NSEE Master's in Natural Science and Environmental Education
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Online environmental education master's degree
Hamline understands your dedication to ecological stewardship and literacy because we’re dedicated to them, too. We serve formal and informal educators alike by providing our master's in environmental education online, enabling you to do your field experience where you live or at sites throughout Minnesota.
Our graduates include naturalists, museum directors, zoo administrators, technical innovators, classroom teachers, and environmental nonprofit leaders.
This master's degree is for formal and informal educators and does not provide you with a teaching license. If you're looking to get your initial teaching license, explore our master's in teaching degree.
What will it take?
MAEd:NSEE degree program details
Start dates and application deadlines
We review applications on a rolling basis, meaning you can apply and start your master’s in natural science and environmental education online at three different times throughout the year. We recommend applying at least six weeks before the term you want to start to ensure your spot.
Environmental education master’s online
Hamline's master's in natural science education is offered fully online. Some individual classes may meet synchronously at a set meeting time online in the evenings. You can choose elective coursework that is online, or in-person field experience opportunities.
Time to complete your master’s in environmental education
You decide your pace, so—if you want—you can graduate in as few as 18 months. You're free to take as many or as few classes as your schedule allows.
Natural science and environmental education courses
You’ll finish your master’s in natural science and environmental education degree online in 12-14 courses, including 20 credits worth of core courses, and 10 elective credits in one of Hamline's graduate education certificate programs or our Teacher Field School.
Please see our complete course descriptions for this program in Hamline's Bulletin, linked below.
How to apply to the MAEd:NSEE program
- Online application (no fee for US residents).
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must submit both the original transcript and an official course-by-course English translation by a NACES-approved organization. Official transcript of a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 from a regionally accredited college or university. This should be sent directly from the institution to Graduate Admission or provided in a sealed, signed envelope. Official electronic copies should be emailed to gradprog@hamline.edu. You do not have to provide transcripts for courses taken at Hamline University.
- Two-page essay explaining your personal and professional philosophy of education (MAEd), environmental education (MAED:NSEE), or literacy education (MALEd); how this program will support your personal and professional growth in the field; and how you hope to contribute to the field as a result of your graduate studies.
- Non-native speakers of English must also submit evidence of either a bachelor’s degree from an English-language university or a TOEFL iBT of 80, IELTS score of 6.5, or Duolingo of 105.
If you have a GPA of 2.5-2.9, you may still be considered for admission. Please also provide:
- A one- to two-page narrative to help the admissions committee assess your academic history and qualifications, in the context of the high standards for academic performance in our program.
- Two letters of recommendation written by people unrelated to you, who are familiar with your academic and/or professional history and who can accurately assess your potential for successful graduate study.
How we help make your master’s in natural environmental education affordable
Competitive tuition
When you invest in a master's in environmental education from Hamline, you benefit from a prestigious degree from Minnesota's first university. We work hard to ensure our tuition, accompanied by scholarships, tuition discounts, and other financial aid, is a worthwhile investment for all students.
Generous financial aid
In addition to the scholarships and tuition discounts listed below, additional financial aid is also available, and many graduate students use low-interest loans to finance their education.
- Academic merit scholarships - $1,500
- Leadership scholarships - $1,500
- Learning partnership discounts - 10% off tuition
- Service discounts - 10% off tuition
- Alumni discounts - 10% off tuition
Hamline was accessible, and affordable. Hamline’s master’s program did not put me under—I was able to afford it and pay it off really quickly.
What can I do with a degree in environmental education?
Now more than ever, the world needs you! A graduate degree in environmental education will position you for careers in:
- Education: Work in a variety of settings providing leadership and sharing your knowledge about the environment
- Environmental policy: Work on environmental protection and justice, including research analysis, lobbying, enforcement, and outreach
- Environmental planning: Inform development, conservation, and land and resource use as a natural resources planner, municipal planner, and more
- Environmental communication: Inform and raise awareness, as a journalist, public relations professional, and more
- Environmental sustainability and governance: Understand and interpret economic policy, sustainability, and the environmental impacts of business and industry
Nationally-accredited program
As one of only a handful of universities worldwide to be accredited by the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE), our master’s program in natural science and environmental education is a comprehensive, engaging program that prepares environmental educators to take the lead.
MAEd:NSEE news
NSEE Earns Re-Accreditation
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