14 Environmental Journalism Programs and Classes
By Bryan Moats • Feb 2nd, 2008 • Category: Lead Story, educationIf this is your first time here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. You may also want to checkout our list of organizations and books if you want to learn more about what this site is about.
[Updated: Feb 5, 2008] I first found this list in a 2006 issue of Bear Deluxe Magazine (which is one magazine readers of BSB will appreciate.) The information has expanded since then so I’m going reiterate that info here with new details and additional programs.
For those of you who may be wondering just what environmental journalism is, here is the Wikipedia definition:
Environmental journalism is the collection, verification, production, distribution and exhibition of information regarding current events, trends, issues and people that are associated with the non-human world with which humans necessarily interact. To be an environmental journalist, one must have an understanding of scientific language and practice, knowledge of historical environmental events, the ability to keep abreast of environmental policy decisions and the work of environmental organizations, a general understanding of current environmental concerns, and the ability to communicate all of that information to the public in such a way that it can be easily understood, despite its complexity.
While that entry is somewhat oddly worded, I basically agree with the summation. For those of you interested in how environmental and social justice comes into play in the work of an environmental journalist or writer, I recommend you contact the people listed at the end of each section below and pick their brains. But for now, I think Peter Dykstra of the Society for Environmental Journalists says it very well:
One of the reasons the environmental beat is perpetually interesting is that it’s the grandest train wreck of ideological, scientific, and financial interests imaginable.
For our friends in Arkansas and Kentucky, I’ve included a little bit of information at the end of this post. So…
Below is a list of Environmental Journalism programs, majors, electives, etc. primarily pulled from The Society of Environmental Journalists website. These are all North American institutions. I hope to soon add others from around the globe soon. Enjoy!
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Antioch University New England
Department of Environmental Studies
AU’s Department of Environmental Studies doesn’t seem to have a full program for Environmental Journalism by name but does have a host of awesome Master’s programs that could easily fit the bill. They also offer a Doctorate of Philosophy in Environmental Studies. As of today they have a single one-credit, four session EJ seminar available.
Antioch U. publishes an annual journal called Whole Terrain, which is “dedicated to the experience of those who have chosen the environment as the basis of their professional work. It cultivates reflective thought and mindful awareness in an effort to create a balance between humanity and the Earth.”
Contact info: Email or call Chair of the Editorial Board, Rowland Russell, (603) 283-2377.
Boston University
The Center for Science and Medical Journalism
M.A. in science journalism with a strong emphasis on environmental reporting.
Contact info: Program coordinator, Maureen Clark, (617) 353-4239
University of California at Berkley
Graduate School of Journalism
Check out the program in Environmental and Science Reporting.
Contact info: Email or call Orville Schell, (510) 642-5492.
University of Colorado at Boulder Center for Environmental Journalism
Center for Environmental Journalism
Offers an M.A. in Environmental Journalism as well as the Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental Journalism.
Contact info: Email or call Len Ackland, (303) 492-0459.
Columbia University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
Center for Environmental Journalism
Offers an a dual master’s degree program in Earth & Environmental Science Journalism.
The goal of the program is to train graduates who have both the scientific background and the communications skills to inform the public about discoveries, processes, insights, and controversies in earth and environmental sciences, in a manner that is simultaneously interesting and accurate. Hands-on training in broadcast and new media journalism is available, as well as traditional print journalism. Graduates receive an M.S. in Journalism plus an M.A. in Earth and Environmental Science.
- from sej.org
Contact info: Kim Kastens, (845) 365-8836, or Steven Ross, (212) 854-7328.
Cornell University
Department of Communications
Offers several classes at graduate and undergraduate levels including Community Involvement in Environmental Decisions,
Contact info: Kim Kastens, (845) 365-8836, or Steven Ross, (212) 854-7328.
Indiana University
School of Journalism
Joint graduate degree with the university’s School of Public & Environmental Affairs. Students earn a dual Master of Arts and Master of Science in Environmental Science.
Contact info: Glenda Ketcham, (812) 855-1701.
Photograph by
Lehigh University
Science and Environmental Writing Program
From the program:
Lehigh University’s nationally and internationally known Science and Environmental Writing Program in the Department of Journalism and Communication graduated its first student in 1978. Every year since then, a small but select number of sought-after majors and minors have been graduated and have gone on to rewarding careers in media, industry, government, consulting and nonprofit organizations.
Contact info: Sharon Friedman, (610) 758-4179.
Michigan State University
Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism provides classes for both undergraduate and graduate students. Bachelor, master’s and doctoral degrees are earned in journalism or mass media with concentrations in environmental journalism.
The Knight Center is definitely a deep program for environmental journalism. Just read this run down from sej.org:
Among the specialized courses offered are environmental reporting, health and science writing, investigative reporting, nature reporting and computer-assisted reporting, as well as seminars in specialized topics, such as reporting about land use issues, wilderness issues and current controversies in environmental, health and science journalism. A specialized master’s degree program in environmental journalism, launched in the fall of 2007, is offered by the MSU School of Journalism. The new program includes courses in environmental reporting, environmental science and policy and an internship in science and environmental journalism. The admissions deadline for fall 2008 is February 1, 2008. A number of graduate assistantships and scholarships will be awarded to members of the incoming class. The Knight Center for Environmental Journalism will offer assistantships to students who can help design and edit EJ, the Knight Center’s award-winning magazine; assist in developing a television program on the environment; and other Knight Center projects.
The center is the home of the Meeman Archives, a collection of more than 10,000 newspaper articles on environmental topics; and a library of 2,500 books, videotapes and audiotapes dealing with environmental and environmental journalism topics. The center’s faculty, staff and students publish a magazine, EJ; an electronic newsletter, EJ Update; resource guides in environmental journalism; videotapes; and moderates listservs for environmental journalism students and educators and for Mexican environmental journalists. The center also conducts research on environmental journalism.
The center is directed by Jim Detjen, a former award-winning environmental reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer who holds the Knight Chair in Journalism. The assistant director is Dave Poulson, a former environmental reporter for Booth Newspapers. The center organizes an annual week-long training environmental journalism training institute; shorter workshops on nature photography, covering urban sprawl and computer-assisted reporting; and brings many prominent speakers and environmental experts to campus. The Knight Center organized the 10th annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists held on the MSU campus in October 2000. The center has also organized workshops on environmental journalism in Russia, China, Mexico, South Africa, England and many other countries.
Contact info: Jim Detjen, (517) 353-9479; Dave Poulson, (517) 432-5417; Barb Miller, assistant to the Knight Chair, (517) 432-1415.
University of Minnesota
Master’s in Health Journalism
From the University of Minnesota site:
Program Update - January 2008
This program is being revised during the 2007-2008 academic year, with plans to enroll a new class in a revised program in Fall 2008.Our goal is to accept and review applications in early 2008. We will continue to accept applications through summer 2008 for enrollment in the fall semester.
We are in the process of relaunching our admissions process.
Contact info: Leyla Kokmen, 612-626-1851.
University of Missouri-Columbia
1. School of Journalism, Environmental Reporting
2. Agricultural Journalism
The University of Missouri in Columbia offers both a two year MA in Environmental Reporting and a vibrant Agricultural Journalism major. Thanks to one of our readers (see below), I’ve learned that in 1908 the University of Missouri opened the doors to the world’s first school of journalism. I have no doubt their Environmental Reporting and Agricultural Journalism programs are excellent. They have an excellent legacy to uphold and in doing so they have created what looks like a very aggressive and supportive network of resources and opportunities for students. Here is a quote from the MU’s Journalism pages:
Today, some of the best journalists in the world have learned their profession through the Missouri Method, which provides practical hands-on training in real-world media and strategic communication agencies. Top editors, reporters and other executives say Missouri graduates are among the best prepared to work and contribute to the organization from their first day on the job.
Be sure to look closely over the pages linked above. They’re full of great information. Plus, Columbia is a pretty cool city. I’ve been there only once but enjoyed the atmosphere very much. Plus you’re equally close to Kansas City and St. Louis.
By the way, congratulations to Missouri’s first poet laureate, Walter Bargen.
Contact info: Bill Allen, (573) 884-7863
[Some of the above has been updated since original post. Thanks, Tamsyn!]
University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Allows students to build their own science or environmental communications program. M.A. or Ph.D. degrees available
Contact info: Sharon Dunwoody, (608) 263-3389.
Western Washington University
Huxley College of the Environment
The Huxley College of the Environment looks like a fantastic place for someone who really wants ot get a heavy-duty education in environmental journalism. This is from the Huxley webpage:
The Huxley College of the Environment mission is to pursue programs of environmental education, research, and community service that reflect the broadest possible view of humans in a physical, biological, social and cultural world.
This mission reflects an underlying philosophy that responsible solutions require an academic program that is global in its frame of reference, interdisciplinary in its concept, innovative and experimental in its work and problem-oriented in its studies.
Contact info: Kathy Johnson, (360) 650-2817.
Arkansas State University
College of Agriculture
This is the only Arkansas school I could find that explicitly listed environmental journalism/communications listed as an area of study.
Kentucky
Unknown, search the Directory of Science Communication Courses and Programs,
As with Arkansas, Kentucky’s environmental journalism programs are hard to find. After looking, though there appear to be many opportunities and good foundations laid all across the state. Depending on your needs and motivational level, a good self-designed curriculum will accomplish the task, depending on the willingness of the school to work with you. A few potentially good schools seem to be Berea College, Asbury College, and Centre College. Kentuckians may also want to visit UT’s Science Communication program.
If you have found any of this information to be inaccurate or troublesome in any way, or you’d like to add to it, do not hesitate to add a comment below or contact me!
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Bryan Moats is an illustrator, designer and art technology geek at WKU. He lives with his amazing wife, two dogs and three cats in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
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© 2008
Greetings — just wanted to say that I attended the University of Missouri-Columbia for the environmental journalism program (graduated 2006), and that it looks like the info. you have for the program is a bit outdated. Rob Logan left in 2002 and is no longer head of the program.
Bill Allen, who is an adjunct in Agricultural Journalism and the Journalism School, has taken on the role of basically overhauling and really breathing lots of new and exciting life into the Enviro. Jrn. program.
The info. listed here about the MU program seems a bit scant, and I’d hate to see the University of Missouri get short shrift here, because the school is really outstanding — it was the world’s first journalism school, and is really a leader and pioneer in journalism education. The reason I chose MU over Michigan State is because I really liked how the school emphasized competence and engagement with the natural resources majors. Bill Allen is absolutely wonderful… I worked for him as a T.A. for a year, and he is incredibly knowledgeable, but also personable and really dedicated to his students.
Also of interest is MU’s Agricultural Journalism program, which is quite unique. It focuses on some of the issues unique to the vast and diverse realm of agriculture, which touches upon issues in science, environment, biotechnology, food systems, and human health, to name but a few. The major thus involves some very interesting cross-disciplinary courses.
For more info., go to: http://www.journalism.missouri.edu/graduate/masters/two-year-environmental.html
or for Agricultural Journalism: http://cafnr.missouri.edu/academics/ag-jour.php
Thanks a bunch for the information! I made some updates and such to the info about MU. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!
Hi Bryan,
Thanks for including Whole Terrain in your post!
A few points of clarification:
1. Antioch University New England is abbreviated as ANE (a carry-over from the school’s previous name, which was simply Antioch New England).
2. The Individualized Program within the Environmental Studies Department does indeed provide all of the essential elements for designing an Environmental Journalism degree. Some relevant courses include The Language of Nature, Environmental Writing, and Literature of the Land.
3. Whole Terrain’s Volume Editor position is offered as a 4-6 credit practicum to current ANE students.
Thanks again!
Whole Terrain