The Environmental Education Certificate builds undergraduate students’ environmental content knowledge, communication skills, critical thinking about environmental issues, and commitment to being an environmentally responsible citizen. There are four educational objectives of the Environmental Education Certificate Program: Create new knowledge (environmental knowledge, natural history knowledge, etc.) related to environmental and life sciences; Develop effective teaching and communication skills; Implement a variety of strategies for assessing learning outcomes; and Demonstrate content knowledge, teaching ability, and assessment strategies through an experiential learning capstone course. Coursework This certificate requires 18 total undergraduate credit hours. Through course work and experiential learning, the Environmental Education Certificate will prepare undergraduate students to help the public gain a deeper understanding of our natural world. With this certificate, students will be prepared to pursue jobs at 4-H Centers, nature centers, museums, science centers, aquariums, zoos, state and federal natural resource agencies, and city/county parks and recreation departments. Even if you are not considering a natural resource/environmental education career path, the certificate will build critical science and communication skills applicable across many professions. These are a selection of approved courses for the Environmental Education Certificate. Other courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the co-directors. Environmental Education Certificate Component Courses Foundations of Environmental Education REQUIRED COURSEFANR 4444S: Foundations of Environmental Education (3 credits) Environmental and Life Science Content Knowledge Choose 1 course (Minimum of 3 credits)ANTH 3090: Evolution of Human Ecosystems (3 credits)BIOL 1103: Basic Concepts of BiologyBIOL 1104: Organismal Biology (3 credits)BIOL 1107: Principles of Biology I (3 credits)BIOL 1108: Principles of Biology II (3 credits)CRSS 3050: Introduction to Water Quality (3 credits)CRSS 3060: Soils and Hydrology (3 credits)CRSS 4020S: Social Sustainability in Agricultural (3 credits)ECOL 1000: Ecological Basis of Environmental Issues (3 credits)ECOL 1200: Natural History of Georgia (3 credits)ECOL 2100: Global Climate Change (3credits)ECOL 3500: Ecology (3 credits)ECOL 3580: Vertebrate Natural History (3 credits)ECOL 3770S: Urban Ecology (3 credits)ECOL 4010: Ecosystem Ecology (3 credits)ECOL 4060(WILD): Ornithology (3 credits)ECOL 4550(FISH): Sustainable Aquaculture (3 credits)ENTO 2010: Insects and the Environment (3 credits)FANR 1100: Natural Resources Conservation (3 credits)FANR 3400: Society and Natural Resources (2 credits)FISH 3000: Introduction to Fish and Wildlife Mgt (3 credits)FISH 4520(WILD): Conservation Decision-Making (3 credits)FORS 1000: Introduction to Forestry (3credits)FORS 3010: Dendrology (3 credits)FORS 4010: Silviculture (3 credits)FORS 4110: Forest Hydrology (3 credits)GEOG 1125: Resources, Society, and the Envt (3 credits)PRTM 4400: Resource Management (3credits)PRTM 5410(RLST): Stewardship and Protection of Nat. Res. (3)WILD 1100E: Wildlife in America (2 credits)WILD 4040(ECOL): Herpetology (4 credits) Pedagogical/ Communication Skills Choose 2 courses (Minimum of 6 credits)AGED 2001: Teaching with Animals (3 credits)AGED 4350: Curriculum Planning in Agricultural Ed (3)AGED 4360: Instructional Strategies in Agricultural Ed (3)AGED 4370: Agriscience for Teachers (3 credits)ALDR 3820: Reflections in Fighting Hunger (3 credits)ARED 5470: Issues and Practices in Teaching Art (3 credits)EDUC(ESPY) 2130: Exploring Learning and Teaching (3)ESCI 4430: Science Curriculum for the Middle Grades (3)FANR 5690L: Natural Resources Management for Teachers (3)PRTM 5800: Environmental Interpretation (3) Program Development and Evaluation Choose 1 course (Minimum of 3 credits)AGCM 3600: Event and Instructional Planning (3 credits)AGED 4340: Developing Community Programs in Ag (3)ALDR 4710: International Agricultural Dev. (3 credits)EDIT 4180: Instructional Development (3 credits)EDIT 4210: Learning Environments Design (3 credits)PRTM 4700: Social Sci. Methods &Techniques in Nat. Res (3) Teaching Capstone Experience(b) REQUIRED COURSE (select one)AGED 3910: Internship in Agricultural Ed (3 credits)AESC (FCID) 4920S: Project FOCUS (3 credits)FANR 5950: Special Topics in Forestry and Nat. Resources (1-4) Notes:(a)Appendix A. Guidelines for the Preparation and Professional Development of Environmental Educators (2010),North American Association for Environmental Education, Washington, DC; Themes defined: 1 – Env. Literacy; 2 – Foundations of Env. Edu.; 3 – Professional Responsibilities of the Environmental Educator; 4 – Planning and Implementing EE Programs; 5 – Fostering Learning; and 6 – Assessment and Evaluation.(b) Students must complete 6 credits of Content Knowledge and 6 credits of Pedagogical/Communication Skills before enrolling in the Teaching Capstone Experience
