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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES
Office for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

Student Learning Outcome Statements

Student Learning Outcome Statements                            

What are student learning outcome statements?

Within CFAES, student learning outcome statements are comprised of two components: program learning goals and expected program learning outcomes. Goals provide the broad description of what student learning is to occur. Outcomes provide the indicators by which achievement student learning is to be measured.

GOALS: What are program learning goals?

Program learning goals are statements that describe achievements which result from student learning. These goals provide a broad description of the foundations, concepts, theories, abstractions, principles, knowledge base, and/or skills, which are the products of what students need to be able to do, know, and care about upon the completion the program.

Activities through Academic Programs and Student Affairs seeks to collaboratively contribute to the overall educational experience of the students and to fulfill the identified program learning goals.

These program learning goals predominately link to these themes:

Knowledge

A demonstration of the depth of knowledge and an ability to apply the methods of inquiry within the chosen discipline; demonstrating a breadth of knowledge across varied disciplines.

Communications

A demonstration of the ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Critical Thinking

A demonstration of the ability to access and interpret information, respond and adapt to changing situations, make complex decisions, solve problems, and evaluate actions.

Academic and Professional Integrity

The ability to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the ethical standards of a chosen academic discipline and/or profession.

Diversity

The ability to demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the skills necessary to live and work in a diverse world.
The themes relate to these discipline specific skills, ideas, and practices:

Knowledge

  • Concepts
  • Content, Knowledge, and Information
  • History
  • Skills
  • Technologies
  • Theories

Communications

  • Written
  • Verbal
  • Graphic
  • Electronic

Critical Thinking

  • Data Analyses
  • Critical/Creative Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Research
  • Scientific Method
  • Skeptical Inquiry

Academic and Professional Integrity

  • Inter-personal Skills
  • Leadership & Management
  • Life-Long Learning
  • Professional Development
  • Professionalism

Diversity

  • Diversity
  • Global Society
  • International Dimensions
  • One World
  • Respect for Social and Cultural Differences

OUTCOMES: What are program learning outcomes?

Expected program learning outcomes (at times also referred to as “expected student learning objectives”) are statements indicating changes in knowledge, skills, behaviors, attitudes, or values relative to a desired goal as a result of a specific activity, such as completion or participation in a program, activity, course, or project. Program learning outcomes support the program learning goals as they describe what students do or make. Therefore, outcomes are indicators of the stated goals. There are no perfect indicators and typically there should be more than one assessable, measurable outcome per goal.

CFAES Undergraduate Student Learning Goals


From the list of 12 CFAES academic units below, you may access the individual program learning goals and outcomes for the associated academic programs.

Agricultural and Engineering Technologies Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics
Animal Sciences Arts and Science and Business Technologies Entomology
School of Environment and Natural Resources Food Science and Technology Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Horticultural Technologies Horticulture and Crop Science Plant Pathology