It is the faculty's goal that students who earn a baccalaureate degree in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will achieve the following student learning outcomes:
Professional, Interpersonal and Cross-cultural Communications
CALS graduates will be able to:
- speak and write clearly and persuasively
- prepare effective visual, oral, written and electronic presentations
- effectively read, listen, observe and reflect.
Problem-Solving/Critical Thinking
CALS graduates will be able to:
- apply a holistic approach to solving complex issue laden problems
- apply a rational and objective process to:
- distinguish verifiable facts from value claims
- determine the accuracy of statements
- identify assumptions and detect bias
- distinguish relevant from irrelevant information
- establish priorities
- summarize, analyze, and interpret simple research data and policy issues
- critically evaluate their own arguments and those of others.
Leadership
CALS graduates will be able to:
- organize, facilitate, and participate effectively in a group, team, or organization
- define a problem or opportunity, implement an action planning process, work toward a goal and justify actions taken.
Entrepreneurship
CALS graduates will be able to:
- demonstrate innovativeness and creativity regardless of context
- identify and pursue opportunities that produce value
- be persistent in shepherding necessary resources and managing associated risk to facilitate change.
Life-long Learning
CALS graduates will be able to:
- articulate how continued learning after graduation will enrich their lives
- identify and participate in new areas for learning beyond the classroom and after graduation.
Ethics
CALS graduates will be able to:
- define and assess their ethical perspective, moral responsibility, and values
- identify and critically evaluate contemporary ethical and moral issues in professional and private life.
Environmental Awareness
CALS graduates will be able to:
- explain the physical and biological interactions within ecosystems
- explain how human activities impact the environment and how societies are affected by environmental change.
International/Multi-Cultural Awareness
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences adopts the Faculty Senate outcomes for U.S. Cultures and Communities and International Perspectives:
U.S. Cultures and Community- Students should achieve three of the following outcomes: They should be able to:
- Identify the experiences and contributions of underrepresented or marginalized groups and how they have shaped the history and culture of the United States.
- Understand the analytical concepts of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality and/or religion and be able to apply these concepts to an analysis of the United States.
- Analyze systemic oppression and personal prejudice and their impact on marginalized communities and the broader U.S. society.
- Evaluate important aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion so they can live, work, and collaborate with others in the 21st century United States.
International Perspectives - Students should achieve two of the following outcomes: They should be able to:
- analyze the accuracy and relevancy of their own worldviews and anticipate how people from other nations may perceive that worldview.
- Describe and analyze how cultures and societies around the world are formed, are sustained, and evolve
- Analyze and evaluate the influence of global issues in their own lives
- Describe the values and perspectives of cultures other than their own and discuss how they influence individuals' perceptions of global issues and or events
- Communicate competently in a second language.