By: Arthur Hall
Submitted: 2010-11-24 22:44:37 | Word Count: 548
When searching for an environmental writing program there are many important elements to consider. While many institutions may offer degrees with similar titles, students should review the program’s structure, and carefully align that program’s coursework with career goals.
Students should also pay close attention to a program’s reputation in the field, as this may greatly affect the degree’s value after graduation. Whether a student is looking for graduate, undergraduate, or online programs, this guide will highlight the best environmental writing degree programs.
Undergraduate Programs in Environmental Writing
Lehigh University: B.A. Science and Environmental Writing Program
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This bachelor’s degree in environmental writing falls under Lehigh University’s journalism department. An English degree by nature, students under this program will learn how to analyze scientific research, and write about scientific topics beyond the environment, such as technology and health. A minor in science writing is also offered by Lehigh University.
Lehigh’s undergraduate program requires 36 credits for the B.A. degree. Core courses include Basic Science and Technical Writing; Politics of Science, Environment, the Public, and the Media; and Controversies in Science, Health and the Media. This course also requires 16 credits in the physical sciences.
Other notable undergraduate programs:
The University of Montana: B.S. Environmental Science with a focus on Environmental Writing and Literature
Allegheny College: B.A. English: Environmental Writing Track
Graduate Programs in Environmental Journalism
Michigan State University: PhD Environmental Journalism
This program focuses on training journalism students on the specifics of writing about the environment through the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. The School of Journalism at Michigan State University offers a PhD in Environmental Journalism.
Michigan State’s PhD program requires 42 credits of core coursework, a research practicum, a comprehensive exam, dissertation, and research colloquia. Michigan States Journalism program is one of the oldest in the United States, and maintains an international reputation.
Other notable graduate programs:
The University of Nevada Reno – PhD Rhetoric and Composition
The University of Montana – M.S. Environmental Science and Writing
Iowa State University – MFA Creative Writing and Environment
The University of Oregon – PhD English Emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition.
Make an Environmental Program Focus on Writing and Career Goals
While filtering through the above programs it is important to keep career goals in mind. If writing about the environment or nature in a newspaper or magazine is most desired, then a journalism-based program is most fitting. If university-level teaching is desired, a PhD program is the best choice, as this is the required degree for most institutions. To simply enter the field as quickly as possible, an undergraduate degree may be more fitting than a graduate degree.
It is also important to consider whether a science-based or art-based degree is best. B.S. and M.S. Environmental Writing degrees are science-based, which means the employers that target these degrees will also be searching to fill science-based positions. A student shouldn’t expect to sit behind a computer writing all day with a B.S. degree. In turn, B.A., M.A., and MFA degrees are art-based, so students in these programs should not expect employers to send them out in the field all day!
Once students decide which program fits their goals most closely, it is up to the student to visit the institution’s website, contact the faculty, and learn more about how the courses offered will educate them to perform in the career of their dreams.
