Preamble

The Bachelor of Science (Environmental Education) programme presents a new approach in developing professionals who can communicate environmental information to steer attitude and behavior change for sustainable development.This is in response to increased international calls such as Stockholm Conference, Belgrade Workshop, Tbilisi Conference, Rio Earth Summit and Johannesburg World Summit that emphasize the need for environmental education as a tool to change human behavior and hence address environmental crisis. The Bachelor of Science (Environmental Education) is made up of courses to enhance communication of the many environmental problems facing Kenya and the World such as Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, Population Pressure, Pollution and Overexploitation of Natural Resources, Food Insecurity, Poor Governance among others. The courses are designed to help the students address these problems through diverse approaches such as teaching, development of teaching/learning materials, environmental reporting, community mobilization and advocacy.

Rationale

Environmental Education is crucial for sustainable development at local, national and international levels. In Kenya, there are many players in environmental matters most of whom are not adequately trained on environmental education. This programme intends to develop professionals who can participate actively in promoting environmental sustainability through development of appropriate communication, education and public awareness activities in their areas of specialization, work and community contexts.

Departmental programmes

The department has the following programmes:

• B.Sc. in Environmental Education
• Master of Science in Environmental Education
• Master of Environmental Studies (Climate Change & Sustainability)
• PhD Programmes in the above fields

The department also offers a course in EEN 100 – Introduction to Environmental Education which is mandatory for all students taking a Bachelors degree in education.

Mission of the Programmes

This Environmental Education programme intends to equip learners with knowledge and skills to enhance capacity in communication, education and public awareness for attitude change and participation in environmental sustainability at both formal and non-formal sectors.

Objectives of the Programme

Equip learners with critical understanding of the perspectives of environmental education and sustainability

• Equip learners with skills necessary to develop and research environmental issues using diverse environmental learning methods and strategies.
• To enable learners to understand their roles as facilitators of learning and how to use diverse methods and strategies in environmental practice.
• To build capacity among learners so as to provide leadership on environmental concerns that face societies.

• Click here to view list of teaching staff

Student Destination

Students of environmental education have employment opportunities in environmental departments of various government Ministries and Parastatals, Private Sector, Civil society and in Private Consultancy.  They play a leading role in initiating environmental programmes projects and creating environmental awareness, ensuring social organizational environmental compliance and social responsibility.
The department is currently coordinating on behalf of Kenyatta University, the Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (ESDA) programme.  This is a collaborative programme facilitated by the United Nations University.  Other partners include UN Habitat, UNEP, European Universities and ESDA partnering African universities.
The programme aims at initiating a New Masters Programme is Sustainable Urban Development (ESDA – SUD) by 2013.  This programme implementation is expected to be largely field-based employing problem solving instruction and should promote research targeting cross-cutting issues and concerns in sustainable development.

Linkages
The Department of Environmental Education has linkages with the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources under a project titled “Environmental Awareness and Management at Kenyatta University and its environs” (EAMKUE) which is  implemented through COEP.
Through this project efforts have been made to clean up Kahawa River (Marengeta) as well as planting indigenous trees along its course.
The department has also worked closely with UNEP in developing a Masters programme on Climate Change and Sustainability.  The programme has currently over 20 students.
The National Council on Science and Technology also collaborates with the department through supporting two PhD students on Climate Change and Indigenous Biodiversity.  The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) has also supported the research aspect of the department by funding one Master student. The department welcomes new partners in supporting research work by staff and students.