Thesis
A rural-urban environmental education divide?: A study of environmental science and studies degree programs in U.S. universities
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
Spring 2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004049
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/124966
Abstract
Environmental Sciences and Studies (ESS) are an increasingly popular degree major on US college campuses. This research examines whether characteristics of higher education institutions, and the communities in which they are embedded, are associated with the existence and robustness of ESS programs. Given the close association of modern environmentalism with problems of urban pollution and an increasing rural-urban education gap, I ask whether the geographic location of a college or university affects the likelihood of having an ESS degree program and its strength. Using stakeholder theory, I test hypotheses with OLS and binomial regression for 2010 data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Stakeholder theory suggests that business entities are influenced by both shareholders and stakeholders, as well as the community in which a business is located. My study finds that rural universities are more likely to have ESS degree programs, but that the location of the university (urban-rural) is not a factor influencing strength of ESS programs. Results suggest the importance of institutional characteristics, demographics of student population, and community context in accounting for robustness and existence of ESS majors.
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Details
- Title
- A rural-urban environmental education divide?
- Creators
- Olivia Kathleen Butterman
- Contributors
- Erik W Johnson (Chair) - Washington State University, Department of SociologyDylan Edward Bugden (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of SociologyDon A Dillman (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Sociology
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Sociology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900890793001842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis