Environmental Program Review

New NCSE Assessment Service for Interdisciplinary Environmental Programs

 

Interdisciplinary Environmental Education on Nation's Campuses

NCSE's Program Assessment Service can help you understand and assess your interdisciplinary environmental (IE) programs in the context of programs across the nation and peer institutions. An analysis report provides valuable insights that allow you to shape the future of your programs and make them more successful in terms defined by you, your institution, and your students.

This service is based on the results of the first comprehensive study of IE programs including 343 degrees at 260 campuses nationwide, which was commissioned by NCSE's Council of Environmental Deans and Directors. 

NCSE's new report, Interdisciplinary Environmental Education on the Nation’s Campuses, presents the study's findings and explores the key knowledge and skills components of programs, how programs are organized administratively, and how program curricula are oriented towards system science, adaptive management or policy and governance. If you would like to order copies, please complete the order form and email to affiliates@ncseonline.org (free for University Affiliate/CEDD members).

The analysis service can assess a wide variety of IE program parameters against the national study findings, and other programs, including:

  • Four key characteristics of IE program identity
  • Ten IE knowledge and integrated skills components
  • Three educational approaches framework
  • Administrative program characteristics
    - location within university
    - faculty
    - resources
    - assessment criteria
    - partnerships
  • Degree program characteristics
    - enrollment
    - objectives
    - requirements
    - curriculum design
  • Indicators of success
    - enrollment trends
    - ability to provide ideal curricula
    - satisfaction with factors that influence success, such as ability to attract external funding

If interested in conducting an assessment of your environmental programs, please complete the response form.

Webinar: How to Think about New and Transitioning Environmental Programs (May 21, 2009)
Are you considering revising your environmental program, or thinking about creating a new one? One of the most popular breakout sessions at CEDD meetings is the one that we hold on new programs. This webinar was led by Alan Elzerman and Stephanie Pfirman, who offered guidance from their experience in both creating and reviewing programs.



Further Resources

Vincent, Shirley. June 2010. Interdisciplinary Environmental Education on the Nation's Campuses: Elements of Field Identity and Curriculum Design, a research study conducted by the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors of the National Council for Science and the Environment.

Vincent, Shirley and Will Focht. 2010. In Search of Common Ground: Exploring Identity and the Possibility of Core Competencies for Interdisciplinary Environmental Programs. Environmental Practice 12(1):1-11.

Vincent, Shirley and Will Focht. July 2009. Perspectives on Environmental Program Curricula and Core Competencies: A Report of the Curriculum Committee of the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors. 

Vincent, Shirley and Will Focht. 2009. US Higher Education Environmental Program Managers’ Perspectives on Curriculum Design and Core Competencies: Implications for Sustainability as a Guiding Framework. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 10(2):164-183.

Vincent, Shirley. 2010. Trends in Environmental Studies and Science Programs. Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences Newsletter 2(3):4-6. (http://documents.clubexpress.com/documents.ashx?key=CEZEvpw6Kl3Kys7MieTaqTpwzJb16udwQhScKodlS3xOyaqbyF7SX5tw4vDp2Eo%2b)

Hansmann, Ralf. 2009. Linking the Components of a University Program to the Qualification Profile of Graduates: The Case of a Sustainability-Oriented Environmental Science Curriculum. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. 46 (5). Pp. 537-569.

Stephanie Pfirman, Sharon J. Hall and Tom Tietenberg. 2005. Environmental Programs: Liberal Arts Colleges and Interdisciplinary Education. Environmental Science & Technology. 39 (10). Pp 221A–224A.

As Colleges Add Green Majors and Minors, Classes Fill Up, USA Today, 12/28/2009 (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2009-12-27-green-colleges_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip)

Sustainability Comes of Age, New York Times, 12/29/2009 (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/03urbansustain.html)