Environmental Conservation Education Info Session with Dr. Mary Leou For more than 30 years, the 37-point MA program in Environmental Conservation Education has prepared graduates for environmental careers in the field of education.
Our interdisciplinary approach draws on both theory and practice and integrates the natural and social sciences with education and field work to help students gain an understanding of the profound effects of human activity on the planet and the role of education in solving environmental problems.
The program draws on faculty from a wide variety of disciplines within the University including education, history, philosophy, law, journalism, science, health, and the arts. Three required courses in environmental thought, environmental debates, and environmental politics introduce students to the theories, policies, and ethics that have shaped public discourse and understanding of our environment. A fourth required course in the theory and practice of environmental education examines national and local models of environmental education, analyzes their relationship to contemporary issues of environmental literacy, and develops students' competencies in planning environmental education programs.
Electives allow students to tailor their program of study to fit their particular conservation education interests in areas such as environmental justice, curriculum design, teacher education, policy studies, ecology, youth education, wildlife education, and sustainability. Electives can be taken within Steinhardt, the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The program also has a strong affiliation with the Science Education Program in Steinhardt's Department of Teaching and Learning, and the Wallerstein Collaborative for Urban Environmental Education, which provide students with numerous opportunities to study and work closely with science education faculty on research, curriculum projects, and other environmental initiatives.
The integration of coursework with required field work, provides students with a unique urban experience in environmental education. We make ample use of the vast resources available in New York City through which students study contemporary environmental issues and programs, evaluate, develop or implement educational initiatives for children, youth, and adults, or undertake applied research in environmental education.
Students complete internships in a wide variety of organizations including: New York City Audubon, Council on the Environment of New York City, Jane Goodall Institute, New York City Soil and Water Conservation District, the United Nations, New York League of Conservation Voters, The Mayor's Office of Environmental Coordination, Wildlife Conservation Society, High School of Environmental Studies, Harbor School, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Wave Hill. The University's own Sustainability Initiative provides additional opportunities for involvement and learning.
NYU's Eco-Friendly Community
Our program is located on one of the most eco-friendly campuses in the country. Sierra Club's 2009 list of "Cool Schools" places NYU, for the first time, in their top 20 list of eco-enlightened universities.
NYU has made tremendous strides in the last several years to reduce its energy consumption or improve energy efficiency in many areas, including food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management, and administration. Many residence hall dining rooms are trayless to save water, students use compact fluorescent light bulbs in their rooms, food waste is composted and used for our gardens, biking to school is encouraged and supported, recycling is widespread, and local produce and food products are common.
The University's Sustainability Task Force awards grants to student-led green projects around campus to advance the university's leadership in best environmental practices and technologies. Members of the Task Force include students, staff, and faculty from across NYU, including the Environmental Conservation Education program director, Dr. Mary Leou. Its initiatives offer many opportunities for students in our program to be engaged in local environmental education and sustainability initiatives.
Funding Opportunities
Each year, the NYU Reynolds Program in Social Entrepreneurship awards up to 10 Graduate Fellowships in Social Entrepreneurship to students from across 11 NYU schools. It is open to new students accepted for Fall 2012 enrollment to any full-time, two-year master's program (with the exception of some executive programs), or students that are currently enrolled in the schools of law, medicine, dentistry or some three-year Tisch School of the Arts programs and will have two years of study remaining beginning September 2012. Successful applicants will receive up to $25,000 for each of two years of study, and participate in an intensive two-year curricular and co-curricular program designed to help prepare them to be the next generation of social entrepreneurial leaders. There will be an info session held about the program on January 24th, 2012. For more information visit: http://www.nyu.edu/reynolds/grad/
For more information about our MA program, please contact:
Dr. Mary Leou
Program Director
212-998-5474
mary.leou@nyu.edu
Dr. Howard S. Schiffman
212-992-9365
howard.schiffman@nyu.edu