Environmental Science Interdisciplinary Major

• Mission Statment

  The mission of Weber State University’s Environmental Science Program is to prepare students to be leaders and problem-solvers in addressing the environmental challenges of our day. We will equip our graduates with the interdisciplinary training needed to understand and solve complex problems and help build a more sustainable future.

• Student Learning Outcomes
  • Certificate (Not Applicable)

     

  • Associate Degree (Not Applicable)

     

  • Bachelor Degree 

    Environmental Science graduates will:

    1. Demonstrate an interdisciplinary approach to complex problems using the basic tools from geoscience, biology, chemistry, mathematics, economics and social science.
    2. Be able to develop and test hypotheses through collecting data in the field and/or analyzing samples in the laboratory, including qualitative and quantitative analyses.
    3. Understand the human and natural environment in the Intermountain West in the context of the varying timescales at which Earth systems operate.
    4. Be able to work effectively as a member of a team and independently.
    5. Be able to effectively communicate complex problems, approaches, and solutions to both specialists and general audiences in written and oral formats.
    6. Demonstrate an understanding of interconnected Earth and human systems to reflect critically on their roles in the protection and management of our environment and climate.
    

• Curriculum Grid

• Program and Contact Information

  Dr. Frantz contact Information:
      Phone:  801-626-6181
      Email:  cariefrantz@weber.edu

  Dr. Hoagstrom contact Information:
      Phone:  801-626-7486
      Email:  christopherhoagstrom@weber.edu
   

• Assessment Plan
  • I.    Timeline (which courses or which outcomes will be assessed each year)
    • a.    Assessment will occur separately for each Environmental Science major in preparation for graduation.
      • i.    At whatever time a student has completed their ePortfolio (described below) a student will be eligible to meet with one of the Environmental Science co-directors to request a review.
  • II.    Overall assessment strategy (course-based, outcome-based, reviewed juries, ePortfolio, field tests, etc.)
    • a.    The Environmental Science co-directors will identify courses within the required curriculum that meet each of the six learning outcomes.
      • i.    Instructors for each assessment-designated course will identify one or more assignments (e.g., a specific exam, a particular project) that are focused on the outcome.
      • ii.    These assignments will be linked to the corresponding outcome.
      • iii.    A list of outcome-linked course assignments will be provided to Environmental Science majors as part of advisement and degree planning.
    • b.    Students will develop an ePortfolio consisting of artifacts indicating their proficiency in each learning outcome.
      • i.    Artifacts for each outcome will result from the aforementioned, pre-identified, linked assignments (above).
    • c.    This plan puts the onus on students to build a portfolio that demonstrates that they have met the learning outcomes for the program.
      • i.    This should make students more invested in their courses and assignments.
      • ii.    It will also providing hard evidence of skills that will help students when seeking future employment.
    • d.    In their portfolios, students will demonstrate that they have achieved proficiency in the categories listed below, each of which will be represented by a significant artifact generated in one of the courses listed. 
  • III.    Information about how you will collect and review data
    • a.    Students will collect their own data in their portfolios as described above.
      • i.    When completed, students will submit portfolios to the Environmental Science co-directors.
    • b.    The Environmental Science co-directors will review portfolios to ensure the following criteria were met:
      • i.    Artifacts were provided for each learning outcome from the identified course.
      • ii.    Grades for each artifact met or exceeded the minimum level of performance (B-). 
  • IV.    Information about how the program faculty are engaged in the assessment review.
    • a.    There are no program faculty sensu stricto.
    • b.    As described above, faculty teaching identified courses that produce artifacts for students will be engaged via conducting and grading the assignments.
      • i.    Instructors will include in their syllabus a notification of which assignment(s) will be used for Environmental Science learning outcome assessment.
      • ii.    Students will be responsible for adding their graded assignments to their portfolios.
        • 1.    If more than one assignment is included per outcome, students must combine the files to be uploaded to their ePortfolio as one artifact.
        • 2.    The grade for all assignments submitted as evidence for each learning outcome must meet or exceed the minimum threshold (B-).
           
• Annual Assessment Results
  • 2019-2021

    New program as of 2020-2021, so assessment data is not available yet. The initial biennial report is available for viewing.

  • 2018-2020
     
  • 2016-2017

     

  • 2015-2016

     

  • 2014-2015

     

     

  • 2013-2014

     

  • 2012-2013

     

   

• Program Review
   

This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.