Abstract
Using the survey approach, this investigation examined the attitudes and interest of college students at two universities in different geographic locations within the United States. Approximately 24,000 students from all disciplines and majors at Weber State University (WSU) in Utah, and 4,000 at Purdue University in Indiana, were invited to participate in a study to determine current knowledge, familiarity, and interest in topics within the sustainability and Green Building educational arena. The goal of this study was to determine what students already know, would like to know, and how much interest there would be in developing a general elective course offered to students from all majors on sustainability in the built environment. Currently, neither university offers such curriculum generally: it is limited to students in the architecture, construction management, or engineering programs to receive general elective credit towards graduation. The theory is that students from all disciplines are interested and would take a general elective course based on Green Building in the built environment concepts. The title of the course could potentially be; “How to Green Your Home”. Based upon the survey results and analysis, several outcomes suggest that students across all majors are indeed interested in greening their built environment. The data highlights what is currently understood, as well as areas in which education may be lacking. This contribution includes an outline of teaching implications as well as recommendations as to what, how, and where Green Building should be taught at the college level. The findings of this study suggest that a general elective course, multi-disciplinary in its approach, is both needed and wanted by university students.
Keywords
Green Building, Sustainability, General Education, Curriculum
Date of this Version
4-27-2011
Department
Building Construction Management
Department Head
Dr. Robert Cox
Month of Graduation
May
Year of Graduation
2011
Degree
Master of Science
Head of Graduate Program
Gary Bertoline
Advisor 1 or Chair of Committee
Kirk D. Alter
Committee Member 1
Daphene C. Koch
Committee Member 2
Wesley G. Crawford
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Administration Commons, Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching Commons, Advertising and Promotion Management Commons, Architectural Engineering Commons, Construction Engineering Commons, Construction Engineering and Management Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons, Environmental Design Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Family and Consumer Sciences Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Higher Education and Teaching Commons, Interior Architecture Commons, Marketing Commons, Natural Resource Economics Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Sustainability Commons, Water Resource Management Commons