Graduate Student Assistantship, Environmental Education: Southern Oregon University

Six graduate assistantships are offered each year to Environmental Education graduate students. Going into effect during the first fall quarter and continuing through the following summer, graduate assistants receive an 80% in-state tuition remission and a monthly stipend. The assistantship requires 16 hours of work per week. Positions include Office Manager, Assistant Office Manager, Kit Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, Table Rocks Graduate Assistantship and Fall in the Field Coordinator. A seventh assistantship is sometimes offered as an instructor for introductory biology labs for those with sufficient background in biology. An eighth assistantship has also been offered in the past as an educational program coordinator at the farm at SOU. Please contact us for more information.

The Environmental Education Department within Southern Oregon University recognizes the immense value in nurturing a diverse Environmental Education community, where all backgrounds and experiences are celebrated in the unity of our collective work toward access to environmental wellbeing for all. We honor the vibrant dimensions of diversity that people experience, and are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and successful experience in the field of Environmental Education for all students and participants. The EE department of SOU highly encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for opportunities within our program. 

The Master of Science in Environmental Education degree program at Southern Oregon University (SOU) is accredited by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). This six quarter program develops leaders in the field of environmental education. It is housed in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) division and connected to the Biology Department. Coursework exposes students to natural sciences, environmental issues and their associated conflicts, curriculum development, program administration and evaluation, best practices in environmental education, and the history and current field of environmental education. The graduate academic experience can be further enriched by adding a Master of Arts in Teaching with licensure, a certificate in nonprofit management, thesis, or project that can be integrated with the Environmental Education degree. Every student will complete a capstone project delivering a series of residential and non-residential K-12 programs, an exit interview and either an oral exam, project, or thesis. The course of study begins during Southern Oregon University’s Second Summer Session.

How to apply:

To be considered for a graduate assistantship, a letter explaining your qualifications is required along with your other application materials. Applications must be received by the January 15th, 2023 deadline to receive consideration for graduate assistantships.

Qualifications: 

For detailed application instructions, click here.

Environmental Education Master of Science Program Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. The degree need not be in the sciences or education, provided the other requirements for admission are met.  

If you are in the process of completing your undergraduate degree, you may still apply and be provisionally admitted. You will be fully admitted to the program and can begin graduate level coursework once we receive an official transcript documenting your undergraduate degree. 

Official GRE scores (optional); SOU code R4702. Scores in the 50th percentile or better are desired.

Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work.

Three letters of recommendation, sent directly from the recommender and addressed to Dr. Arielle Halpern, including at least one from a professor who can testify to graduate level academic potential.

A cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher in the last 90 quarter hours (or 60 semester hours) of study. Students with lower GPAs may be considered, but cannot be admitted directly to the program. Students may apply for post-baccalaureate status and enroll in a total of 12 graduate credits pre-approved by the Coordinator of the Environmental Education Program. Upon receiving a grade of “B” or better in each course, students may apply for change of status leading to full admission into the program. 

Note: admission to take graduate course work at SOU as a post-baccalaureate student does not constitute admission to the Master’s Degree. A maximum of 15 post-baccalaureate credits may be applied to the graduate program, subject to advisor approval.

Completed Environmental Education Essay. Write a one to two page statement of purpose explaining why you have decided to pursue the Environmental Education Program at Southern Oregon University. Your statement should include information on your background in this field or related fields, as well as any short or long-term career goals you have related to this degree.

18 quarter hours (12 semester hours) of natural history coursework.  A year of introductory biology and 2-3 additional courses in natural history or ecology are preferred. Non-traditional preparation may be considered by the EE Admissions Committee. If asking for a portion of the required prerequisite coursework to be waived, a statement must accompany the application outlining the experiences that the applicant wishes the Committee to consider. The intent is to assure the Committee that the applicant is prepared to succeed in graduate-level courses in biology.

TOEFL (foreign students only) minimum score requirement for each test is as follows: IBT - 76, CBT - 207, and PBT - 540. English language competency.

Contact Person: Lyra Dalton (Office Manager)

Contact Phone: (541) 552-6876

Contact E-mail: seec@sou.edu