Warren Wilson College
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Environmental Studies major with concentrations in: Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Forestry, Environmental Policy, Environmental Education, Conservation Biology, Water and Earth Resources, and Environmental Management Cooperative College Program with Duke University Global studies major with concentration in Environment and Society Outdoor Leadership major Social Work major Sustainable business major and minor Peace & Justice Studies minor

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES The goals of the Environmental Studies Program are the following: To develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the interconnectedness of humans and Earth, promoting sustainability with a respect for natural systems. To produce leaders in six sub-disciplines within environmental studies who have the ability to develop and critically assess appropriately-scaled environmental decisions leading to sustainability. To improve students’ abilities to think critically, apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems, and communicate ideas. To develop and promote a holistic integration of the triad of academics, work, and service. To provide preparation and guidance for continued professional study and/or careers in fields that promote sustainability. SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS: The mission of the Business Department is to provide students with the skills and experience necessary to make decisions, solve problems, and devise policies that are socially, environmentally, and economically sound. With a focus on three Ps – People, Planet, and Profits – the business curriculum prepares students to become leaders in their businesses, organizations, and communities. The business degree culminates with a capstone sequence in Sustainable Business, where students research, design, start-up, and operate their own sustainable venture. The goals of the Sustainable Business Program are the following: • To prepare students to work effectively as business leaders and professionals in a complex and changing world. • To provide students with a foundation of business knowledge and skills that enables them to pursue further business studies as well as a lifetime of learning. • To prepare students to make socially, environmentally, and economically sound contributions to their businesses, organizations, and communities. PEACE & JUSTICE STUDIES The mission of the Peace and Justice Studies Program is to help students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become active, positive contributors to decisions, policies, and leadership in their communities and work places. Peace and Justice Studies addresses themes of conflict resolution, nonviolent social change, human rights, social and environmental justice, and peacemaking efforts on the local, regional and global levels. A Peace and Justice Studies minor can fruitfully complement practically any major offered at Warren Wilson College. The goals of the Peace and Justice Studies Program are the following: • To develop knowledge of the causes of conflicts and the ways of preventing or resolving them. • To learn how respect for human rights and the natural environment contributes to peace. • To become conversant with peace philosophies and the works of major peace advocates. • To apply conflict resolution skills to contemporary issues. SOCIAL WORK The Social Work major is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The mission of the Social Work Program is to provide students preparation for beginning-level entry into the profession of social work through an undergraduate generalist social work education that is educationally sound, academically challenging, ethically principled, and socially relevant, and which is solidly framed by the Triad experience of service, work, and education in the liberal arts. The goals of the Social Work Program are the following: • To prepare practitioners for baccalaureate level generalist social work practice with diverse populations and multigenerational client systems of various sizes and types. • To prepare individuals to live in a global society committed to personal growth and contributing to the common good. • To foster the development of values and ethics related to the NASW Code of Ethics that guide professional social workers in their practice. • To prepare practitioners with a commitment to continuing their professional growth and development as a component of social work practice. • To prepare practitioners to practice effectively in the global, political, social, cultural, economic, technological, and spiritual environments of the 21st century. The Warren Wilson College Social Work Program offers three areas of focus, which are reflected in the Program Objectives and are infused throughout the curriculum. The three areas are as follows: Multigenerational Practice – As the population ages, multiple generations co-exist as never before. Social workers today need to be skilled and knowledgeable about multigenerational needs, issues, and opportunities. Whether they work with children, teens, the elderly, communities, or social policies, social workers are bound to work with multiple generations at once. This particular area of focus is supported by the CSWE Gero-Ed Curriculum Development Institute, of which the Warren Wilson College Social Work Program is a participant. International/Global Perspective – As the world becomes more and more “globalized,” it is essential for social workers to approach their work with a global perspective. As students prepare for their profession, the understanding of global interdependence will aid them in working with client systems, whether domestically or abroad. The Social Work Program is affiliated with the Council on International Educational Exchange, which supports this area of focus. Environmental Sustainability – As the state of the physical and natural environments has become more urgent, social work can no longer afford to ignore the effects of environmental degradation on people and communities or the relationship between social and environmental justice. Social workers today must be skilled and knowledgeable about our physical and natural surroundings as much as our social environments. OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP The mission of the Outdoor Leadership Studies Program is to prepare graduates who will have the academic background, skills, and experience necessary to analyze, plan, implement, administer, and supervise outdoor adventure education programs. The goals of the Outdoor Leadership program are the following: • To foster an understanding of the basic concepts of outdoor leadership through an integrated liberal arts and professional training curriculum. • To prepare leaders who can analyze, plan, implement, administer, and supervise outdoor adventure education programs. • To develop leaders who understand the moral responsibilities of leadership and exercise leadership to promote sustainable communities.