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Environmental / Sustainability Education

The Graduate Diplomas in Environmental/Sustainability Education are the only ones of their kind in Ontario. They are jointly offered by the Graduate Programs in Education and Environmental Studies.

The concurrent (Option A) and stand-alone (Option B) diplomas in Environmental/Sustainability Education are designed to meet longstanding graduate student interest, and help to educate teachers in the field of environmental and sustainability education, in both the public and private education systems, and in other organizations and institutions committed to environmental and sustainability education.

The Option A Diploma, offered in both Programs, will formalize already established areas of environmental/sustainability education within the Doctoral and Masters degrees in the two Faculties of Education and Environmental Studies.

The Option B diploma, a stand-alone, direct entry Graduate Diploma, is offered only within the Faculty of Education, and is designed to provide opportunities for graduate level study of theory and research in Environmental/Sustainability Education to practicing teachers and school administrators, to people working in community organizations and cultural institutions, and to advocacy groups.

Degree Concurrent (Option A)

Registration for the Option A diploma occurs after the candidate has been admitted to the Master's or Doctoral degree in the Graduate Programs in Education or Environmental Studies. Any student admitted to the MEd, MES or PhD degree may register for the Option A Graduate Diploma in Environmental/ Sustainability Education within the first year of the degree program in which they are registered, if their interest corresponds to this subject area. Admissions to the Diploma are subject to approval by the joint Education/Environmental Studies Diploma Committee.

Requirements for admission to the MEd and PhD are outlined in the calendar of York University and at http://www.edu.yorku.ca.

The requirements for admission to the MES and PhD are outlined in the calendar of York University and at http://www.yorku.ca/fes/index.asp.

Requirements for the Option A Diploma taken in conjunction with the MEd or PhD degree in the Graduate Program in Education

Requirements for the Option A Diploma taken in conjunction with the MES or PhD degree in the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies

Completion of the Intention to Graduate with the Diploma (Option A) in Environmental/ Sustainability Education form must be submitted to the Faculty of Environmental Studies Administrator for the Diploma, for review by the Joint Diploma Committee. Environmental Studies students are further required to reflect their intent to graduate with the Diploma in their Plans of Study and to notify their advisor accordingly.

Direct Entry (Option B)

This Option B diploma is offered as a direct-entry diploma, in the Graduate Program in Education only, as a sub-specialization within the field of Language, Culture, and Teaching. This diploma option permits part-time study.

The admissions requirements for the direct-entry Graduate Diploma in Environmental/ Sustainability Education are the same as requirements for entry into the MEd program (also outlined in the calendar of York University), with one exception - the statement of interest for direct entry applicants must address issues in environmental/sustainability education. Normally, applicants are required to have an acceptable undergraduate degree with at least a B average. Admissions to the Option B Diploma are subject to approval by the Graduate Program in Education Diploma Committee.

Requirements for the Option B Diploma in the Graduate Program in Education

5 half courses including the two required courses ENVS 6140 and EDUC 5444.

In addition to the two required courses, students must successfully complete 3 half courses from the approved list below.

Courses in the Graduate Program in Education

Courses in the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies

Courses in the Graduate Program in Geography

Courses in the Graduate Program in Biology

Courses in the Graduate Program in Chemistry

Faculty Members Associated with the Diploma from the Graduate Program in Education include, but are not be limited to: Steve Alsop, Warren Crichlow, Susan Dion, Don Dippo, Rishma Dunlop, Steve Gaetz, Celia Haig-Brown, Joe Sheridan, Harry Smaller and CarolAnne Wien.

Faculty Members Associated with the Diploma from the Graduate Program in Environmental Studies include, but not be limited to

Deborah Barndt, Martin Bunch, Leesa Fawcett, Beth Franklin, Chuck Hopkins, David Bell, Rob MacDonald, Robin Kavanagh, Joe Sheridan, Gerda Wekerle, and John Sorrell.

For additional information, please contact one of the Program Co-ordinators

Joe Sheridan, Faculty of Environmental Studies Co-ordinator (email: jsheridan@yorku.ca, or jsheridan@edu.yorku.ca)
Steve Alsop, Faculty of Education Co-ordinator (email: salsop@edu.yorku.ca)