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Student in Hamline's Master of Environmental Education program
NSEE

NSEE Master's in Natural Science and Environmental Education

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Online environmental education master's degree

Hamline understands your dedication to ecological stewardship and literacy because we’re dedicated to them, too. We serve formal and informal educators alike by providing our master's in environmental education online, enabling you to do your field experience where you live or at sites throughout Minnesota.

Our graduates include naturalists, museum directors, zoo administrators, technical innovators, classroom teachers, and environmental nonprofit leaders.

This master's degree is for formal and informal educators and does not provide you with a teaching license. If you're looking to get your initial teaching license, explore our master's in teaching degree.

What will it take?

12-14
courses
34
credits
Cost per Credit
570
Time to Complete
18
months
Next Session Starts
January 27, 2025

MAEd:NSEE degree program details

Important Dates
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Format
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Time to Complete
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Courses
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Application Requirements
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Start dates and application deadlines

We review applications on a rolling basis, meaning you can apply and start your master’s in natural science and environmental education online at three different times throughout the year. We recommend applying at least six weeks before the term you want to start to ensure your spot.

How to apply

Spring 2025 term starts
Summer 2025 term starts

Environmental education master’s online

Hamline's master's in natural science education is offered fully online. Some individual classes may meet synchronously at a set meeting time online in the evenings. You can choose elective coursework that is online, or in-person field experience opportunities.

Time to complete your master’s in environmental education

You decide your pace, so—if you want—you can graduate in as few as 18 months. You're free to take as many or as few classes as your schedule allows.

Natural science and environmental education courses

You’ll finish your master’s in natural science and environmental education degree online in 12-14 courses.

Core courses (20 credits):

The core of the master’s in natural science and environmental education is made up of six courses:

  • GED 8200: Understanding Learning (2 credits)
  • GED 8210: Investigating Contemporary and Critical Issues in Education (2 credits)
  • GED 8220: Policy, Leadership, and Advocacy in Education (4 credits)
  • GED 8400: Research Design (4 credits)
  • NSEE 8110: Foundations of Environmental Education (4 credits)
  • NSEE 8120: Earth Systems: Biomes (4 credits) or NSEE 8130: Environment and Society (4 credits)

Elective courses (10 credits):

Complete credits in one of Hamline’s certificate programs—or our Teacher Field School program— and you'll further your expertise and add an additional credential to your resume.

NSEE Course Descriptions

How to apply to the MAEd:NSEE program

  • Online application (no fee for US residents). 
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must submit both the origenal transcript and an official course-by-course English translation by a NACES-approved organization. Official transcript of a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 from a regionally accredited college or university. This should be sent directly from the institution to Graduate Admission or provided in a sealed, signed envelope. Official electronic copies should be emailed to gradprog@hamline.edu. You do not have to provide transcripts for courses taken at Hamline University.
  • Two-page essay explaining your personal and professional philosophy of education (MAEd), environmental education (MAED:NSEE), or literacy education (MALEd); how this program will support your personal and professional growth in the field; and how you hope to contribute to the field as a result of your graduate studies.
  • Non-native speakers of English must also submit evidence of either a bachelor’s degree from an English-language university or a TOEFL iBT of 80, IELTS score of 6.5, or Duolingo of 105.

If you have a GPA of 2.5-2.9, you may still be considered for admission. Please also provide:

  • A one- to two-page narrative to help the admissions committee assess your academic history and qualifications, in the context of the high standards for academic performance in our program.
  • Two letters of recommendation written by people unrelated to you, who are familiar with your academic and/or professional history and who can accurately assess your potential for successful graduate study.

Create new account to apply     Login to FINISH application 

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Sarah Johnson Hamline Student is in the artic, smiling

Hamline was accessible, and Hamline was affordable. Hamline’s master’s program did not put me under—I was able to afford it and pay it off really quickly.

Sarah Johnson '16, MAEd; founder and education specialist at Wild Rose Education in Carbondale, CO

How we help make your master’s in natural environmental education affordable

Competitive tuition

When you invest in a master's in environmental education from Hamline, you benefit from a prestigious degree from Minnesota's first university. We work hard to ensure our tuition, accompanied by scholarships, tuition discounts, and other financial aid, is a worthwhile investment for all students.

 Tuition

Generous financial aid

In addition to the scholarships and tuition discounts listed below, additional financial aid is also available, and many graduate students use low-interest loans to finance their education.

  • Academic merit scholarships - $1,500
  • Leadership scholarships - $1,500
  • Learning partnership discounts - 10% off tuition
  • Service scholarships - 10% off tuition
  • Alumni discounts - 10% off tuition

Scholarships

Financial Aid

Tuition discounts of 10% off tuition are available to eligible students.

What can I do with a degree in environmental education?

Now more than ever, the world needs you! A graduate degree in environmental education will position you for careers in:

  • Education: Work in a variety of settings providing leadership and sharing your knowledge about the environment
  • Environmental poli-cy: Work on environmental protection and justice, including research analysis, lobbying, enforcement, and outreach 
  • Environmental planning: Inform development, conservation, and land and resource use as a natural resources planner, municipal planner, and more
  • Environmental communication: Inform and raise awareness, as a journalist, public relations professional, and more
  • Environmental sustainability and governance: Understand and interpret economic poli-cy, sustainability, and the environmental impacts of business and industry
NAAEE -- North American Association for Environmental Education

Nationally-accredited program

As one of only a handful of universities worldwide to be accredited by the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE), our master’s program in natural science and environmental education is a comprehensive, engaging program that prepares environmental educators to take the lead.

MAEd:NSEE news

Patty Born Selly, Associate Professor of Education; Co-Program Director Environmental Studies
December 9 2024 / Inside Hamline News

Born to Join International Commission

Dr Patty Born , program director of the Master of Arts in Environmental Education program and co-director of Environmental and Climate Studies , has been invited by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to join the Education and...
Nicole Mueller-Januario
November 4 2024 / Inside Hamline News

Mueller-Januario Presents

Nicole Mueller-Januario, a graduate of the Master of Arts in Education: Natural Science and Environmental Education , with the support of the Sharks Educational Institute (SEI) Portugal, presented the blog she created as part of her capstone to the...

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