A survey of the environmental education of students in non-environmental majors at four-year institutions in the USA

Chief academic officers at four-year institutions in the USA were surveyed electronically to examine the extent to which these institutions provide for the environmental education of students in non-environmental majors, and to identify various approaches to increasing environmental literacy at the college level. Of the 496 responding institutions (representing a 42.3 percent response rate), 11.6 percent indicated that an "environmental literacy" course was required of all students, and 55.0 percent reported that such a course was available and countable toward the institution's general education requirements. At least one "environmental" minor (e.g. Environmental Science, Environmental Studies) was offered at 33.7 percent of the institutions; 39 percent reported the existence of an "environmental" academic program that offered a course appropriate for non-majors. Discusses various approaches to achieving environmental literacy at the college level and statistical differences in survey responses among Carnegie classifications, from Research to Baccalaureate; between public and private institutions; and among geographical regions.