Office	Plaza Building 220-X
email	davisj@mscd.edu
Phone	303-556-4446
Office Hours	MWF 12-1, MW 3:30-4:30, other times by arrangement
Mailing Address	Department of Psychology, Campus Box 54 Metropolitan State College of Denver P. O. Box 173362 Denver, CO 80217-3362
CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE	Course Description Course Materials Topic Outline Grading Links to Other Pages in this Site

WEEK	TOPIC OUTLINE
1 Jan 19	Intro to the course; Overview of Environmental Psych and Ecopsychology
2 Jan 24	Three Interests of Env Psych;
3Jan 31	Three Insights of Ecopsychology
4 Feb 7	Environmental Awareness, Sense of Place
5 Feb 14	Human-Nature Relationships
6 Feb 21	Environmental Crises and Environmental Action
7 Feb 28	Environmental Sustainability
8 Mar 6	Nature and Mental Health
9 Mar 13	Wilderness Rites of Passage and Renewal; Slides
10 Mar 20	SPRING BREAK
11 Mar 27	Ecotherapy; Video: Lost Borders
12 Apr 3	Ecopsychological Model of Human Nature, Part 1
13 Apr 10	Ecopsychological Model of Human Nature, Part 2
14 Apr 17	Ecopsychological Model of Human Nature, Part 3
15 Apr 24	Ecopsychological Model of Human Nature, Part 4
16 May 1	Summary, Integration, Closing
17 May 8-12	FINAL EXAM (date to be announced)

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GRADING AND POLICIES	A GENERAL COMMENT ON GRADES: Grading standards for this course are high. I recognize that some students take this course primarily for personal interest. This is a worthy reason to take the course, and I will support your learning as much as I can. However, if the grade you receive in the course is important to you, I expect you to demonstrate your understanding and performance in your work. A grade of "A" means excellent work, well above expectations. A grade of "B" means very good work, above expectations. A grade of "C" means average work, at expectations. A "D" means work that is below expectations but still passing. These grades do not assess your worth as a person; rather they reflect your academic performance in the course.
LETTER GRADES	Grades in this course will be determined by points you earn from completing a variety of assignments. Note: This work must be satisfactory. If it is not, I will return it to you for improvement or deduct points at my discretion. Note that 12-15 are required. Minimum points for each grade are: 120 points = A 100 points = B 80 points = C 60 points = D Earn points in these ways: (POSSIBLE POINTS) 1. Read an approved book on EP and write a 2-page review (20) 2. Review the research on a specific environmental psychology issue (e.g., effects of weather on emotions or crowding) using textbooks, and write a 2-page summary (10) 3. Read a professional article and write a 1-page review (10) 4. Do the place-bonding exercise for at least 2 hours a week for 5 weeks and write a 3-page review of your experiences (20) 5. Do the medicine walk exercise for at least 10 hours and write a 3-page review (20) 6. Do an environmental awareness practice based on Focusing for 2 hours and write a 1-p review (5) 7. Do an environmental action project for 10 hrs and write a 3-page review focusing on its psychological aspects (20) 8. Participate in a study group with other students in the class for at least 1 1/2 hours per week for at least 8 weeks and write a 1-page review (20) 9. Organize, type and submit your notes for a four-week period of the class 5 10. Have an in-depth conversation with someone about EP (1/2-p review) 5 11. Take a paper you write for this class to MSCD's Writing Center and revise it based on the feedback you get. (5) 12. REQUIRED. Write a 2-page review and evaluation of the Winter book. (10) 13. REQUIRED. Write a 2-page review and evaluation of HS/SH. (10) 14. REQUIRED. Keep a journal of your reflections on the Four Shields model with at least 3 pages on each shield and turn it in. (10) 15. REQUIRED. Final Exam. Date to be announced, May 8-12. (10) I will consider adding to this list if you can make a case for another way to earn points.
IMPORTANT NOTES	A. Where no specific due dates are given, all work must be turned in by MAY 1. However, you are strongly urged to turn in work throughout the semester in order to have the opportunity to improve it if necessary and to prevent overloading yourself or me at the end of the semester. B. The short essay Final Exam will be given during the regularly scheduled final exam period (week of May 8-12). A study guide for the exam is available on the course's web site and will be distributed in class.
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION	Attendance and participation are important in this class. Since a lot of the course is experiential, it cannot be easily made up outside of class. You should attend all class meetings. POOR ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION WILL CAUSE YOUR GRADE TO BE LOWERED ONE LETTER GRADE.
GRADING POLICIES	LATE PAPERS. Late work will be approved only in extraordinary circumstances (e.g., illness, death in family). Unapproved late papers will be reduced by one letter grade. EXTRA CREDIT is not available. COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENT POLICIES ON CLASS ATTENDANCE ON RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS, ETHICS, AND PLAGIARISM: Please refer to the attached handout on policies. These policies will be followed in this class.
WITHDRAWAL AND INCOMPLETES	You are responsible for knowing and following MSCD's NC Policy, if necessary. Dates for withdrawal and request for NC are listed in the Schedule. Incompletes are given only in extraordinary circumstances, such as serious illness or death in the family, and only when at least 75 % of the course has been completed.