Current Students

The following are coursework and thesis requirements for M.Ed. in Environmental Education students, which includes a list of:

• Core and specialty (elective) courses
• M.Ed. in EE checklist covering thesis requirements, related forms, and guidelines
• Quick Links to:
  • Graduate M.Ed. Program Plan - Addendum Form
  • Thesis Proposal Guidelines and Thesis Formatting Guidelines
  • IRB Application
  • CEHSP Committee Recommendation for a Degree
• List of theses by former M.Ed. in Environmental Education students

M.Ed. in Environmental Education Coursework and Degree Requirements

Students will complete at least 34 graduate credits. Of those, 23 credits are core M.Ed. in Environmental Education courses. 4-6 credits are a research project, such as a thesis or curriculum development. The remaining 5-7 credits are electives relative to your specialty/interest area. Finally, in addition to the completion and defense of the student initiated thesis work, a colloquium and seminar presentation to students and faculty is required. See the CEHSP Graduate Program Handbook for more details.

I. M.Ed. Core Courses (23 cr.):

Professional Development:

• EnEd 5998 Seminar (1 cr.)

Research & Theory:

• Psych 5051 Research Methods and Measurement OR Educ 7004 Educational Action Research or Inquiry OR Soc 5XXX (3 cr.)
• EnEd 5165 Theories and Models (2 cr.)
• EnEd 5560 Current Research & Issues (3 cr.)

Instructional Methodology:

• EnEd 5163 Outdoor Education Methods (3 cr.)
• EnEd 5850 Classroom Applications (2 cr.)
• EnEd 5855 Programming for School Systems (2cr.)

Development, Management, and Evaluation of Environmental Education Programs:

• EnEd 4315 Operations and Management (4 cr.)
• EnEd 5625 Program Development and Evaluation (3 cr.)

II. Research Project (4-6 cr.)

• EHS 5990 - Research Project in Education (4-6 cr.)

III. Specialty Courses (5-7 cr.)

5-7 credits will be taken in your area of specialty.

• Biol 5xxx Field Biology Courses
• Econ 4721 Natural Resources and Energy Economics (3 cr.)
• Econ 4777 Environmental Economics (3 cr.)
• Educ 5XXX Selected Education Courses (dependent on student direction)
• Educ 7XXX Selected Education Courses (dependent on student direction)
• EnEd 4555 Foundations of Environmental Education (2 cr.)
• EnEd 4601 Wilderness Philosophy (2 cr.)
• EnEd 5164 EE In-Service Training (0.5-10 cr.)
• EnEd 5325 Environmental Issues Investigation (3 cr.)
• EnEd 5236 EE for Teachers (2 cr.)
• EnEd 5555 EE for Practicing Teachers (2 cr.)
• Geol 5XXX Field Geology Courses MgtS 3701 Principles of Marketing (3 cr.)
• MgtS 4XXX Selected Management Studies Courses (dependent upon student direction)
• PsyA 5xxx Selected Psychology Courses (dependent upon student direction)
• Rec 4320 GIS Management for Recreation Professionals (3 cr.)
• Rec 4991 Independent Study (Outdoor Leadership) (3 cr.)
• Rec 4992 Readings in Recreation (1-4 cr.)

Note: All courses listed above are pending approval by committee members.

Suggested Timeline for Degree Completion

The following schedule has been set to encourage a sequential and directed flow of courses. We encourage you to adhere to this plan to not only optimize the time required to complete the degree, but also to encourage a cohort team of graduate student colleagues. This cohort team can greatly enhance the quality of your graduate education. This degree is intended to be able to be completed within 24 months. Actual degree completion will certainly vary depending upon the extent that a student takes summer session courses, or the extent of their employment demands.

This timeline is for students entering in the Fall with no credits earned prior to admission.

Year 1 - Fall Semester

• EnEd 5850 - Classroom Applications (2 cr.) (Alternate Fridays with WRELC (Wolf Ridge) 2-6 pm))
• EnEd 5163 - Outdoor Education Methods (3 cr.) (Th. 2-5 pm)
• EnEd 5998 - Seminar (1 cr.) (M. 4-5 pm)
  • Note: Seminar is mandatory for all graduate students, but should only be registered for in the two semesters when you intend to present - first your premliminary thesis work (colloquium), then your results (seminar).
• EnEd 5165 - Theories and Models in OE (2 cr.) (Alternate Fridays with WRELC - 2-6 pm)
• EnEd 4315 - Operations and Management (4 cr.)

Total Credits: 11-12

Year 1 - Spring Semester

• Psych 5051 - Research Methods and Measurement OR Educ 7004 - Educational Action Research or Inquiry OR Soc 5XXX (3-4 cr.)
• EnEd 5560 - Current Research & Issues (3 cr.) (alternate Fridays w/ WRELC: 2-6 pm)
• EnEd 5855 - Programming for School Systems (2 cr.) OR EnEd 5625 - Program Development and Evaluation (3 cr.) [These courses are offered on alternating years]
• EnEd 5998 - Seminar (1 cr., register only if presenting)
• Elective Credits (2-4 cr.)

Total Credits: 10-12

Year 2 - Fall Semester

• Elective Credits (3-4 cr.)
• EnEd 5998 - Seminar (1 cr., register only if presenting)
• EHS 5990 - Thesis Project (2-3 cr.)

Total Credits: 5-8

Year 2 - Spring Semester

• EHS 5990 - Thesis Project (2-3 cr.)
• EnEd 5625 - Program Development and Evaluation (3 cr.) OR EnEd 5855 - Programming for School Systems (2 cr.) [These courses are offered on alternating years]
• EnEd 5998 - Seminar (1 cr., register only if presenting)

Total Credits: 5-7

Total Credits for Degree: 34 Minimum

M.Ed. in Environmental Education Student Checklist

The following checklist provides an overview of thesis guidelines for the initial, intermediate, and final stages of a project.

1. Select Committee of 2-3 members, including the Chair (Chair can be Ken, Bruce, Julie, or Mark) *By end of first semester (middle of the second semester at the latest!)
2. Develop a draft of your Graduate M.Ed. Program Plan (Graduate Program Plan Addendum)
3. Meet with your Committee for approval of your Program Plan and discussion of thesis/final project topic and potential problem statement or research question; All Committee Members sign your Program Plan; Chair brings completed Program Plan to Lynn Velander (Executive Administrative Specialist to Collegiate Graduate Programs) in 120B Bohannon Hall; Lynn Velander will provide your committee with a signed copy of your Program Plan. Discuss with your committee when to register for first set of EHS 5990 credits.   *By end of second semester*
4. Begin your literature review and finalize your problem statement and/or research questions, under the guidance of your Committee; Discuss with your Committee which option is most appropriate given your problem statement (your options are research, field, or a curriculum project; for students selecting the research option, you can discuss with your Committee whether a traditional thesis format or journal article format is more appropriate).  CEHSP Research Guidelines and information on resources and services for Environmental Education research.
5. Work on Ch. 1-3, under the guidance of your Committee and following the Thesis Proposal Guidelines and Thesis Formatting Guidelines
6. Complete Collegiate Graduate Programs Research Project Proposal form and a "final" draft of your research proposal/Ch. 1-3.
7. Meet with your Committee for approval of your Research Project Proposal; All Committee Members sign Proposal; Chair brings completed Proposal to Lynn Velander; Provide your Committee with a copy of the signed Proposal. 
8. Schedule to present your Colloquium with Tom Beery, with approval of your Chair (Colloquium Guidelines).
9. Complete your application to the Institutional Review Board (IRB); See their website at  http://www.research.umn.edu/irb/; Chair signs completed IRB application *Your Research Project Proposal must be approved before submitting your application to IRB.
10. After you have IRB approval, collect and analyze your data.
11. Complete Ch. 4-5 and re-visit Ch. 1-3 and modify/add as needed, under the guidance of your Committee (check with Committee as to how they would like to be kept informed of your progress); Write an abstract of 150 words.
12. Complete Application for Degree and UMD Departmental Masters Commencement Attendance Questionnaire and turn forms in to the Registrars Office in 21 Campus Center (see graduation information and note application deadlines, as applications are due very early in the semester!)
13. Schedule your final Seminar with Tom Beery, with pre-approval of your Chair (Seminar Guidelines).
14. Complete your portion of the CEHSP Committee Recommendation for a Degree form and prepare your Title Page for your thesis/field project.
15. Meet with your Committee for your Defense (a reflection on "so what?" and "now what?"); Committee signs your Recommendation for a Degree form and your two high-quality title pages; Provide your Committee with a copy of the signed Recommendation for a Degree form; Chair turns signed form in to Lynn Velander.
16. Have thesis printed, bound, and distributed according to thesis printing and binding guidelines; Chair brings these bound copies to Lynn Velander.
17. Participate in Commencement
18. Work with your Committee to submit your work for publication.

Printable M.Ed. in Environmental Education Student Checklist (Word document)

M.Ed. in Environmental Education Student Theses at UMD

List of theses by former M.Ed. in Environmental Education students at UMD