Santa Clara University

Our Mission

The Environmental Studies Institute is an interdisciplinary community of scholars - composed of faculty, staff, and students - dedicated to understanding the interactions between humans and the natural world. We serve local and global communities by addressing environmental issues through education, research, and leadership. Our bachelors level degrees in Environmental Science and Environmental Studies challenge undergraduates to integrate knowledge and research in the natural and social sciences with ethics, service and leadership to promote a sustainable world. The Institute provides a variety of campus and community programs including seminars, internships, and opportunities for research, service, and study abroad.

ESI Goals & Objectives for Student Learning

1.) Natural Science: Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Science possess an in-depth understanding of physical and biological science relevant to the environment.  Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies possess a basic understanding of physical and biological science relevant to the environment.

            Graduating seniors:

a.    can explain key principles of ecology, evolution, geology and chemistry; and

b.    can articulate natural science dimensions of sustainability and of initiatives that can lead to a more sustainable world.

2.) Social Science: Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies possess an in-depth understanding of the dynamic interplay between social and ecological processes. Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Science possess a basic understanding of the dynamic interplay between social and ecological processes.

            Graduating seniors:

a.    can interpret and analyze social institutions and dynamics that affect the environment;

b.    can describe broad patterns of social thought about human/nature relationships and can articulate the
social, economic, and political dimensions of sustainability and of initiatives that can lead to a more sustainable world.

3.)  Critical Thinking: Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science should possess the scholarly tools from the natural and social sciences to analyze major environmental challenges.

            Graduating seniors:

a.   can correctly identify which methodological tools and quantitative/qualitative skills are appropriate to address particular environmental questions; and

b.   are able to assess the quality of different types of evidence and understand the role that uncertainty and risk play in environmental decision making.

4.)  Values/Ethics: Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science should apply a comprehension of ethics and social justice in their assessments of and responses to environmental challenges.

     Graduating seniors are able to identify the moral dimension of environmental problems, frame solutions using ethical reasoning; and articulate how social justice is integrally related to sustainability.

5.)  Leadership: Students graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies or Environmental Science should demonstrate the leadership skills needed to promote a sustainable world.

            Graduating seniors:

a.   can communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences on environmental subjects and research; and

b.   can articulate a vision for their lives and their communities that can guide progress toward a more just, humane, and sustainable world.

Goals & Objectives for Curriculum & Pedagogy

The ESI fosters the integration of interdisciplinary methodologies into a coherent environmental curriculum.

The ESI:

a.   supports initiatives to offer co-instructed courses;

b.   provides opportunities for students to engage in experiential learning;

c.   has a commitment towards training and keeping our teachers current in interdisciplinary methods through seminars, workshops, and sharing information; and

d.   builds curricular coherence through periodic assessment and review.

 
Goals & Objectives for Scholarship

1.) The ESI promotes interdisciplinary research by ESI faculty, staff, and affiliated faculty. 

The ESI:

a.    hosts an interdisciplinary seminar series to stimulate and support cross-disciplinary inquiry within a lively community of scholars; and

b.    allocates a small pool of professional development funds to faculty to promote interdisciplinary research.

 
2.) ESI faculty and affiliates involve undergraduates in their research.

Research publications and presentations involve undergraduate participation, collaboration, and, where appropriate, co-authorship.

3.) The ESI values publication of scholarly work in a wide spectrum of venues, including ones beyond those typical to academia.

Where feasible, publication in peer-reviewed academic venues is supplemented by works that interpret scholarly work for the lay public.

 
Goals & Objectives for Service

The ESI encourages service that is related to the environment.

ESI faculty and staff:

a.   serve on advisory or consulting panels regarding environmental issues;

b.   give public lectures and write editorials and articles with the goal of educating the public about environmental issues;

c.   foster environmental leadership among students by facilitating and supporting student organizations and activities; and

d.   contribute to campus programs, including the Cypress Residential Learning Community, International Programs, and the University Sustainability Initiative.