Environmental Education

Where environmental science, community and nature come together — education for understanding and responsibility.

Environmental Education Minor

Foster meaningful connections to nature while developing educational programs that cultivate the knowledge and skills to promote a better world through stewardship.

Make a difference with the environmental education minor at Susquehanna University. This program prepares you to transform scientific knowledge into meaningful learning experiences that cultivate environmental literacy and deepen your connection to the natural world. You’ll explore foundations in ecology, environmental education and biology while gaining practical skills in communication, teaching and community engagement.

Hands-on learning at the CEER Field Station and the Freshwater Research Institute gives you opportunities to apply coursework in real-world settings, from field-based interpretation to outreach with schools and community partners. The program also offers flexibility, allowing you to tailor your experience to match your personal and professional goals by choosing from a range of courses that align with your career path.

Interdisciplinary by design, the minor complements degree programs in biology, education, communications, creative writing and more. You’ll graduate ready to inform and inspire diverse audiences, design programs that encourage stewardship and lead efforts toward a more sustainable future.

Experience science in the field

Hands-On Learning and Research

Susquehanna University’s CEER Field Station is an 87-acre living lab where students bring ideas to life. Through fieldwork and lab studies, you’ll explore geophysics, monitor water tables and work with solar arrays and climate stations. These experiences give you the skills and knowledge to tackle real-world challenges in your career and beyond.

Explore the Ceer field Station

Aerial view of a rural landscape featuring a large red barn with a white roof, surrounded by lush green fields. A paved road runs alongside the barn. In the background, a field with rows of solar panels is visible. Trees and greenery are scattered throughout.

Faculty-Mentored Projects

Explore Research Opportunities

Engage in groundbreaking research from day 1. At Susquehanna University, research is more than an opportunity — it’s an integral part of your academic journey.

Learn more

Two students wearing safety goggles work intently on a science experiment at a lab table. One student carefully drops liquid into a container, while the other observes closely. Various lab equipment is scattered across the table.

Explore Your Studies

Program Resources

When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor and consult with their advisor(s).

Minor in Environmental Education

The Environmental Education Minor provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and experiential approach to
preparing students for careers in environmental education and outreach. By integrating environmental
literacy, instructional strategies, communication skills, and hands-on teaching experiences, the program
ensures that graduates are equipped to educate, engage, and inspire diverse audiences in environmental
stewardship.

Student Learning Goals

SLG 1 Develop foundational knowledge in ecological systems, sustainability, human-environment
interactions and environmental justice.
SLG 2 Acquire skills for effective environmental education and outreach, including experiential teaching
methods, program development, and assessment strategies.
SLG 3 Demonstrate the ability to apply interdisciplinary approaches to engage diverse audiences, promote
environmental literacy, and foster community-based solutions.

Course Requirements

The minor in Environmental Education requires 20-24 semester hours. Only courses completed with a grade of
C- or higher may be counted toward the minor.

Choose 1 Foundational Course in Natural Science – 4 SH

4 ECOL-100 Introduction to Ecology
4 BIOL-101 Ecology and Evolution and BIOL-101L Ecology and Evolution Lab
4 EENV-101 Environmental Science
4 EENV-103 Earth History

Required Courses to support Instruction and Curriculum Development – 8 SH

4 ENED-230 Foundations of Environmental Education
2 EDUC-380 Instructional Design
2 ENED-235 Learning in Informal Spaces

Interpretation Courses – 8 SH from among these offerings

4 ANTH-323 Wish You Were Here: The Anthropology of Tourism
4 BIOL-330 Conservation Biology and BIOL-331 Conservation Biology Lab
2 ECOL-560 Interdisciplinary Explorations in Ecology, when the topic is Climate Change Biology
2 ECOL-560 Interdisciplinary Explorations in Ecology, when the topic is Sustainable Food Systems
4 EENV-105 Energy and the Environment
4 EENV-242 Climate and Global Change
2 EENV-250 Topics in Earth and Environmental Science
4 EENV-373 Susquehanna River
4 ENGL-205 Literature Studies, when the topic is Climate Change Narratives
4 ENGL-289 Grant Writing
4 ENGL-299 Professional and Civic Writing
4 ENST-117 American Environmental History
4 ENST-201 Environmental Humanities
4 ENST-301 Current Topics in Environmental Studies
4 ENST-335 Environmental Laws and Regulations
4 INTD-340 Inquiry Based Science
4 MGMT-373 Managing for Sustainability
4 PHIL-226 Philosophy, Ethics and the Environment
4 PPOL-352 Environmental Policy
4 RELI-235 Environmental Ethics
4 SOCI-320 Environmental Sociology
4 WRIT-253 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction, when incorporating Environmentally themed assignment

Required Internship – 0-4 SH: Students must complete an internship, which may or may not be taken for credit. ENED-200 is recommended but other internships may be considered. All internships require approval by the Program Coordinator.

Double-counting Restriction for Interdisciplinary Minors
If the internship is taken for zero credits, 4 semester hours of this minor may be double counted toward the student’s major or another minor. If the internship is taken for 1 credit, 5 semester hours of this minor may be double counted toward the student’s major or another minor. If the internship is taken for 2 credits, 6 semester hours of this minor may be double counted toward the student’s major or another minor. If the internship is taken for 3 credits, 7 semester hours of this minor may be double counted toward the student’s major or another minor. Finally, if the internship is taken for 4 credits, 8 semester hours of this minor may be double counted toward the student’s major or another minor.

ENED 200

Environmental Education Internship

0-4

This course provides students in the Environmental Education minor with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge of the discipline to the professional work environment. Prerequisites: Program coordinator’s approval, acceptance by the organization, completion of the Internship Student Learning Contract. Graded on a S/U basis. 0-4 SH.

ENED 230

Foundation of Environmental Education

This course explores the theoretical, historical, and practical foundations of environmental education. Students will engage in hands-on, project-based learning experiences to develop instructional strategies, evaluate environmental literacy, and analyze the role of environmental education in diverse learning environments. 4 SH

ENED 235

Learning in Informal Spaces

This course explores the ways people learn outside of traditional classrooms, focusing on state parks, conservancies, museums, libraries, religious institutions, community programs, science centers, and digital platforms. Students will investigate how these spaces foster learning, encourage curiosity, and complement formal education. Through hands-on explorations, discussions, and project-based learning, students will analyze, design, and experience informal education in action. 2 SH