Influence of an Environmental Studies Course on Attitudes of Undergraduates at an Engineering University

Abstract

Studies suggest that at engineering universities, where the percentage of males and engineering majors is high, pro-environmental attitudes are likely to be weak and may not change. The 15-item New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale was used to measure differences in student attitudes before and after an environmental studies course. Results revealed students held more pro-environmental attitudes about the validity of the ecological crisis, the existence of resource constraints, and the delicacy of nature's balance after the course. Students did not shift their views regarding the domination of humans over the environment or their belief in human ingenuity to overcome resource limits. Engineering majors showed weaker endorsement of the NEP compared to non-engineering majors, but the increase in their endorsement after the course was statistically significant.

Keywords:

• environmental education
• environmental worldview
• New Ecological Paradigm
• science and engineering undergraduates

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science for financial support to S.Y. Kuo, the College of Science and Liberal Arts for financial assistance to produce the questionnaire and to the instructors and students who participated in the survey.