STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University’s online Master of Science in Conservation Education program has earned accreditation from the North American Association for Environmental Education, a distinction held by fewer than 15 institutions nationwide and one of only a few at the graduate level.
Leslie Burger, associate teaching professor in MSU’s College of Forest Resources Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, helped establish the program and led the accreditation effort. She said the recognition further sets the program apart.
“For the NAAEE – the primary organization for conservation education across the U.S. and Canada – to say we meet its standards for excellence in the preparation and professional development of environmental and conservation educators is a huge stamp of approval for our program,” Burger said.
Launched in 2021, the 30-hour online degree equips professionals to merge conservation practice with education. The curriculum combines core courses in ecology and education with flexible electives and culminates in a community-based capstone project.
Students identify a conservation educational opportunity, collaborate with a project partner organization, design and implement an outreach strategy, and evaluate its impact.
Burger said the program’s flexibility attracts students from around the world.
“The flexibility has turned out to be a huge selling point. Students can complete the degree at a pace that fits their life, whether that means one class a semester or finishing in 18 months,” she said. “We have a lot of professionals working in both conservation and education. They wouldn’t be able to uproot their lives to study in person, but online delivery makes this degree accessible to them.
“One of the most meaningful outcomes has been seeing students who found not just a quality education, but meaningful connections with each other, like students from different states meeting up with one another and traveling to Mississippi together for graduation,” Burger added. “That sense of belonging to Mississippi State – and their desire to come to campus and graduate – speaks to intangibles that set our program apart.”
Andy Kouba, professor and head of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, said the accreditation enhances an already strong program.
“Accreditation by the North American Association for Environmental Educators affirms that Mississippi State University’s Master of Science in Conservation Education online program meets the highest standards in preparing effective, knowledgeable conservation educators,” Kouba said. “This recognition strengthens the program’s credibility, attracts quality students and assures stakeholders that graduates are equipped to lead and advocate for environmental stewardship at their own institutions.”
For more information on MSU’s Master of Science in Conservation Education, visit www.online.msstate.edu/conservationed.
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