This degree requires students to focus graduate coursework in both environmental studies and education within the Subject Matter Strand of the Master of Arts degree. It focuses on the content knowledge of teaching and of environmental education. Basic core courses are taken in the College of Education. Fifteen units comprising a content area are taken in other appropriate college.

Admission

A B.A. degree in education or a related field from an accredited four-year institution.
GPA of 3.0 figured on the last 60 units with defined exceptions on a provisional basis. Provisional admission may be made to applicants who meet all criteria, but fall between 2.5 and 3.0 in their GPA.
15 units of previous coursework in education. Provisional admission may be granted to applicants who meet all other admission criteria, but have not completed 15 units of education coursework, with the provision that the coursework be completed within the first year of their M.A. program. · A student information form that includes an adequate writing sample.
One year of teaching in a school or informal education setting. (Student teaching can count as an instructional experience.)

Curriculum

(Also see our graduate course descriptions)

1. Required minimum of 33 units of graduate courses

2. College of Education Core (9 units):

TTE 596c (Replaces EDUC 500)
Introduction to Educational Research

TTE 539
Recent Research on Teaching and Schooling

TTE 545
Curriculum Theory and Policy

3. Supporting Coursework (24 units):

Teaching and Teacher Education Courses (14 units)

TTE 530
Environmental Education Topics (3)

TTE 596c
Topics in Teacher Education: Earth Education (3)

TTE 593
Internship (Arizona Sonora Desert Museum)* (3-3)

TTE 595E
Master's Colloquium (1-1)

This internship is designed for full time students. For part time students, substitute courses are arranged.

Environmental Studies Courses (10 units)

(Courses are selected in consultation with the major advisor.)

Courses in departments of Ecological and Evolutionary Biology, Geography and Regional Development, Global Change, Geosciences, Renewable Natural Resources, Teaching and Teacher Education, or Wildlife and Fisheries Science.

Current Environmental Studies Courses

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

ECOL 500 A, B
Topics in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2-3)

ECOL 506L
Conservation Biology in the Field (1)

ECOL 514
Plants of the Desert (1)

ECOL 542
Marine Ecology (6)

Geography and Regional Development

GEOG 508
Arizona and the Southwest (3)

GEOG 515
Introduction to Water Resources Policy (3)

GEOG 563
Perception of Environment (3)

GEOG 578
Global Change (3)

Geosciences

GEOS 572
Global Biogeochemical Cycles (3)

GEOS 595B
Global Climate Change (3)

Global Change

GC 530
The Climate System
(3)

GC 587A
Global Change Workshop
(3)

Renewable Natural Resources

RNR 512
Recreational Dimensions of Natural Resource Management
(3)

RNR 581
Environmental Policy
(3)

RNR 589 A & B
Advanced Environmental Interpretation
(2-2)

RNR 595B
Public National Resource Management
(2)

RNR 595C
Human Dimensions in Renewable Natural Resources
(3)

RNR 597B
Desert Ecosystems
(1)

Teaching and Teacher Education

TTE 596c
Topics in Teacher Education: Ecological Concepts
(3)

Wildlife and Fisheries Science

WFSC 588
Arizona Mammals
(4)

WFSC 595A
Biopolitics
(2)

Other courses may be substituted as they become available. Additionally up to 6 units of transfer credit from accredited colleges/universities may be applied to the degree requirements.

4. Thesis Option (4 units)

TTE 910
Thesis

The thesis units may be used to meet the Environmental Studies requirements.

Exit Requirement

Oral Defense of Thesis - The oral defense of the master's thesis constitutes the exit requirement for those students who take this thesis option.

Master's Comprehensive Examination - All students not completing the thesis option must take a comprehensive examination. The master's examination has two parts:

Part I consists of four questions, two related to each of the division core courses. Students are required to respond to one question related to each course.

Part II consists of two to four questions from the student's area of concentration - environmental learning. Students are required to respond to one or two questions as determined by the faculty in the area of concentration. An oral examination over the elected topics may also be required.

For more information contact
Bruce Johnson, Ph.D.
UA College of Education
P.O. Box 210069
Tucson AZ 85721-0069
520-621-7889
Email Us: ttegrad@email.arizona.edu