Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of their Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Development and Climate Change (SDCC), students are able to:

Identify and understand the scientific and social complexities within the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies including ethics, sustainability and social justice;
Critically assess the dynamics of maintaining the functional values of natural systems in a changing landscape;
Comprehend the dynamics of environmental change at multiple temporal and spatial scales;
Understand the structural and functional tenets of organizations in order to maximize their resilience and adaptive capacity in changing regulatory and economic environments;
Facilitate solutions to complex multi-issue, multi-stakeholder landscape scale environmental issues;
Utilize resources and skills to build needed capacity at the local level to effectively balance economic development with protection of natural resources;
Demonstrate competence in field identification of indicators of impact from development;
Master field-data collection methods and equipment;
Demonstrate the ability to quantitatively and spatially analyze environmental data;
Demonstrate proficiency in modeling skills to project possible consequences from current land-use and development decisions;
Be adept at proposing, managing and completing team projects, within proposed timelines and budgets;
Demonstrate effective communication that effectively translates technical, scientific and economic information for local decision-makers.