Environmental Education
Master of Science in Environmental Education at Southern Oregon University
Mission Statement
To provide environmental educators and engaged citizens a broad scientific understanding of the environment, related issues, and the necessary skills for effectively communicating to diverse audiences.
The Program
Conflicts over environmental degradation and resource use are vital concerns of our time. Creating greater public awareness of the processes and complexity of ecosystems is essential to development of a land ethic and responsible stewardship of our natural resources. The Southern Oregon University Master’s Program in Environmental Education addresses these core issues. Our goal is to train educators to meet the challenge of developing awareness, promoting stewardship, and inspiring a sense of wonder for the natural world.
Environmental Education is a year and a half (July to December) master’s program within the College of Arts and Sciences and housed in the Department of Biology. A hands-on program, it provides field-oriented courses that broaden students’ scientific understanding of the environment, exposes students to environmental problems and associated social conflicts, and prepares students to become effective environmental educators.
Southern Oregon University is uniquely situated to prepare the environmental educators of the future. The Biology Department includes a number of field-oriented biologists in various disciplines eager to work with developing environmental educators. SOU is committed to serving and supporting a variety of environmental programs including the Environmental Studies undergraduate program, programs at Deer Creek Center for Field Research and Education, and the Crater Lake Science and Learning Center.
Southern Oregon University is embedded in an area of tremendous biological and geological diversity, difficult to match anywhere in the country. Within 40 minutes, students can be at 7000’ in the Siskiyou Mountains or experiencing the whitewater of the Rogue River. Coniferous forests, oak savannas, grasslands, cottonwood-lined streams, and chaparral-covered hillsides all serve as outdoor classrooms a short walk or drive from campus. Just beyond the Rogue Valley, the redwoods and coast lie to the west and the Cascade Mountains and High Desert to the east.
The area includes abundant state and federal land managed by the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife accessible to SOU. These agencies all have education and/or interpretation programs. In addition, there are a number of non-profit and municipal groups that conduct innovative environmental education programs including Klamath Bird Observatory, North Mountain Park Nature Center, Jefferson Nature Center, Siskiyou Field Institute, and The Nature Conservancy. We work closely with each, and our students find many rewarding training and work experiences with them.
This combination of natural, human, and organizational resources allows us to tailor the set of experiences to meet each student’s career goals and to offer the best possible preparation in environmental education.
Southern Oregon University has been preparing educators to teach natural history in field settings for more than 40 years, first as the Outdoor Education program and since 1990 as the Environmental Education program with an expanded scope. For more information see the University web site and Biology Department’ web page.
Siskiyou Environmental Education Center – SEEC
The Siskiyou Environmental Education Center (SEEC) serves as a hub for environmental education networking and resources within the bioregion. Staffed by EE graduate assistants, SEEC connects our graduate students with environmental education events, internships, and jobs. They also provide much needed environmental education expertise to local schools and non-profit programs. Our ever-growing collection of curriculum kits and resources makes place-based and hands-on lessons available to all educators in southern Oregon and northern California. The SEEC office is housed in SOU’s College of Arts and Sciences and is available for use by all EE students. The SEEC office manages the day to day operations of the EE program.
Deer Creek Center for Field Research and Education
Southern Oregon University, in partnership with the Siskiyou Field Institute, is actively developing the Deer Creek Center for Field Research and Education (DCC). The 870 acre site is located adjacent to the Illinois River canyon, the Siskiyou Mountains and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area, one of the largest wilderness areas in the state of Oregon. The property itself includes sections of both Deer and Squaw Creeks plus the northern slopes of Eight Dollar Mountain. DCC is surrounded on three sides by public land providing easy access to land far beyond the boundaries of the site. The site includes areas dominated by serpentine soils and the unique flora and fauna associated with them. Fens with carnivorous cobra lilies (Darlingtonia californica), and a number of endemic plants, are some of the most distinctive features.
The site is located an easy 90 minute drive west of SOU’s campus in the Illinois Valley, accessible by paved road, two miles from Highway 199.
With the acquisition of DCC, SOU and SFI are embarking upon a building campaign to provide housing and educational facilities for a wide range of field-based programs. Siskiyou Field Institute focuses on providing educational experiences for the people of the region, while SOU focuses on academic programs and research for its students and others from outside the region.
SOU is also working closely with Oregon Caves National Monument, located nearby, in order to offer opportunities for our students and to provide programs at DCC.
Field Quarter at Deer Creek Center
We are excited to now offer opportunities for students to operate and manage a field-based educational program and gain valuable teaching experience through DCC. Students develop a place-based curriculum for the site, organize and market the program, then deliver programs to a variety of audiences while in residence at the field station. Other activities while at DCC include the development of educational resources, field work, and seminars. Students work closely with the staff at DCC and under the supervision of SOU faculty.
Crater Lake Science and Learning Center
The Crater Lake Science and Learning Center recently opened just below the rim of Crater Lake. It is operated jointly by the National Park Service, the Oregon Institute of Technology and Southern Oregon University.
The facilities include recently refurbished historic buildings at the Headquarters. The program serves teachers and students from the region providing instruction and interpretation primarily in the summer and fall. The program works closely with Park interpreters. There are expanding opportunities for our graduate students to work in these programs.
