Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.46
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Cornell University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.40 / 8.00 Lauren Chambliss
Communications Director
Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students who graduated from a program that has adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
1,899

Total number of graduates from degree programs:
6,325

A copy of the list or inventory of degree, diploma or certificate programs that have sustainability learning outcomes:
A list of degree, diploma or certificate programs that have sustainability learning outcomes:

All majors, minors, and graduate students associated with the following colleges have sustainability learning outcomes: (1) CALS and (2) Vet School.

The following majors have sustainability learning outcomes: (1) Environmental Science and Sustainability, (2) International Agriculture and Rural Development (IARD), (3) Viticulture and Enology, (4) Horticulture, and (5) Fashion Design Management. The following minors have sustainability learning outcomes: (1) Climate Change, (2) Soil Science, and (3) Sustainable Energy Systems.

The following undergraduate majors have at least one sustainability-related required course: (1) Architecture [ARCH 1611], (2) Atmospheric Science [EAS 3050], (3) City & Regional Planning [one course from “Land Use and Environment”, such as CRP 3840], (4) Civil Engineering [CEE 3510], (5) Design & Environmental Analysis [DEA 3030], (6) Environmental Engineering [BEE 4750], (7) Science & Technology Studies [STS 2061], and (8) Science of Earth Systems [EAS 2200].) The following undergraduate minors have at least one sustainability-related required course: (1) Applied Economics [AEM 4500], (2) Design and Environmental Analysis [DEA 1110 or DEA 1500], (3) Environmental and Resource Economics [AEM 4510], (4) Environmental Engineering [i.e. ENGRI 1130, BEE 4750, CEE 4650], (5) Global Health [NS 2600], (6) Globalization, Ethnicity and Development [DSOC 2050], (7) Inequality Studies Minor [SOC 2220], (8) International Trade and Development [AEM 4640], (9) Natural Resources [NTRES 2201], (10) Nutrition and Health [NS 1150], (11) Science of Earth Systems [EAS 2200], (12) Science of Natural and Environmental Systems [CSS 3650], and (13) Urban and Regional Studies [CRP 1101].

4) The following graduate programs were identified as having sustainability-related learning outcomes: (1) Agricultural Economics (AEM); (2) Resource Economics (AEM); (3) Plant Protection (ALS); (4) Architecture (ARCH); (5) History of Architecture and Urban Development (ARCH); (6) Biological and Environmental Engineering (BEE); (7) Environmental & Water Resources Systems Engineering (CEE); (8) Environmental Fluid Mechanics & Hydrology (CEE); (9) Environmental Processes (CEE); (10) Geotechnical Engineering (CEE); (11) Transportation Systems Engineering (CEE); (12) Land Use and Environmental Planning (CRP); (13) Economic Development Planning: Communities and Regions (CRP); (14) International Studies in Planning (CRP); (15) Regional Science (CRP); (16) Agronomy (CSS); (17) Environmental Information Systems (CSS); (18) Field Crop Science (CSS); (19) Soil Science (CSS); (20) Environmental Management (CSS); (21) Design (DEA); (22) Human Behavior and Design (DEA); (23) Human Environment Relations; “Sustainable Design Studies” concentration (DEA); (24) Population and Development (DSOC); (25) Rural and Environmental Sociology (DSOC); (26) State, Economy, and Society (DSOC); (27) Atmospheric Science (EAS); (28) Geological Sciences (EAS); (29) Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB); (30) Managed Systems Entomology (ENTOM); (31) Horticultural Biology (HORT); (32) Horticultural Crop and Landscape Management (HORT); (33) Global Development (IARD); (34) Environmental Toxicology; (35) Landscape Architecture (LA); (36) Natural Resources (NTRES); (37) Sustainable Global Enterprise (SGE); and (38) Zoology and Wildlife Conservation (VET).

Cornell University also offers four sustainability-related IGERT programs: (1) Cross-Scale Biogeochemistry and Climate IGERT; (2) Earth-Energy Systems IGERT; (3) Food Systems and Poverty Reduction IGERT; and (4) Materials for a Sustainable Future IGERT.

The following graduate minor programs were identified as having sustainability-related learning outcomes: (1) Conservation and Sustainable Development; (2) Environmental Quality; (3) Risk Analysis, Communication, and Policy; (4) Sustainable Energy; (5) Urban Studies; and (6) Water Resources.


A list or sample of the sustainability learning outcomes associated with degree, diploma or certificate programs (if not included in an inventory above):

Two colleges, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Veterinary Medicine, at Cornell have sustainability-related learning outcomes.

The learning outcomes for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (http://cals.cornell.edu/about/) include: (1) Advance knowledge of the unity and diversity of life; (2) Promote wise stewardship of the environment and natural resources, and create economical, sustainable energy strategies; (3) Develop agricultural systems to establish and maintain safe, nutritious food supplies for current and future generations, and; (4) Foster economic vitality and individual and community health and well-being.

The learning outcomes for the College of Veterinary Medicine
(http://www.vet.cornell.edu/education/dvmprogram/educationalgoals.cfm) include: (1) An understanding of the interactions among animals, people, and the environment; and (2) a commitment to professionalism, including a commitment to animal welfare and to following the best practices in relation to ethical, cultural, global, business management, and legal issues.


The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability learning outcomes is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Some majors, minors, and graduate programs within College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine are listed within the lists of programs, but the numbers of students are only counted once.


Some majors, minors, and graduate programs within College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Veterinary Medicine are listed within the lists of programs, but the numbers of students are only counted once.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.