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U-M launches effort to support student climate education
Michaela Zint (middle), associate dean for academic affairs at the School for Environment and Sustainability, speaks with Jennifer Haverkamp (left), director of the Graham Sustainability Institute, and students representing multiple disciplines related to climate during the Provost’s Seminar on Teaching. (Photo by Dave Brenner, SEAS)
To respond to sustainability challenges, we must understand the causes, dynamics, and consequences of behaviors that impact natural resources and the environment.

Creating a future that is inclusive, supportive and sustainable takes visionary thinkers and advocates who are ready to develop solutions that go beyond the status quo. The Behavior, Education and Communication (BEC) specialization at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) will provide you with the skills needed to pursue a career that will lower communication barriers and make a positive impact on the future of our planet. 

This involves:

  • Working with people in their everyday lived experiences. 
  • Discovering how to motivate and enable individuals, neighborhoods and groups to seek out more sustainable life patterns.
  • Employing qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods.
  • Using small experiments, community programming and social engagement strategies to influence human behavior and empower diverse communities to pursue long-term sustainability.

WHY BEHAVIOR, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION?

  • Understand human behavior—both current and evolutionary—in the context of the environment.
  • Learn to share information effectively, use instructional and motivational techniques to encourage desired behaviors, and negotiate conflicts.
  • Learn how people think, what motivates them, and the conditions under which they behave most reasonably and creatively.
  • Develop conceptual frameworks and employ strategies to address environmental problems by motivating individuals, groups, and communities to adopt impactful and durable behavior patterns.
  • Focus your studies and deepen your knowledge in one or more SEAS sustainability themes and with a capstone experience (master's project or master's thesis).
  • Work one-on-one with faculty advisors, practitioners and cohort members who are committed to uncovering effective, durable behavior change solutions.  

CURRICULUM

Behavior, Education and Communication coursework builds a sophisticated understanding of the causes, dynamics and consequences of decisions and actions that impact the environment. In this environmental master's program, you will study human behavior—both current and evolutionary—in the context of the environment. You will learn to share information effectively, use instructional and motivational techniques to encourage desired behaviors, and negotiate conflicts by engaging diverse stakeholders to address sustainability challenges collaboratively.

Requirements & Courses

CAREERS AND SELECT EMPLOYERS

You will graduate from the Behavior, Education, and Communication field of study equipped with the background and skills to work as an environmental advocate, communicator, K-12 or non-formal educator, an environmental engagement, outreach, or sustainability manager, a conservation behavior specialist, or an environmental dispute resolution specialist. 

For more information on the Behavior, Education, and Communication field of study, visit the Behavior, Education, and Communication track careers page or contact [email protected].

Vitor Lira
Not only did my master’s degree make the difference in the hiring process and my performance at work, the connections I made at Michigan helped me blaze a trail very few people are able to, especially since I am an international student.
VITOR LIRA (MS ’16)
Project Associate, Circlepoint

Behavior, Education, and Communication Summer Alumni Summit

 

Featured Course

The Psychology Of Environmental Stewardship

One of the enduring challenges of crafting a sustainable society is to create one in which people will want to live. A restrained and austere existence will likely prove to be an ecologically necessity. It is unlikely, however, that people will eagerly pursue such a life if it is represented as the unfortunate necessity of survival. The issue here is how to reframe and then promote such a future so that people not only willingly accept it but actually seek it out. This is primarily a behavioral, not political or technological, challenge. To meet this challenge behavior change tools and strategies are developed. Emphasis is on informational and motivational means of changing behavior in a durable manner. Case studies provide examples of programs at the individual, institutional and community level.

Other Popular Courses

Advanced Education for Environment and Sustainability
Behavior and Environment: Transitional Thinking for the New Normal
Social Vulnerability and Adaptation to Environmental Change
Sample Employers + Professional Skills
Behavior, Education, and Communication
My master’s project, independent study, internships, and coursework all provided me with a wide range of skills…and are a large reason why my employer was interested in working with me.
Jana Stewart (MS ’16)
Wellness Coordinator, Project Healthy Schools, University of Michigan
Jana Stewart
Internships
Behavior, Education, and Communication
Career Coaching
Career review

Behavior, Education and Communication Careers

SEAS Career Services offers career advising, internship opportunities, and professional services for students. We help students make professional connections with alumni and develop career paths that are both fulfilling and impactful.

Please visit our Careers page for additional career resources
Dual Degree Programs

The hallmark of the SEAS master’s program is its interdisciplinary focus. This focus can be extended even further through the pursuit of a dual degree. Because the school is part of one of the greatest research universities in the world, there are many options. Each natural resources and environment field of study provides an excellent foundation for earning a dual degree.

Read more about our dual degree programs

Sustainability Themes

Sustainability Themes cut across all specializations—and give students, faculty, and partners a chance to dig deeper into a particular area of impact and interest. Themes are also used as rallying points for cross-campus research, teaching and civic engagement collaborations.
Learn More
cities
Cities + Mobility + Built Environment
climate and energy
Climate + Energy
conservation and restoration
Conservation + Restoration
cross cutting
Cross-cutting
food systems
Food Systems
water
Water