University of California, Riverside
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Degree programs were looked up through the university's Catalog and counted. Then graduates from each program were counted by using the university's institutional research campus statistics

-Bioengineering: The major in Bioengineering allows students to complete a B.S. degree that provides a basic education to enter the fields of bioengineering and biotechnology. Bioengineers develop processes and products that are important for the health and treatment of diseases, new materials, protecting environments, and food production.

-Chemical & Environmental Engineering: Environmental engineering deals with the design and construction of processes and equipment intended to lessen the impact of man’s activities on the environment. With the growing importance of environmental quality, the environmental engineer plays a pivotal role in modern industrial activity. Environmental engineers are involved in a wide range of activities including the design of alternative fueled vehicles, the development of renewable energy sources, the design of equipment for solid waste collection and disposal, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, air pollution control systems, and hazardous waste management. At UCR, the B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering allows students to concentrate on air and/or water quality

-Computer Engineering: "The Computer Engineering program provides students with the ability to learn how to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. [It provides] the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context"

-Environmental Science: The necessity of maintaining an acceptable level of environmental quality is placing increasing demands upon governments and industries locally, nationally, and worldwide. To help meet those demands, the Environmental Sciences program is designed to provide training for students intending to enter environmental professions or for students preparing for graduate study in law, research, or teaching in a capacity that utilizes a background in the science of the human environment

-Education, Society, and Human Development: The Education, Society, and Human Development program provides students the opportunity to develop the ability to understand, critique, and engage with research on cutting edge, culturally-sustaining, and community-informed topics that span education, society, and human development that aim to transform educational policy, pedagogy, and practice across the educational pipeline. In addition, students also develop the ability to recognize and evaluate educational and societal injustices while promoting equity, social justice, anti-colonial, and anti-racist perspectives.

Electrical Engineering: "The Electrical Engineering program provides students the ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. Furthermore, students will understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal
context."

Geology: The Department offers four options within the Geology Major: General Geology, Geobiology, Global Climate Change, and Geophysics. Students who choose the Geology major study the structure, composition, processes and history of the Earth. In particular, the Geology major stresses features of the Earth's surface, and interactions between its atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, rocky crust and interior. The Global Climate Change option immerses students in the first principles of studying and interpreting the record of climate change. Students explore the sciences of climate change and its impact on society.

-Geophysics: The Geophysics option is for geology students who wish to learn more about geophysical theories and techniques, and how they can be used to solve geological problems.Students who choose the Geophysics major apply the principles and concepts of physics, mathematics, geology, and engineering to the study of the physical characteristics of the earth and other planets

-Materials Science & Engineering: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is concerned with the creation of materials with novel properties and their use in a variety of fields ranging from ultra-fast computer chips and high-efficiency solar cells to high-powered jets, and even beauty products. Today, engineering innovations are increasingly dependent on breakthroughs in materials at the micro- and nanometer scale. Students in MSE acquire a solid background in the basic sciences and in the engineering of materials, with hands-on laboratory experience in nano-scale materials characterization and processing. This program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in fields such as nanotechnology, electronics, computing, the biomedical, automotive and aerospace industries, as well as government agencies and research laboratories.

-Mechanical Engineering: The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers an Energy and Environment focussed degree that includes topics such as Environmental Impact of Energy Production, Combustion and Energy Systems, etc. The curriculum for Mechanical Engineering is designed to achieve these Student Outcomes: (a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
, (b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
, (c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
, (d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
, (e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
, (f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
, (g) an ability to communicate effectively
, (h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
, (i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
, (j) a knowledge of contemporary issues
, (k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Media & Cultural Studies: The Media and Cultural Studies focuses an interdisciplinary lens on the analysis of the dynamic relationship between media and society with special emphasis on race, gender, class, sexuality, and ethnicity as well as political economy and globalization. Students critically engage in major debates about social and environmental justice within both global and local contexts. Students also learn about the political economy of cultural production, particularly media (including print, television, radio and convergent digital media), and its influence on discourses of representation, sustainability, race, and enfranchisement.

-Plant Biology: The Plant Biology major’s mission is to conduct cutting-edge research in plant biology to advance fundamental scientific knowledge and solve critical issues for the state of California, and to educate and train undergraduate students to become science professionals and informed global citizens. The department has strong programs in basic plant cell biology, responses of plants to environmental stresses, plant ecology, genetics, genomics, and evolution. These strengths in basic research complement applied research programs that use the traditional tools of plant science and the new technologies of genomics to meet the evolving needs of California's $27 billion agricultural industry. Development of new varieties and crop management strategies help address the challenges of climate change and new pest and disease.

-Public Policy: The mission of the UCR School of Public Policy is to train a new generation of forward-thinking public policy leaders equipped to address the complex, interrelated challenges of poverty, disease, illiteracy, climate change, energy security, pollution and more. Their training will be informed by a diverse, interdisciplinary curriculum that emphasizes evidence-based policy research as well as cross-learning from both international and domestic problem-solving experiences, and a rich internship program that emphasizes experiential learning.

-Sustainability Studies: The Sustainability Studies Bachelor of Science degree offered by the Gender and Sexuality Studies Department investigates the historical and contemporary ways environments change, and are changed by, human activity. Focusing on a range of challenges to sustainability including climate change, air and water pollution, toxic contamination, energy demands, economic growth, agricultural production, and environmental injustice, the B.S. curriculum offers a comparative, interdisciplinary, transnational feminist approach to the theories and practices of building a sustainable future. Courses in gender and sustainability, natural and earth sciences, engineering, health and medicine, cultural studies, policy, media, and social sciences prepare students to respond to challenges to local, regional, and global sustainability. Students will be trained in feminist paradigms and methodologies associated with intersectionality, dialogue, and relation. Through in-depth, engaged learning experiences, this major educates global citizens who will be prepared for careers in industry, health care, public service, policy advocacy, education, and social activism relevant to sustainability.

Credit prepared by Michelle Baron and revised by Chelsea Lee.