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21 EPA J. 28 (1995)
Environmental Literacy and the College Curriculum - Colleges and Universities Have a Challenge to Meet

handle is hein.journals/epajrnl21 and id is 82 raw text is: Environmental Literacy and the College Curriculum by Richard Wilke Colleges and universities have a challenge to meet s the Associate Dean of the College of Natural Resources at the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, I share responsibility for the largest undergraduate natural resources program in the country The 1,750 majors in our college can choose among 30 different academic programs and nearly 200 environmentally related courses. These students are receiving intensive environmental literacy instruc- tion. However, they are a minority While many institutions offer environ- mentally related minors or majors, they do not require even basic instruction in environmental literacy Thus, the vast majority of students are not enrolled in programs focused on the environment; most never even enroll in a general environmental studies course. This article focuses on reaching these students with environmental literacy instruction. Call to Action Colleges and universities have been challenged to increase their role in developing an environmentally literate citizenry Agenda 21, the blueprint for action adopted by the world's leaders at the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit, calls for aggressive measures to strengthen the environmental education received by the world's citizens. (See box on page 37.) Universities are specifically asked to play a prominent role in preparing citizens to analyze and resolve environmental issues. In a similar vein, the Council of State Governments' 1994 book of Suggested State Legislation includes model environ- mental education legislation that is recommended for adoption by state legislatures. The model legislation states: 'Universities, colleges and vocational (Dr. Wilke is Associate Dean of the College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point.) As part of environmental literacy requirements, UW- ' Stevens Point students gain experience with computer applications. institutions are required to implement programs that encourage environmental literacy and provide opportunities for environmental stewardship among the student population. To accomplish this, universities are directed to implement ''an environmental studies course requirement for all graduates, or the development of an integrated general education program that accomplishes environmental literacy through its integration in a variety of courses. What Should Be Taught Much has been written over the last 25 years about environmental literacy and strategies for achieving it. In the early 1980s, Harold Hungerford from South- ern Illinois University, Ben Peyton from Michigan State University, and I worked together to develop a set of environmen- tal education instructional goals. Our goals have been used around the world for curriculum development and re- search. We believe that instruction aimed at enhancing environmental literacy must aid citizens in becoming environ- mentally knowledgeable and, above all, Univesity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point photo by Doug Moore. Copfli9'ted. skilled and dedicated to working individually and collectively toward achieving a dynamic equilibrium between quality of life and quality of the environment In other words, environ- mental literacy needs to focus on devel- oping responsible environmental behavior. Harold Hungerford and Trudi Volk from Southern Illinois University reviewed the pertinent literature and concluded that we can maximize college- level opportunities to develop respon- sible environmental behavior if we proceed along the following lines: * Teach environmentally significant ecological concepts and the environmen- tal interrelationships implied by these concepts. * Provide carefully designed and in- depth opportunities for learners to achieve some level of environmental sensitivity that will promote a desire to behave in appropriate ways. * Provide a curriculum that will result in an in-depth knowledge of issues; that will teach issue analysis and investiga- EPA JOURNAL

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