Environmental Science (BS)
Intended Program Outcomes
Specific Content Knowledge
Students will demonstrate:
 Basic competencies in chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics;
awareness of their relevance to environmental processes; and
knowledge of their applications to environmental analyses.
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Understanding of: the interactions between systems, living or non-living,
and their surrounding environments; and the influence of such
interactions on the functioning of the systems, and on the quality of the
environment.

A working knowledge of the structure of Earth’s environment, including
the composition, essential properties and functioning of its principal
components; the cycling of materials between those components; and
the causes and processes of environmental change.

Ability to analyze and to predict the environmental effects of human
societal activities such as: urbanization, transportation, industrial
production, agriculture, waste management, generation and utilization of
energy, and land development.

Up-to-date knowledge of the hazards of adverse environments, and of
available remedies, including remediation techniques as well as
preventive public policies, and legislation, for environmental
management or protection of natural resources.

Ability to approximate complex environmental systems with simpler
models that are amenable to mathematical, graphical or qualitative
analyses.
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Application of the scientific method in a research project that includes:
the generation, analysis and interpretation experimental data; and
documentation of the research findings in written reports, in a senior
thesis, or in poster or oral presentations.
Direct and Indirect Measures
Criteria for Success
Direct Criteria for Success:
 100% of Core Course syllabi will clearly articulate an
emphasis on specific course content in Environmental
Sciences
 100% of graduating seniors will demonstrate content mastery
of a specific research area through the research, preparation,
presentation, and evaluation of a senior thesis.
Indirect Criteria for Success:
 80% of ESI students will report that they have attained
requisite specific content knowledge upon completion of each
of the ESI core courses based on course evaluations and/or
a course exit survey.
 Analysis of focus group data conducted at the end of the
freshman, sophomore, Junior, and senior years will report
student consensus that proficiency and progression in
specific content knowledge were achieved since the prior
academic year.
Methods of Assessment
Direct Assessment Method(s):
 Syllabus Analysis
 Curriculum Analysis
 Final Projects
 Senior Thesis
Indirect Assessment Method(s):
 Course Evaluations
 Exit Surveys
 Focus Groups
Intended Program Outcomes
Effective Oral and Written Communication
Students will demonstrate an ability to:
 discuss environmental science topics, orally and in writing,
without ambiguity or errors in fact, grammar or reasoning;
 communicate ideas about the environment, with clarity, to
audiences with different levels of education or training in
environmental science;
 present, environmental science information in different forms, as
necessary: oral, graphical, pictorial, or mathematical;
Direct and Indirect Measures
Criteria for Success
Direct Criteria for Success:
 100% of Core Course syllabi will clearly articulate an
emphasis on written and/oral communication in
Environmental Sciences through inclusion of at least one (1)
communication-specific assignment
 80% of freshmen enrolled in EVS 2920 (Environmental
Forum &Colloquium) will demonstrate effective
communication skills through the preparation and
presentation of a portfolio
 100% of graduating seniors will demonstrate the ability to
effectively communicate content in a specific research area
through the research, preparation, presentation, and
evaluation of a senior thesis
 25% graduating seniors will make oral or poster
presentations at local or national scientific meetings.
 10% of graduating seniors will have manuscripts accepted for
publication in peer reviewed journals.
Indirect Criteria for Success:
 80% of ESI students will report that they have improved their
communications skills upon completion of each of the ESI
core courses based on a course evaluations and/or a course
exit survey.
 Analysis of focus group data conducted at the end of the
freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years will report
student consensus that proficiency and progression in oral
and written communication skills were achieved since the
prior academic year.
Methods of Assessment
Direct Assessment Method(s):
 Syllabus Analysis
 Curriculum Analysis
 Portfolio
 Senior Thesis
 Professional Presentation Inventory
 Student Publication Inventory
Indirect Assessment Method(s):
 Course Evaluations
 Exit Surveys
 Focus Groups
Intended Program Outcomes
Critical Thinking
Students will demonstrate an ability to:
 Identify the crucial elements of an environmental problem situation, and
to determine their relative importance.
 Objectively examine all facts, theories and other information they
encounter, determine their soundness and assess their credibility;
 Identify the fallacies, inconsistencies or baseless assumptions in their
own arguments, and in the statements of others;
 Maintain an open mind and to examine alternative viewpoints in drawing
conclusions, attributing causes or formulating solutions to environmental
problems;
 Satisfactorily answer questions relating to any aspect of their senior
thesis research, including uncertainties in their data and interpretation of
their results.
Quantitative Reasoning
Students will demonstrate the ability to:
 Solve problems by analyzing the relevant facts and/or numerical
data, and applying the correct environmental science principles,
logical reasoning, mathematical concepts, and creative imagination
 Assess real life or hypothetical environmental problem situations,
identify the crucial elements therein and determine their relative
importance;
 Select the appropriate environmental science principles and
procedures to use in solving problems
 devise strategies and specific steps for systematic solution of
problems;
 Plan and perform environmental problem analyses, using principles
and methods of diverse environmental science courses and those
of other disciplines.
Direct and Indirect Measures
Criteria for Success
Direct Criteria for Success:
 100% of Core Course syllabi will clearly articulate an
intentional emphasis on critical thinking in Environmental
Sciences
 80% of freshmen enrolled in EVS 2920 (Environmental
Forum &Colloquium) will demonstrate critical thinking skills
through the preparation and presentation of a portfolio
 100% of graduating seniors will demonstrate their critical
thinking skills their ability to integrate various crossdisciplinary content and perspectives in the effective
preparation and communication, and evaluation of a senior
thesis
 100% of ESI students will apply critical thinking in the design,
execution and reporting of their thesis research projects, as
documented by their advisors.
Indirect Criteria for Success:
 80% of ESI students will report that they have improved their
critical thinking skills upon completion of each of the ESI core
courses based on course evaluations and/or a course exit
survey.
 80% of juniors and seniors enrolled in EVS 4643
(Environmental Policy & Risk Management) will demonstrate
the ability to think critically through the integration of crossdisciplinary information and worldviews in the presentation of
a rubric-graded case study
 Analysis of focus group data conducted at the end of the
freshman, sophomore, Junior, and senior years will report
student consensus that their critical thinking skills increased
since the prior academic year.
Direct Criteria for Success:
 Analysis of the syllabi in EVR 3028 (Environmental
Modeling Principles), EVR 3235 (Atmospheric
Processes), EVS 3395 (Contaminant Hydrogeology),
and EVR 4140 (Environmental Chemistry with Lab) will
clearly articulate an intentional emphasis on quantitative
reasoning
 Juniors and seniors completing EVR 3028
(Environmental Modeling Principles) will score 80% or
higher on an exit examination
Indirect Criteria for Success:
 80% of ESI students will report that they have improved
their quantitative reasoning skills upon completion of
EVR 3028 (Environmental Modeling Principles), EVR
3235 (Atmospheric Processes), EVS 3395 (Contaminant
Methods of Assessment
Direct Assessment Method(s):
 Syllabus Analysis
 Curriculum Analysis
 Portfolios
 Senior Thesis
Indirect Assessment Method(s):
 Course Evaluations
 Exit Surveys
 Case Studies
 Focus Groups
Direct Assessment Method(s):
 Syllabus Analysis
 Curriculum Analysis
 Exit Examination
 Senior Thesis
Indirect Assessment Method(s):
 Course Evaluations
 Exit Surveys
 Observation Reports
 Thesis Committee Report
Direct and Indirect Measures
Intended Program Outcomes

Solve problems by analyzing the relevant information and
selectively applying scientific and mathematical principles, logical
reasoning, and creative imagination.
Criteria for Success
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Ethical Values
Students will demonstrate the ability to :
 Identify and consider the implications of ethical issues in
environmental problems
 Develop and articulate their own environmental ethic and
contributions to that ethic
Methods of Assessment
Hydrogeology), and EVR 4140 (Environmental
Chemistry with Lab) based on a course evaluations
and/or a course exit survey.
Juniors and seniors completing EVR 3028
(Environmental Modeling Principles) will score 80% or
higher on an observation report.
100 % of ESI students will receive satisfactory advisor
and thesis committee reports on their problem solving
skills.
Direct Criteria for Success:
 Analysis of the syllabi in EVR 3033 (Environmental
Regulations), EVR 4032 (Environmental Ethics), and EVS
4643 (Environmental Policy & Risk Management will clearly
articulate an intentional emphasis on ethical values
 80% of juniors and seniors enrolled in EVR 3033
(Environmental Regulations) will demonstrate consideration
of ethical perspectives through the research, preparation and
presentation of a final project (regulatory analysis briefing) by
achieving a grade of 80% or better on an rubric which
includes measures their ability to include ethical
considerations in their analysis of environmental policy
problems
 80% of juniors and seniors enrolled in EVR 4032
(Environmental Ethics)will demonstrate consideration of
ethical perspectives through the research, preparation and
presentation of a final project by achieving a grade of 80% or
better as graded using rubric which measures their ability to
include ethical considerations in their analysis of
environmental policy problems.
Indirect Criteria for Success:
 80% of ESI students will report that they have improved their
ethical reasoning skills upon completion of each of the ESI
core courses based on course evaluation and/or a course
exit survey.
 80% of juniors and seniors enrolled in EVS 4643
(Environmental Policy & Risk Management) will demonstrate
the ability to include ethical considerations through the
analysis and integration of cross-disciplinary information and
worldviews in the presentation of a rubric-graded case study
 Analysis of focus group data conducted at the end of the
freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years will report
student consensus that their awareness of ethical issues has
increased since the prior academic year.
Direct Assessment Method(s):
 Syllabus Analysis
 Curriculum Analysis
 Final Projects
Indirect Assessment Method(s):
 Course Evaluations
 Exit Surveys
 Case Studies
 Focus Groups
Direct and Indirect Measures
Intended Program Outcomes
Criteria for Success
Methods of Assessment
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