Environmental Education Certificate

Environmental Education Certificate

The Eastern Oregon University College of Education is proud to introduce a new Certificate in Environmental Education, developed in direct response to Oregon’s Outdoor School Law (ORS 327.390). This forward-thinking program reflects Oregon’s commitment to ensuring that every student has access to meaningful outdoor learning experiences grounded in environmental literacy, stewardship, and applied science.

Purpose and Vision

The certificate is designed to prepare educators, community partners, and environmental professionals to deliver high-quality outdoor and environmental learning experiences that align with state standards and best practices in experiential education. Coursework emphasizes:

  • Environmental and sustainability literacy
  • Outdoor and experiential pedagogy
  • STEM integration in field-based settings
  • Equity and access in outdoor education

Graduates of the program will be equipped with the knowledge, instructional strategies, and leadership competencies necessary to support and implement Outdoor School and related environmental learning initiatives across diverse educational contexts. 

The certificate has been designed with the intent of pursuing accreditation from the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) within the next 3 years. 

Flexible Pathways

The Certificate in Environmental Education has six courses and offers multiple completion options to accommodate varied professional goals and schedules:

  • Standalone certificate at the undergraduate level
  • Standalone certificate at the graduate level
  • Integrated pathway within the Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)

This flexibility allows participants to customize their academic pathway while advancing professional credentials in environmental and outdoor education.

Accessible and Fully Online

To ensure broad access across Oregon and beyond, the certificate is delivered fully online through distance education formats. This design enables working professionals, rural educators, and out-of-area participants to engage in high-quality instruction without geographic barriers.