Educational Objectives

In the course of the SDCC program, students become:

Energy and passion alone do not create comprehensive solutions to complex problems. Other ingredients are leadership informed by science, theory tempered by practical experience, and the integration of diverse perspectives through systems thinking.

Scientists: Our students learn to critically assess the antagonistic and synergetic dynamics of maintaining the functional values of natural systems in a changing landscape. They learn to identify field indicators of impact from development while mastering field-data collection methods and field equipment use. These assessment techniques are the key to sustainable development for the future.

Critical Thinkers: We train our students to use resources and develop the skills for effectively balancing economic development with the protection of natural resources.

Leaders: The SDCC concentration trains our students to identify and understand the scientific and social complexities within the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies, including ethics, sustainability and social justice. Understanding these complexities is an important part of being able to facilitate solutions to the complex multi-issue, multi-stakeholder environmental problems of today.

Conservationists: For our students conservation is not simply scientific understanding of the natural systems, nor just conducting research within the natural world. Both of these are necessary activities but not sufficient. Ultimately, conservation is decision-making and subsequently managing the implementation of those decisions.

Visionaries: Our students learn to demonstrate and apply theory into practice. We focus on facilitative and adaptive leadership as well as applying skills in external stakeholder capacity building. Our students understand the definition and requirements of organizational sustainability.

Our faculty works with our students to achieve their goals and develop as leaders.

Last Updated: 3/28/12