| Major Code: 8119 |
Degree Awarded: Master of Science |
| Age Restriction: N |
Admission status: graduate |
| Delivery Mode/s: classroom, field |
Location/s: main campus |
| Admission Materials: 3 letters of recommendation, résumé, objectives |
|
Program Chair
Thomas J. Marcinkowski, Ph.D.
Environmental education is for individuals with experience and/or active interest in formal education programs (i.e., schools) and non-formal education programs (e.g., nature/environmental centers, agencies, parks, gardens, zoos and museums). The program is designed to provide graduate education in science and environmental content, as well as expand and enhance environmental education teaching skills. The program includes graduate coursework in environmental content, in environmental education and in educational research.
The master’s degree program includes coursework in an environmental content concentration. Each concentration is designed around a unifying theme for the purpose of expanding environmental knowledge and skills pertinent to that theme (e.g., a disciplinary theme such as ecology or marine science; a natural resource theme such as estuaries; or a problem-oriented theme such as loss of biodiversity or water quality). Concentrations reflect the academic and research strengths of programs within the university. Programs that offer coursework for inclusion in environmental content concentrations include ecology and marine biology; environmental science and environmental resources management; biological, chemical and physical oceanography; coastal zone management and marine environmental science. Concentrations are designed to include coursework in each of the following areas: ecology or another foundational science; environmental problems; environmental fieldwork or monitoring; and environmental policy, planning or management.
The master’s degree program also includes coursework in foundations and methods in environmental education to reflect North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) guidelines. The foundations course is designed to develop and expand knowledge of the field and of educational practices in the field from diverse perspectives. The methods courses are designed to develop and improve teaching skills. To accommodate students’ differing backgrounds and interests, course projects and assignments allow students to develop and apply these skills in relevant contexts or settings.
Admission Requirements
The master’s program is designed for individuals holding bachelor’s degrees in areas of science, environmental studies, environmental interpretation, psychology or K-12 education. All entering students are expected to have a background in the sciences and in education that will permit them to successfully complete graduate coursework. Individuals for whom this may be a concern are encouraged to discuss this directly with the program chair.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section, which also contains information on financial assistance.
Degree Requirements
The master of science degree is conferred on students who have successfully completed 30 credit hours, as specified in the following section including six credit hours of thesis (thesis option) or six credit hours of restricted electives that may include three credit hours of research chosen with the approval of the program chair and department head (nonthesis option). The thesis option concludes with an oral thesis presentation/defense.
