Assessment of Student Learning in Explorations in Environmental Studies

In the academic year 2000-2001, the faculty of Huxley College of the Environment moved to revise its core curriculum, placing a new emphasis on problem-solving, interdisciplinary integration of subject matter, and creating a learning community among students and faculty. Explorations in Environmental Studies (Estu/Esci 301) was created to serve as an entry-quarter core experience, to be followed by a choice of other substantive courses to complement the student's major, and finally another integrative, problem-based capstone course. Explorations in Environmental Studies was first offered experimentally as Envr 397 in Autumn 2001 and again in Spring 2002. Three sections were offered in Autumn 2003, and two each in Winter and Spring 2003. This totals 9 sections, each with about 25 students. All sections except the first 397 have been taught using Bellingham Bay as a local placebased focal point.