The LECL/EPFA program requires a minimum of 45 credits, including professional studies core (16 credits), thematic specialization (20-22 credits), electives (7-9 credits), and culminating experience.

Students typically take 2-3 courses during each quarter, selecting courses from the professional core, the LECL core, and electives. Students are expected to establish linkages with a community partner and to begin their project or thesis research while taking courses. If this timeline is followed, a master’s degree can be completed within a period of 18 months to two years. Please see the course planning table for anticipated course offerings from 2008-2011.

Community-Based Learning

Most EPFA courses carry with them a requirement for 30 credit hours of community-based learning. Specific requirements for community-based learning are set by the instructor. Community-based learning can be carried out in a variety of organizations and educational settings across the metropolitan region. LECL student with an interest in school and community gardens often volunteer at the Learning Gardens Laboratory assisting with classes for middle school students or for special events. Other students volunteer in local non-formal and formal education organizations or for non-profit organizations. The LECL program includes 240 hours of community-based learning requirements. Students are advised to create a plan for their CLB hours that creates a variety of meaningful experiences that supports their future career goals.

Internships/Practicum: Local, Regional or International

Students have the option of pursing an internship or practicum. Such internship must match the student’s interest, the content of the LECL program, and the host institution’s mission and human resource needs. Internships are arranged on an individual basis and must be approved by the LECL program coordinator as well as the student’s advisor. For international internships, all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures set by the International Studies Office of PSU must be followed.

Professional Studies Core (16 credits required) 

Foundations of Education (4) credits

• EPFA 551 Social Foundations of Education

OR

• EPFA 554 Philosophy of Education

Research and Evaluation (4) credits

• EPFA 511 Principles of Educational Research and Data Analysis I

Organizational Systems (4) credits

• EPFA 568 Educational Organization and Administration

Adult Development (4) credits

• EPFA 520 Developmental Perspectives on Adult Learning

Thematic Specialization (20-22 credits)

EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIZATION

• EPFA 516 Collaborative Ethnographic Research Methods (4 credits)
• EPFA 517 Ecological and Cultural Foundations of Learning ( 4 credits)
• EPFA 548 Advanced Global Political Ecology (4 credits)
• EPFA 550 Advanced Leadership for Sustainability (4 credits)
• EPFA 503 LECL Master’s Thesis (6 credits)

OR

• EPFA 506 LECL Culminating Project (6 credits)

Although students may take courses in any order, the LECL faculty recommend that students take EPFA 516 during their first term in the program. EPFA 550 Advanced Leadership for Sustainability should be taken the first or second term in the program.

Electives (2-9 credits)

LECL students are encouraged to select 7 to 9 credit hours of electives courses that align with their interests and support their future careers. Students select 3 to 4 courses from the PSU Bulletin to form a concentration. Those created by previous and current LECL student include permaculture and community gardens, food systems and agriculture, social justice, indigenous cultures and knowledge systems, research methods, environmental education, and feminism and ecology.

Other LECL graduate level courses in the EPFA department include:

• EPFA 501 Theory and Practice of Sustainability (1 – 4)
• EPFA 510 International Trends and Issues in Education (4)
• EPFA 510 Education and Sustainability: K - 12 (4)
• EPFA 510 Interfacing Nonformal and Formal Education (4)
• EPFA 510 School and Community Gardens (4)
• EPFA 510 Ecology and Social Justice (4)
• EPFA 510 Global Indigenous Culture: Journey into Biocultural Diversities (4)
• EPFA 510: Permaculture and Whole Systems Design I (4)
• EPFA 510: Permaculture and Whole Systems Design II (4)
• EPFA 510: Urban Education Farm: Food Policy, Curriculum Design, and Action! (1-4)
• EPFA 510: LECL Naturalist Training (2)
• EPFA 510 Ecological Education in K – 8 Schools
• EPFA 519 Sustainability Education (4)
• EPFA 506 Self-Directed Learning Credit (Independent Study)
• EPFA 509 Practicum

Students may work with EPFA faculty to design a self-directed learning experience EPFA 506. Most students engage in independent study after they have completed at least 20 credits of course work. At this point, the student may identify specific learning needs and interests that are outside of EPFA course offerings. Students typically engage in research, program evaluation, practicum, internship, special project or reading and conference on a specific topic(s). For more information, contact your faculty advisor or instructor.

Culminating Experience (6 credits)

Candidates for the Master’s degree with a specialization in Education and Sustainability must select, in consultation with their faculty adviser, one of two culminating experiences: Culminating Project or Thesis.

• A Culminating Project is a project-based experience. Culminating projects take a variety of forms depending on student interests, knowledge base, skills, and professional experience. Culminating project can include a comprehensive report on student’s engagement in an applied project, such as development of curriculum, instructional materials, or a video documentary; evaluation of a current program; a survey; or analysis of learning in a specific educational context. Projects often grow out of collaborative work in the community. The student in consultation with the faculty advisor will decide the nature, content, and the depth of the culminating project. Typically, students enrolled in EPFA 506 meet with their advisor 4 to 6 times during the semester. Projects are submitted in writing and presented orally in a public forum. 

The Culminating Project requires enrollment in EPFA 506: Culminating Project for each term that the student works with her/his advisor and during the term in which the student presents the final project.

• The Thesis option requires enrollment in 6-9 credits of EPFA 503 Thesis. The thesis is likely to require 2-4 quarters of additional work for completion of the program. Thesis also requires the appointment of a 3-member thesis committee, 2 from the EPFA Department and one member appointed from the Office of Graduate Studies. Visit the Office of Graduate Studies website for Thesis guidelines, http://www.gsr.pdx.edu/ogs.html.