M.Ed. in Environmental Education

UPDATE:  The M.Ed, Environmental Education Program is not accepting applications at this time.  Please check in again in Fall 2024.

Program Faculty

Graduate Program Coordinator: Ed Weber

Program Adviser: Dr Nick Stanger

Program Mission

A student holds open a book of butterfly identification, pointing at one of the photos with their phone propped up nearby

The philosophy of environmental education at College of the Environment is that it is to be broad and inclusive. The goal of environmental education, in the words of the 1976 Belgrade Charter that saw the international spread of the profession, is “to develop a world population that is aware of, and concerned about, the environment and its associated problems, and which has the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivations, and commitment to work individually and collectively toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.” Since then, environmental education has diversified greatly, and now takes place in formal classrooms, school grounds, nature centers, outdoor and environmental education programs, government agency programs, mass- and social-media venues, and community-based programs in businesses, faith communities, international conservation, and environmental-social justice movements.

At the College of the Environment, our environmental education programs focus on the human relationship to nature, with special emphasis on the intrinsic development of the learner in his or her own culture. Currently, we offer several options for educators seeking an M.Ed. in environmental education.

WWU Campus-based Master's in Education

Environmental Education, Non-Thesis, M.Ed.

The campus-based, non-thesis master's option serves teachers and others who wish to develop background and skills to incorporate environmental education into their educational work. Students develop a focus that requires the application of knowledge to design a field project which suits their vision of environmental education. This program does not provide teacher certification. If desired, that must be pursued separately. All graduate students are expected to develop and implement creative projects that will aid their own practice with the guidance and advice of the program advisor and other teachers.

Environmental Education, Thesis, M.Ed.

The campus-based, master's option with thesis serves students who wish to pursue a scholarly path in environmental education while also developing practical skills. Students develop a question that requires conducting original theoretical or empirical research, and which suits their vision of environmental education. This program does not provide teacher certification. If desired, that must be pursued separately. All graduate students are expected to develop and implement creative projects that will aid their own practice, with the guidance and advice of the program advisor and other teachers.

Application deadline: Please contact the WWU Graduate School for applicable deadline dates. Students are accepted for all quarters for the two Western campus-based programs, though a fall quarter start is encouraged. For other requirements, please follow the individual links above to the Western Catalog.