Title: Developing a national framework for internal/external review of undergraduate environmental studies/environmental science programmes

Authors: Richard C. Smardon

Addresses: Faculty of Environmental Studies, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA

Abstract: Since the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) struggled with academic certification – and with the development of academic programmes of excellence – there has been recent activity by the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) on curriculum design and by the IEA sponsored |Daytona Roundtable| on transdisciplinary programme recognition. It is the author|s position that we need a model process for self-study and external review that can be utilised by environmental studies programmes across the country and possibly internationally. This same process could be |blessed|; by academic and/or professional organisations, specifically in terms of outcomes and professional skill development objectives. Thus, instead of a rigid certification process, we could have a framework, which meets the needs of professional as well as academic programme external review. Recent experiences with a review of a number of environmental studies/environmental science programmes will be discussed as examples for this process.

Keywords: internal programme review; external programme review; environmental studies; environmental education; curriculum design; transdisciplinary courses; undergraduate studies; environmental science courses.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2011.041821

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2011 Vol.12 No.3, pp.244 - 257

Published online: 23 Sep 2014 *

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