating students about these factors and the inter-disciplinary response to addressing global health challenges.

10) MSN, College of Nursing
Learning Outcomes: The American Nurses Association has a scope & standards of practice that influences our curriculum. Standard 16 of the Scope & Standards is the environmental health standard, it includes environmentally sustainable practices in nursing practice

11) MS, Sustainable Engineering, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcome: One of just a few programs in the country and one of only two currently available entirely online, Villanova’s MSSE program employs an in depth whole-systems approach to problem-solving through a life-cycle lens. The program’s practical approach is based on current and future real-life situations, and students work in small teams to evaluate and solve problems that companies are facing worldwide.

12) MS, Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcomes: An in depth understanding of the theories and concepts within the water resources and environmental engineering fields.

13) Certificate, Sustainable Engineering, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcome: Students in this certificate program demonstrate knowledge of a whole systems thinking approach to problem-solving through a life-cycle lens.

14) Certificate, Urban Water Resources Design, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcome: An understanding of the theories and concepts within the water resources and environmental engineering fields.

15) MBA, specialization in Real Estate Development
Learning Outcome: Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge about sustainability related Real Estate topics. Students are exposed to experts in sustainability fields and perform case study research.

16) JD, specialization in Environmental Law
Learning Outcome - An understanding of the law that impacts environmental issues to ensure compliance with regulations and to protect natural resources


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)?:
No

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

We only include students who have completed a degree with specific sustainability learning outcomes. We do not include graduates of a degree that require one or two sustainability courses but do not incorporate sustainability into the goals of the degree.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Sustainability Learning Outcome graduate numbers are based on a one year period from academic years between 2015-2016.
This data does not included the Sustainability Studies, Geography, and Global Health Minors because they were not coded in the system until 2017.
This data does not include the MS of Environmental Science because this degree started mid time period, there were no graduates for 2016.
This data also does not include the MBA students with a specialization in Real Estate Development, because they are not separated from other MBA students in the system.


Sustainability Learning Outcome graduate numbers are based on a one year period from academic years between 2015-2016.
This data does not included the Sustainability Studies, Geography, and Global Health Minors because they were not coded in the system until 2017.
This data does not include the MS of Environmental Science because this degree started mid time period, there were no graduates for 2016.
This data also does not include the MBA students with a specialization in Real Estate Development, because they are not separated from other MBA students in the system.

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.