Master's Program in Environmental Education
"A Wise Investment in Earth's Future"
Meet Some Graduates
“My growth as an environmental educator would not have occurred if not for this program. This program afforded me the opportunity to become involved in the environmental well-being of my local community in ways that I am most grateful. To be a part of developing a nature center that will educate hopefully hundreds, if not thousands, of children and adults in the years to come is exciting and holds hope for the future of a viable and healthy natural environment. This program has taught me how to separate the educator from the activist, and how to present information in a non-biased way. The resources I have acquired will make my office or classroom a more exciting place to educate the public about the environment and how each individual can make a difference, whether creating a space for the development of environmentally sensitive children or environmentally literate and active teenagers and adults. I have fully recognized my responsibility to the planet and to my life through environmental education. It is through environmental education that world stability and therefore world peace is possible.”
Susanna Hamilton
Executive Director, Environmental Education Center
"My year in the Environmental Education program was a huge learning experience for me, both as an environmental educator and as a person. Many of the assignments seemed intimidating at the beginning but I finished everything. Now, as I read job postings that say they require someone with the ability to write curriculum, do public presentations, write grant proposals, work in cooperation with people from a variety of viewpoints and backgrounds, and a slew of other things, I realize that I am qualified in all of those areas. This is truly an amazing feeling. This program has given me the confidence in my ability to work in this field and be an effective environmental educator."
Jess Niven
Outdoor Educator
"The journey through the environmental education program was an exciting one. I began this master's program thinking that my background in plants and animals would see me through with ease. I was surprised and delighted to discover the depth, breadth and diversity of topics discussed and skills to be mastered. I have pondered David Orr's essays, know Bill Stapp's definition of environmental education, read Cadillac Desert, and practiced activities in Project WET, Project WILD and Project Learning Tree.
I have come to view Environmental Education as a much larger discipline than I had first envisioned. The knowledge I have gained and innumerable skills that I have mastered have transformed my teaching. I once viewed myself as life science teacher and now I can, with great confidence, call myself an environmental educator."
Meg Deppe
Elementary Teacher, Apple Valley
“As I reflect over my work towards a master's degree in environmental education, I understand how little I originally really knew about the environment and how to teach anything related to environmental studies.
Most of my life has been privileged living among the rustling leaves of the poplars, alders, aspens, sycamores, and oaks. I now know that my experiences as a youngster provided the journey that led me to my interests in the outdoors. I had developed an environmental sensitivity and respect for the outdoors that was experienced as part of my home.
With fewer and fewer people living in rural areas, and the greatest number of the planet's population moving into urban areas, we as educators must provide opportunities for students to experience the outdoors. I believe we can provide a basis for developing environmental sensitivity with children's literature and hands-on learning activities conducted outdoors whenever possible. As I consider my work in the program, I find myself understanding the justification for environmental education and its significant contribution to society.”
Denise Hatfield
Elementary Teacher, Yucaipa
"I enrolled in the Environmental Education Master's Program because I really believe in EE to effect positive change in people as well as to provide quality life-impacting experiences. I have worked with both youth and adults in indoor and outdoor settings, teaching formally in a classroom, leading walks and talks in a National Park, and taking at-risk youth to the mountains for the first time to snowboard, snowshoe, or even throw a snowball. I have never seen people affected so much by experience as I have observed in the outdoors and with EE. I also enrolled in this graduate probram to increase my knowledge of and effectiveness in practicing EE in a world that I believe needs appreciation and awareness of the natural world more than ever. I feel like I have accomplished that at Cal State San Bernardino and obtained many of the tools I need to become a successful environmental educator. I have been challanged, pushed and introduced to many new concepts through the EE core classes as well as the supporting electives and education classes. I too, like David Orr, believe that 'all education is environmental education' and as Chief Seattle so said, 'All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the children of the Earth. Humankind did no weave the web of life; they are merely a strand in it.' And as an elementary student in Ghana was quoted saying 'Anyone who has spent the night in a room with a mosquito knows what a difference a small thing can make.'"
Lacey Moore
National Park Service Interpreter
"Over the past year as a student, I have learned more about how to be a professional educator through both environmental education courses and the education core classes. I have stretched my teaching ability during my fieldwork and have learned how to adapt my lessons to different students, weather, and unforseen opportunities. I have assessed and evaluated my lessons, as well as myself as an educator. I have gained a better foundation in environmental eduaction and have furthered my environmental literacy. I have learned my responsibilities as a professional environmental educator and practiced planning and implementing lessons. More importantly than gaining knowledge and experience, discovering how to foster learning in students was the most valuable of all experiences I had at Cal State San Bernardino. I now have the ability to inspire wonder in students; I am more flexible while encouraging creativity from my students; and I can now better provide experiences that make my students more aware and enthusiastic about the world around them. Those are the skills that I am proud to take with me as I enter the world of professional environmental education.
Maleah McPherson
Outdoor School Educator
Examples of Master's Degree Projects / Theses completed
Using Literature to Develop a Sense of Place
Desert Studies: A Comprehensive Curriculum
Interpretive Trail in Amazonian Ecuador
Waste In Place Facilitator's Training Handbook
Naturescope Workshop Handbook for Facilitators
Exploring the Island: An Educator's Manual for Teaching Primary Students about the Channel Islands
Mojave Desert Issues: A High School Curriculum
Storm Water Pollution Patrol: A Thematic Unit for use in Elementary Classrooms
The Salton Sea Wetlands: A Guidebook of Curriculum-Based Lessons
Teaching Social Skills through Environmental Education
The Joshua Tree Hotel - Curriculum
Outside Four Walls: Implementing Environmental Education Out-of-Doors on School Campuses
Pre and Post Field Trip Activities for the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
Developing a Habitat Garden at the Elementary School
The Obispeno Chumash Indians: San Luis Obispo County's First Environmentalists
More Than Trees: An Interdisciplinary, Literature-Based Unit, Emphasizing Drama and Hands-on Learning
Trout in the Classroom
Environmental Community Service Learning
An Overview of Environmental Development in the Game Parks of Kenya
Working for the Environment: Pathways to Environmental Careers
Natural History of the Saguaro
Using Trade Books for Language Arts Skills Instruction and Environmental Education
Environmental Science Curriculum for Eleventh through Twelfth Grade Classes
Thematic Approach to Teaching Reading and Environmental Education, Kindergarten-Sixth Grade
Teaching Water Conservation to Teachers of Fourth-Sixth Grade Students
Environmental Education Graduates work in such positions as:
Teachers, K-12 grade levels, who provide leadership in environmental education
in the schools and inspire their students
Environmental Education Resource Teachers
Teachers in Resident Outdoor School
Curator of Education at Museums
Faculty at 2-year Community Colleges
Freelance writers and photographers
Educators, non-profit Organizations
National Park Service and other federal agencies
Outward Bound Adventures
