Bookmark and Share

Department of

Marine Science and Environmental Studies

Learning Outcomes


Marine Science Major Program Goals

A student should be able to obtain/develop:

  • mastery and breadth of knowledge of the fundamental principles of Marine Science
  •  critical thinking skills
  •  written and oral communication skills
  •  laboratory and field work experience

Environmental Studies Major Program Goals

A student should be able to obtain/develop:

  •  a mastery and breadth of knowledge of fundamental principles in environmental science and policy
  •  critical thinking skills
  • written and oral communication skills
  •  laboratory and field work experience
  • ability to integrate scientific issues and diverse perspectives (social sciences, humanities)

Marine Science Major Student Learning Outcomes

  •  Fundamental principles in marine science and oceanography, including (a) principles of atmospheric sciences, biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography; (b) the interconnectedness of the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere and hydrosphere; and (c) how human activities affect these connections.
  •  The scientific method, including formulation of hypotheses, the use of varied approaches (experimental and observational) for testing hypotheses, appropriate interpretation of data encountered in class, lab, or the scientific literature.
  •  Function successfully in laboratory and field settings, including use of basic equipment and techniques, and putting into practice the basic steps of the research process.
  •  Employ the scientific method using real-world data, including formulation of hypotheses, the use of varied approaches (experimental and observational) for testing hypotheses, and appropriate interpretation of data encountered in class, lab, and the scientific literature.
  •  Conduct literature reviews to obtain scientific information, including accessing all forms of scientific literature to investigate topics, critiquing sources, and organizing information in a scientifically meaningful way.
  • Synthesize a cogent argument in the language of science, including written and oral communication skills, and presentation of results using graphs and equations.

Environmental Studies Learning Outcomes

  •  Fundamental principles in environmental studies, including (a) principles of natural sciences (ecology, earth sciences), social sciences (policy, economics, sociology) and the humanities (history, ethics); (b) the interconnectedness of the natural sciences, the social sciences and the humanities in an environmental context; and (c) how human activities affect these connections.
  •  The scientific method, including formulation of hypotheses, the use of varied approaches (experimental and observational) for testing hypotheses, appropriate interpretation of data encountered in class, lab, or the scientific literature.
  •  Function successfully in laboratory and field settings, including use of basic equipment and techniques and putting into practice the basic steps of the research process.
  • Employ the scientific method using real-world data, including formulation of hypotheses, the use of varied approaches (experimental and observational) for testing hypotheses, and appropriate interpretation of data encountered in class, lab, and the literature.
  •  Conduct literature reviews to obtain information, including accessing all forms of literature to investigate topics, critiquing sources, and organizing information in a meaningful way.
  •  Synthesize a cogent argument in language appropriate to the field of study, including written and oral communication skills, and presentation of results using graphs and equations, when appropriate.