Year Colleges

This report examines the impact on students in the field of environmental studies. The study looked at how environmental studies courses and programs, which present biogeochemical facts to inform students of current problems and issues in the state of the planet, could change student attitude and behavior in relation to both the discipline of environmental studies and the environment. The study found that: (1) of all the students surveyed (n=66), 52 % reported a great increase in knowledge of environmental issues as a result of taking an environmental studies course; and (2) of all students surveyed, 57 % indicated a status of "very important " on issues relating to the conservation of natural resources. As a result of such findings, the study concluded that the impact of taking an environmental studies course is substantial. The report predicts that impact on student behavior could be increased even more in the future if additional, alternative forms of instruction are incorporated, such as field trips and required term papers. These would, in turn, provide for deeper immersion in the subject and increased ownership of the issues. Survey instrument is appended. (ND) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document