Trends in Interdisciplinary Environmental and Sustainability Education AASHE 2012 Conference October Shirley Vincent Director of Education Research, NCSE

Mission – improving the scientific basis for environmental decision- making Programs – foster collaboration between diverse institutions and individuals (research, education, environmental, and business organizations as well as governmental bodies)  Education and Careers  Science Solutions  Science Policy  International Council for Science and Environment Environmental Internship Clearinghouse

NCSE Resources & Reports ncseonline.org Conference videos, lectures, recommendations for decision-makers Climate change teaching modules/webinars Congressional Research Reports on environment and sustainability Interdisciplinary Environmental Education on the Nation’s Campuses: Elements of Field Identity and Curriculum Design - June 2010 Online Education Webinar Series Federal Funding for Environmental Research and Development - September 2012 Interdisciplinary Hiring and Career Development: Guidance for Individuals and Institutions - April 2011 Interdisciplinary Environmental and Sustainability Education: Results from the 2012 Census of U.S. Four-Year Colleges and Universities - September 2012 Non-traditional and Broad Energy Education: Results from the 2012 Census of U.S. Four-Year Colleges and Universities - October 2012 Sustainability Education: Results from the 2012 Census of U.S. Four-Year Colleges and Universities - November 2012 IE & sustainability degree programs survey results and analysis 2013

2012 Census of Environmental & Sustainability Academic Programs All year HE institutions in U.S. – 2010 Carnegie Classification (76 multiple campus FP) Interdisciplinary/broad programs Discipline & professional fields with specializations Minors/certificates Center & Institutes

Census Definitions of IE & Sustainability Academic Programs Named environmental science(s) or studies, broadly focused programs in natural resources, related to the environment that incorporate an interdisciplinary approach (natural/social) Focus on sustainability/sustainable theory and practice Focus on energy sources not currently commonly and widely used in the United States (non-traditional energy) or those that focus on energy broadly

Presentation Overview – Focus on sustainability academic programs but compare energy and all IE degree programs – Prevalence and distribution of HE institutions offering academic programs – Types of programs Sustainability degrees Sustainability specializations with disciplines and professional fields degrees Sustainability minors and certificates – Administrative location of programs

Sustainability Academic Programs 350 schools 576 programs/units 143 degrees 298 specializations 294 minors & certificates

Energy Academic Programs 133 schools 190 programs/units 39 degrees 158 specializations 107 minors & certificates

842 schools (↑29%, +190) 1166 programs/units (↑39%, +326) 1859 degrees (↑57%, +676) IE & Sustainability Degree Programs

Trends: Rapid Growth in HE Institutions Hosting Programs

IE Degree Types

Diversity Considerations Institutions Hosting Sustainability Academic Programs (22%) Institutions Hosting IE and Sustainability Degree Programs (51%)

Sustainability Degree Programs Name Category Bachelor’s N=90 Master’s N=48 PhD N=5 Proportion N=143 Sustainability/Studies/Science/Systems % Sustainable Development/Communities % Environmental/Natural Resources Sustainability % Sustainability & Environmental Studies/Sciences 13009% Sustainability Management (business/org?) 4808% Global/International Sustainability 3203% Other (Energy, Coastal, Peacebuilding) 4406% Proportion of Total 63%34%3%100%

Sustainability Specializations in Discipline and Professional Field Degrees Disciplinary/Professional Field Bachelor’s N=139 Master’s N=138 PhD N=21 Proportion N=298 Business Administration/Management/Leadership % Engineering/Technology % Interdisciplinary Environmental355214% Agriculture/Horticulture304112% Architecture/Built Environment61669% Natural Resources/Ecology51116% Regional/Urban/Community Planning11325% Public Policy/Affairs/Administration5915% Geography8103% Other (Anthropology, Chemistry, Economics, Education, Geoscience, Law, Tourism)91017% Proportion of Total47%46%7%100%

Energy Minors and Certificates Name Category UG N=205* GR N=82* Professional N=25* Proportion* N=294 Sustainability/Studies/Science % Sustainability Management/Leadership % Environmental/Natural Resources Sustainability264211% Sustainable Development207110% Architecture/Built Environment111028% Energy and Sustainability15316% Agriculture/Horticulture12516% Sustainability and Environmental Studies/Sciences14105% Engineering/Technology8435% Global/International Sustainability12205% Other (Law, Tourism, Politics and Policy)3402% Total70%*28%*9%* *Some programs can be earned as UR or GR or UG/GR or professional so these numbers will not add to 294; likewise proportions will not equal 100%

Administration Location of Sustainability Academic Programs Administrative Location Degree N=143 Specializations N=298 Minors & certificates N=294 Overall N=735 Department24%39%31%33% Program that Spans Units50%33%36%37% School/Division within a College1%6%3.5%5% School/Division/College10%13% 12% Other Location (Provost, US, GC)2% Consortium3%0%0.5%1% Center/Institute10%7%14%10%

IE and Sustainability Degree Program Administrative Locations 6% increase in IE/sustainability schools, colleges, centers and institutes 6% decrease in traditional departments No change in interdisciplinary departments or programs that span units

Sustainability Academic Programs: Competition or Perception? Academic Program Type SDIEODMC Sustainability degrees (SD)-5%26%46% Interdisciplinary environmental degrees with sustainability track (IE) 14%-36% Other discipline/fields with sustainability track (OD) 30%11%-55% Sustainability minors and certificates (MC) 19%5%26%- Schools tend to offer either sustainability degrees or IE with sustainability track, but not both Many schools just offer minors and certificates Schools that offer sustainability tracks within disciplines and fields tend to also offer sustainability degrees and minors/certificates, fewer with IE tracks

NCSE Survey will Enhance Understanding – Survey instrument developed by experts (CEDD, AASHE, AAAS, AESS, NAEP) – Rich picture of curricula and administrative structures (resources, faculty, assessment, partners) – Distinctions between IE and sustainability programs, learn about nascent interdisciplinary energy and other programs – Processes used to align curricula with workforce – Learning outcomes and assessment criteria and processes Additional surveys including institute/center study

Framework for Understanding IE Degree Programs