Endorsement in Environmental Education
Background:
Murray State University was the first of the Centers for Environmental Education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to have their endorsement in environmental education approved by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board.
Historically the Murray State University’s Center for Environmental Education (MSU CEE) has been involved in training leaders in the field of environmental education as a function of a “specialization in environmental education.” The specialization was chosen for training the following persons that have achieved notoriety in the field:
- Ann Wright, former Director of the Land Between the Lakes, Tennessee Valley Authority;
- Nancy Theiss, first woman to direct the education division, Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources;
- Tim Kempf, CEO of Adventure Experiences, Houston, Texas
These persons are examples of how the specialization in environmental education, a less formalized approach that preceded the EE Endorsement, has served many persons in the field.
Who Should Seek the Endorsement
The EE Endorsement has the purpose of providing persons interested in environmental education the opportunity to have training that meets national standards developed by the North American Association for Environmental Education. This endorsement allows persons with a teaching certificate to add this to their teaching certificate.
Those persons interested in being leaders in environmental education for their school system, their school, or in their classroom would benefit by taking courses that culminate in the endorsement in environmental education. Having the endorsement in environmental education signifies an achievement in the field and recognizes that certain requirements have been accomplished.
When May A Person Take the Endorsement in EE?
An elementary, middle school, secondary, and special education major that has their initial teaching certificate may take the endorsement at any one of the following levels:
- Master’s Degree
- Fifth Year Program
- Rank I Level
- As a separate program just for the purpose of completing the endorsement
What two courses are required for the Endorsement in EE and when are they offered?
EDU 515 Introduction to Environmental Education – Offered Fall Semester
EDU 664 Techniques of Teaching Environmental Education – Offered Spring Semester
What other classes are offered that would complete the Endorsement in Environmental Education and when are they offered?
EDU 665 Field Experiences in Environmental Education – Offered Summer (June)
EDU 668 Agriculture and the Environment in the Classroom – Offered Summer (May/June)
EDU 667 Environmental Education in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland – Offered in conjunction with the Kentucky Institute for International Studies – Summer (July)
EDU 663: Workshops in Environmental Education–Offered in the Fall and Spring of each year with specific topics such as: (a) The Arts and the Humanities in the Environment, (b) Photography, (c) Digital Photography, (d) Project EASE ,and numerous other topics.
(Remember you are only permitted to take nine hours or three courses of
EDU 663, workshops. If you have questions about this please do not hesitate
to contact us)
What if I do not want to take the endorsement in environmental education? What other option is there for me if I want to take environmental education classes?
Graduate students may take environmental education classes as a collection
of courses to meet individual needs within a personal or professional
development program, to fill a specific set of skills, or to meet elective
requirements.
Environmental Education Endorsement Advising Sheet
PDF Format: Environmental Education Advising Sheet
DOC Format: Environmental Education Advising Sheet
For Further Information or To Answer Your Questions Contact:
Director/Professor
Center for Environmental Education
Murray, KY 42071
Voice: 270-809-2595
