SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
PSYCHOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (PSY 310)
Fall 2012
COURSE SYLLABUS
TIME: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 am – 9:15 am
LOCATION: COM 105
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Sara J. Unsworth
CONTACT: (619) 594-1327 E-mail: unsworth@sciences.sdsu.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Thursdays, 9:30am-10:30am, in South Life Sciences 279
Description:
Concepts of natural environment and psychological factors supporting more environmentally
sustainable behaviors. Theory and research from multiple areas of psychology to include
cognitive, developmental, cultural, social, ergonomic, industrial/organizational, and health
psychology.
In this course, we will explore the nature of the “sustainability” problem and why we should
care, our connection to nature, potential reasons for why people might have difficulty living
more sustainably, and the factors that support more sustainable living.
Over the course of the semester, you will learn to:
1. Summarize and critically evaluate theory and research related to the psychological
study of environmental sustainability.
2. Make predictions about when you might expect to see variation in the environmental
ideas and behaviors of people, and about the factors that might explain that variation.
3. Develop skills for clearly and precisely expressing ideas about the psychology of
environmental sustainability in formal writing assignments.
4. Apply course content to your own experience.
Required Textbook:
Unsworth, S. J. (2011). PSY 310 Course Reader (2nd ed.). Montezuma Publishing.
*The textbook can be purchased at the SDSU bookstore.
ASSIGNMENTS:
There will be 4 multiple choice exams (worth 15% each), 3 reflection papers (worth 5% each)
one 5-page final paper (worth 20% of your grade), and two assignments involving outdoor
activities (worth 5% of your grade). The final paper will draw on your knowledge from the
course and from your own personal experience. The goal of the paper will be to design a
program that will have an impact on perceptions of the natural world and issues related to
climate change. More details regarding the reflection papers, final paper, and outdoor activities
will be presented in class and will be made available on Blackboard. PLEASE NOTE THAT
THERE WILL BE A FINAL PAPER INSTEAD OF A FINAL EXAM.
Missing an Exam:
If you expect to miss a scheduled exam, you must inform the professor well in advance. Only
documented scheduling conflicts will be excused, and these conflicts must either be considered
absolutely unavoidable and/or must be due to scheduling that needed to occur before the course
schedule became available. If you unexpectedly miss an exam, you must notify the professor as
soon as possible. Only documented emergencies will be excused.
Late Paper:
10% will be deducted if the final paper is not handed in when it is due, and an additional 10%
will be deducted for every additional day that passes before the paper is turned in.
**SDSU’s Writing Center is a great resource for developing your writing skills. Follow this
link to learn more: http://web.sdstate.edu/writingcenter/index.htm
Extra Credit:
There will be opportunities for earning 2% in extra credit, and these opportunities will be
described in more detail in class.
Other Notes:
1) Powerpoint Slides will be posted on Blackboard before every class.
2) Grading Guidelines
Grading Guidelines
Minimum%
Grade
Minimum%
Grade
94%
A
77%
C+
90%
A-
74%
C
87%
B+
70%
C-
84%
B
60%
D
80%
B-
0%
F
A grade of "WU" for "withdrawal unauthorized" (formerly "U") indicates that you enrolled in a
course, did not officially withdraw from the course, but failed to complete course requirements.
For purposes of GPA computation, this grade is equivalent to an "F". If you attend a portion of a
course and then, after receiving a failing grade, stop attending without officially withdrawing,
you will receive a final grade of "F" rather than "WU".
A grade of "I" for "incomplete authorized" is only given when a minor portion of required
courseware has not been completed and evaluated in the prescribed time period due to
unforeseen, but fully justified, reasons. It is your responsibility to bring pertinent information to
the instructor and to reach an agreement on the means by which the remaining course
requirements will be satisfied. An incomplete shall not be assigned when the only way you could
make up the work would be to attend a major portion of the class when it is offered next.
3) Cheating – Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct includes the following examples as well as any other similar conduct
which is aimed at falsely representing a student's academic performance: cheating, plagiarizing,
unauthorized collaborating on course work, stealing course examinations or materials, falsifying
records or data, or intentionally assisting another individual in any of the above.
Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Students who cheat will receive an "F" for the course
grade and the Psychology Department's Undergraduate Coordinator and SDSU’s Judicial
Coordinator will be notified. The Judicial Coordinator will conduct an investigation, and
depending on the outcome, the student may be expelled, suspended, or placed on probation.
For more information on SDSU's policies and procedures regarding academic misconduct visit
the following site: Academic Misconduct.
4) Special accommodations
Students who need accommodation of their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss
specific accommodations for which they have received authorization. If you have a disability,
but have not contacted Student Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center, Suite
3101), please do so before making an appointment to see me.
5) Emergencies
To be prepared for emergencies, each student is responsible for becoming familiar with the
evacuation plan specific to each classroom. The evacuation plan is posted within each classroom
and should be examined on the first day of class.
WEEK
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
CLASS SCHEDULE
DATE
Assignments and Exams
Readings
What is the “sustainability” problem and why should we care?
08-28
08-30
09-04
09-06
09-11
09-13
09-18
Introductions
Human Impact on the Environment
Article 1
Health Psychology – Articles 2 & 3
Can we Simulate Nature?
Articles 4 & 5
EXAM 1
If nature is so important, why do we have difficulty living sustainably?
09-20
The shifting baseline problem
Article 7
Week 5 09-25
Despair isn’t enough - Article 12
09-27
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
What are our orientations toward nature and environmentalism?
Week 6 10-02 Reflection Paper 1 due
Cultural orientations toward nature
Articles 8-11
10-04
NO CLASS
Week 7 10-09
Identity and life paths
Articles 14-15
10-11
Week 8 10-16
EXAM 2
10-18
Interconnectedness with nature
Articles 16 and 17
Week 9 10-23
10-25
Managing difficult emotions
Articles 27 and 28
Week 10 10-30 Reflection Paper 2 due
11-01
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
To what extent do different systems in society support sustainable living?
Week 11 11-06
Ergonomics -- Article 24
11-08
EXAM 3
Week 12 11-13
Social learning -- Articles 19 and 20
Marketing
and construal -- Article 22
11-15
Week 13 11-20 Reflection Paper 3 due
Moral regulation - Article 21
11-22
NO CLASS - Thanksgiving
Week 14 11-27
System-Individual interactions
Articles 25 & 26
11-29
Week 15 12-04
EXAM 4
12-06
IN-CLASS OFFICE HOURS
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE A FINAL PAPER INSTEAD OF A FINAL
EXAM. THE FINAL PAPER IS DUE IN CLASS ON THURSDAY, DEC. 13TH, AT 8AM.