Humane Education Graduate Programs
Learn how to take your compassion and convictions and turn them into action through education.
IHE’s graduate programs are designed to give you the skills you need to integrate humane education deeply into your teaching, work, life, community and the world. As a practical point, the advanced degrees can often lead to salary increases and promotions as well.
About the Graduate Programs
IHE’s premiere programs to study graduate level humane education are offered through a partnership with the highly respected and accredited graduate school of Valparaiso University. They are the only graduate programs in humane education in the United States and Canada. Our graduate programs include both degree and certificate programs and are offered in an online format, which allows students from the United States and abroad to complete the program remotely, with the exception of a one-week residency (required for two of the programs) held at IHE’s campus in Surry, Maine.
“I enrolled in the M.Ed. program and started on what was to be some of the most transformative and beautiful learning I had ever undertaken. So many of us long to be a part of creating a better world but we don’t know how to do this; IHE showed me that each of us has a unique set of skills and talents to share with the world, and that we can be humane educators wherever we are in life.”
~ Holly Clark, M.Ed. graduate, college professor
There are five programs offered:
1. Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Humane Education (33 credits)
2. Master of Arts (M.A.) in Humane Education (33 credits)
3. Concentration in Humane Education for the M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership (15 credits)
4. Concentration in Humane Education for the M.A. in Liberal Studies degree (15 credits)
5. Credit-bearing Graduate Certificate in Humane Education (either stand-alone or added to an existing degree) (15 credits)
The Humane Education Core Courses are essential to all programs and include:
• Introduction to Humane Education
• Environmental Ethics
• Animal Protection
• Human Rights
• Culture and Change
Students who are interested in taking a single humane education graduate course can apply as "non-degree graduate students."
A one-week residency is part of the M.Ed. and M.A. It takes place at IHE's beautiful campus, situated on 28 oceanfront acres overlooking the mountains of Acadia National Park. The grounds include an organic garden, a beautiful wooded trail, and a pebble beach where seals, eagles, loons and osprey are frequently seen.
This hands-on experience is a very popular part of the program.
A Master’s Thesis is also part of the M.Ed and M.A. programs. This Independent Learning Project (ILP) represents not only the culmination of the student’s studies, but also a creative contribution to the field of humane education. The topic must be professionally and socially relevant, challenging, and appropriate for the student’s vision. In the project the student demonstrates the ability to integrate theory, research skills, academic course work, professional experience and goals. Here are a few sample student ILPs.
More Details and How to Apply
For tuition, course descriptions, admissions info and to apply, click here.
Download a copy of the 2011-2012 Academic Calendar. (pdf)
“My studies at IHE have had an enormous impact on my life. I’m now a Humane Education Specialist. I do everything from reverence building activities with 2-year-olds to giving Eco Impact presentations. What an amazing opportunity! I’m filled with tremendous hope for the future.”
~ Lisa Forzley, M.Ed. student, Humane Education Specialist, Detroit Zoological Society
Faculty
The primary faculty in the humane education graduate programs are pioneers in humane education and trained by IHE.
Mary Pat Champeau is the Director of Education at IHE and faculty at Valparaiso University and has been an educator for more than 30 years. She has an M.A. in English from New York University. She has been a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa, and has supervised teacher training programs in Southeast Asian refugee camps in Indonesia and Thailand. Before moving to Maine in 1994, she worked for organizations serving refugee populations and coordinated English language and American culture programs for the World Trade Institute in New York City. She currently lives in Maine with her husband George, son Liam, daughters Claire and Jing Hui Fan, and animals too numerous to mention. Read Mary Pat's complete bio.
Melissa Feldman is on the faculty of IHE and Valparaiso University and has been a humane educator since 1985. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s of education degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980 and 1991, respectively. She is currently director of Circle of Compassion, which offers humane education presentations for 6th grade through adult audiences free of charge in western Massachusetts. Read Melissa's complete bio.
Zoe Weil is the co-founder and president of IHE. She is a pioneer in the humane education movement and has been teaching humane education and training humane educators since 1987. In addition to creating IHE's graduate programs, speaking around the world, and leading workshops, Zoe has authored several books, including The Power and Promise of Humane Education, Above All, Be Kind, and Most Good, Least Harm.
Zoe received a Master's in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and a Master's in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. She is certified in Psychosynthesis counseling, a form of psychotherapy which relies upon the intrinsic power of each person's imagination to promote growth, creativity, health, and transformation. Read Zoe's complete bio.
Humane Educators in Action
M.Ed. graduate, Jason Crook, teaches at an international school in Beirut, Lebanon.
M.Ed. graduate, Gina Diamond, founded her own eco-coaching business, helping people make humane choices in their daily lives and work.
M.Ed. graduate, Sophia Erlsten, works as an independent humane educator in central Florida.
M.Ed. graduate, Bob Schwalb, works as a humane educator for HEART (Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers).
M.Ed. graduate, Kerri Twigg, is a playwright and drama teacher who incorporates humane education themes into her work.
IHE graduates and students have incorporated humane education into in their teaching (kindergarten to college) in subject areas such as math, social studies, history, art, biology, physics, economics, ecology, language arts and literacy, foreign language, drama, architecture, design, veterinary medicine, law, civics and environmental science.
Other graduates have:
- Founded non-profit organizations dedicated to humane education
- Started successful humane education programs in their communities
- Worked as outreach humane educators for non-profit organizations
- Created humane education businesses
- Written and published books
- Created public access humane education television shows
- Developed humane education centers
- Pursued doctoral programs
- Led humane education workshops
- Brought humane education into religious education programs
- Incorporated humane education issues into social work, law, and health care
- Produced and directed award-winning humane education films
- Started humane education camps
- Created visiting humane education programs in schools
- Brought comprehensive humane education into their existing work
- Used comprehensive humane education as a social-entrepreneur
“…everything that I learned in the Humane Education graduate program is now coming into play, including the thorough and all-encompassing academic material, and the tremendous support that I received from the dedicated faculty and fellow students.”
~ Roberto Giannicola, graduate, founder, Provokare Presentations
Become Part of a Humane Education Community
Once you become a student of the Institute for Humane Education you become part of a vibrant community. IHE is a hub for humane educators to gather, share, network and collaborate. You will find a wealth of resources to learn how to better bring the issues of humane education into your life, work, communication, and actions to create positive change for all. Through our website Resource Center, our Facebook page, Twitter page, Humane Connection blog and more you’ll connect with humane educators and concerned citizens across the globe.
Help Us Spread the Word About Our Graduate Programs
Download a copy of our press release to share. (pdf)
Download a copy of our flyer to share. (pdf)
For More Information
To find out more or to discuss the programs, please email Mary Pat Champeau, Director of Education.
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del.icio.usWatch and share IHE President, Zoe Weil's TEDx talk -- an inspiring vision of how to create a just, compassionate, healthy world for all through solutionary education.
July 14, 2012 - 8:30 am to July 14, 2012 - 5:00 pm | Location: Institute for Humane Education
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