Social Issues and Psychology:
Psychology & The Environment
Fall, 1997

Syllabus

Dr. Richard Sherman
110D Benton Hall, ext. 9-2407 or 9-2400
email: shermarc@muohio.edu
A copy of this syllabus and other course materials can be found at: http://www.users.muohio.edu/shermarc/p412/
Office Hours: 11-12 Tues. & Thurs., 10-12 Wed. or
by appointment.

Click Here For News Analysis Guidelines
Click Here for Readings Discussion Guidelines
Click Here for Capstone Project Guidelines
Click Here for Final Exam

Course Description: This course is intended to be a "capstone" to your liberal education at Miami by providing you an opportunity to integrate and apply your knowledge of psychology and other fields within a context that is personally meaningful. This semester the topic of the course is "Psychology and the Environment." The course will focus on how the principles of psychology can help in understanding some of the complex factors involved in environmental issues, and how psychological approaches might contribute to the solutions of environmental problems.

            The seminar format of the course will place a good deal of responsibility on each participant for the quality of the joint educational experience. In particular, you will be asked to collaborate with other students in several projects, provide summaries and interpretations of material at several points during the semester, to join in our discussions at each meeting, and to present your individual project to the group. The course is also designed to rely heavily on new learning technologies, particularly those involving computer access to the internet and World Wide Web. Participants will be expected to acquire working familiarity with this technology. In addition, the course will include the following objectives that are part of the Miami Plan for Liberal Education:

(a) to consider ways in which the study of psychology and the environment embodies the goals of liberal education, such as thinking critically and understanding contexts.

(b) to integrate your previous knowledge in the various subdisciplines of psychology and other fields.

(c) to develop skills in presenting information and facilitating discussion.

(d) to practice skills relevant to clear and effective writing in an appropriate professional manner, e.g., APA format.

(e) to integrate information from a variety of sources, including written materials, the work of other students, guest speakers, etc.

(f) to foster reflection and initiate personal commitment to a position on issues having to do with psychology and the environment.

Course Format: The bulk of our meetings will consist of critical discussion of readings, current events, videotaped material, and material on the World Wide Web. Activities during class sessions will include interacting in small teams, as well as discussions and projects involving the class as a whole. The major components and their relative weights are as follows:

Who Cares About Hawaii ? - team project 25%

Continuous project throughout the term, using specific environmental issues in the state of Hawaii as a practical focus. Each team will produce material to be included in a class website that will remain viable for 2 years.

News Analysis and Discussion - team project 10%

Team selects an environmental news event and analyzes it from a psychological point of view. Includes leading the class in a discussion of the event. Team will produce a brief written analysis that will be published on the course website.

Readings Discussion - team project 20%

Team leads class discussion of assigned text and supplemental readings (see below).

Web Assignments - Individual projects (3-4) 15%

Exploration and analysis of environmental information on the internet.

Capstone Project -- Individual project 25%

A major individual project of your own design, meant to be integrative and personally relevant. Continuous effort throughout term, culminating in a written report of the outcome, a summary of which will be published on the course website.

            The remaining 5% of the course grade will be determined by performance on a take-home final exam, due at the final exam period.

            There are two major sources of reading material for the course: (1) the text Environmental Problems and Human Behavior, by Gardner & Stern (available at the University bookstore), and (2) a bound volume of supplemental readings available from the Oxford Copy Shop. The supplemental assignments for each chapter in the Gardner & Stern book are given on the attached list. The assignments for each class meeting will be announced in advance, and all participants are expected to have read the material and to be prepared to discuss it.

Class Attendance: Conscientious attendance and participation is vital for this type of course. Students who do not fulfill this commitment are unlikely to receive the grade they desire.

Grades: Grades will be based on the percent of total possible points earned for the various components of the course, weighted as shown above. On team projects and activities, individual contributions will be assessed and will effect individual grades. The procedure for doing this will be presented later. Course grade cutoffs are as follows:

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