Introduction to Conservation Psychology

This graduate-level elective is designed to provide a rigorous introduction to foundational theories in conservation psychology. Students will engage in concepts such as value orientations, attitudes, perceptions, biases, and identities, examining their influence on human behavior in relation to conservation movements, policy formation, and management practices. The course will consider how these psychological constructs shape our interactions with both the environment, plants, and animals.

The principal text, ‘Conservation Psychology: Understanding and Promoting Human Care for Nature’ by Clayton and Myers, will serve as the basis for inquiry. Through this lens, students will critically analyze the psychological underpinnings of human-nature relationships, identify barriers to effective conservation, and evaluate empirically supported strategies for cultivating ecological stewardship. Methodological topics that will be covered include survey design, mixed-methods research, and the application of qualitative and quantitative analyses that are pertinent to conservation psychology.

This curriculum is structured to equip students with the theoretical and methodological competencies necessary for advancement in the study of conservation psychology, with a particular emphasis on strategies to foster sustainable human-nature relationships. Weekly assignments will include student-facilitated discussions of peer-reviewed literature, written syntheses and reflections on assigned readings, as well as participation in moderated debates wherein students will articulate and defend assigned perspectives. Prior to the week of the debate, students will submit written pre-work showcasing their understanding of how values, biases, and identities intersect to shape behaviors, conservation policy, and management. Students will receive faculty feedback on their pre-work which they will be expected to integrate into a revised version—the culmination of which will be submitted week 10 of the quarter as their final assignment.

In-person Class Format:This course is offered fully in-person. Students should expect to attend in-person for all class periods. Students should strategize methods for getting notes from class when attendance is not possible. Lecture materials will be posted to the Canvas site.

Class Schedule: Monday nights, 6pm-10pm, PST

Qualified undergraduates may be enrolled in an undergraduate CRN for this course with faculty signature approval.