.
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Lead Faculty
Greenwich University
Applied Ecopsychology
ECO 793: SPECIAL PROJECTS IN APPLIED ECOPSYCHOLOGY/INTEGRATED ECOLOGY (3 credits)
SAME AS 791
Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated Ecology
Master of Science
School of Psychology
College of Social Science and Health
Greenwich University
Michael J. Cohen <nature@pacificrim.net>
November 1, 1998
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Selected Projects in Applied Ecopsychology/ Integrated Ecology (3 credits)
Students select a project in integrated ecology for advanced investigation in collaboration with lead faculty. This course is intended to allow participants to pursue specialized studies of a unique nature within integrated ecology and to contribute in a meaningful manner to the development of the body of knowledge within Integrated Ecology. A scholarly paper is required.
PREREQUISITES
Students must complete all core competency courses and receive the
permission of the instructor before undertaking special projects.
COURSE TOPICS
*library and Internet literature search
*foundational readings
*field observations
-Optional Topics
* Reconnecting with natural senses
* People and nature as community
*The powers of natural senses
students' projects
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This special projects course is intended to empower the participants to:
*effectively search the literature in nature connected psychology in
preparation for the conduct of a special project
*analyze, summarize the research literature
*effectively integrate new understandings from the literature with
knowledge gained through observations within the professional arena
BRIEF NEED STATEMENT
Instructional programs for mid-career adults are effective, many times,
only to the extend that the participants can individualize their studies
for immediate application within the professional environment. Such
participants, motivated to explore aspects of the subject matter in greater
detail, should be encouraged and guided in this pursuit. In fact, it is
essential that educational institutions maximize the relevance of advanced
studies to the demands and expectations of the business, corporate,
governmental, and professional arenas. Such strategies which relate
learning more closely to life and work and what educators call "reality"
permit more effective integration of new learning with prior learning and
experience. Students who learn in this manner are advantaged within the
marketplace and highly desired by employers.
COURSE AUDIENCE
Open as an elective to all graduate and undergraduate students who have completed ECO 501 and ECO 502 and with the permission of the instructor.
FACULTY-STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS
-Telephone Contacts
The student will initiate an initial telephone conference with the
instructor within one week of enrollment to clarify a plan of action for
the course. This initial contact will help familiarize the student and
instructor with one another, and permit the transmission of clear
expectations for completion of course requirements. Periodic telephone
interaction , as required, at student's expense, should be continued for
the duration of the course.
-Email Communications
Frequent email communications between student and instructor should be
initiated and continued for the duration of the course.
-Alternative Communications
Students may send communications and materials via postal service, as
appropriate. Chat room sessions, when available, can be held on a weekly
basis.
COURSE DELIVERY STYLE
Students conduct an exhaustive search for literature in a selected topical
area of study and pursue foundational readings under the direction of the
instructor. The student carries out field observations directly related to
the special area of study for the purpose of reflecting upon the advanced
theoretical reading and its application within "real world" situations.
The participant then creates a scholarly paper or papers which identify the
findings from literature and integrates and contrasts these findings with
the observations from the professional arena.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
-Required Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course, however, a general
bibliography will be provided related to the degree field. In addition, an
extensive library and Internet literature search is to be conducted under
the guidance of the instructor through which the students will select
appropriate reading materials in support of their course paper.
-Recommended Bibliography
-Recommended Bibliography
Students may select from the following general bibliographic materials, and the bibliographies they contain, as appropriate. See www.amazon.com for publication details and availability.
*Dancing Wu Li Masters, Gary Zukoff
*The Monkey Wrench Gang, Edward Abby
*Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions, Richard Erdoes
*Voice of the Desert, Joseph Wood Krutch
*The Soul Unearthed, Cass Adams,
*My Name is Chellis, Chellis Glenndinning,
*Ecopsychology, Theodore Roszac
*The Web of Life, John Storer
*Dream of the Earth, Thomas Berry
*Earth in Mind, David Orr
*Wilderness and the American Mind, Roderick Nash
*The Quiet Crisis, Stewart Udall
*Wisdom of the Body, Walter B. Connon
*Ishi in Two Worlds, Theodora Kroeber
*Education of Little Tree, Forest Carter
*Magical Child, Joseph Chilton Pierce
*Ishmael, Daniel Quinn
*Summerhill, A.S. Neill
*The Web of Life, Fritjov Capra
*The Spell of the Sensuous, David Abram
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
-Assignment #1: Collaborative Communication with Instructor
Initiate telephone contact with the instructor to clarify the plan of
action for the course and initiate collaborative email communications.
Maintain email contact with the instructor for the duration of the course.
Initiate and continue journal notations concerning all communications with
the instructor.
-Assignment #2: Literature Review
Conduct a library and Internet search for scholarly literature in texts and
journals specifically related to the selected topic under investigation
within the course, under the direction and guidance of the instructor. By
design, this should be an exhaustive but narrow and well focused gathering
of literature within the defined area under investigation with emphasis
upon applied issues in the degree field . Review the literature and
assesses its effectiveness, as a tool for the application of theories,
principles, and practices within the professional arena under
investigation. Make journal notations concerning all readings and prepare
an annotated bibliography which identifies the many ways the literature
informs practice.
-Assignment #3: Field Observations
The student will gather observations from within the professional arena
which is under inspection within the academic readings. This may include
simple observation, as well as interviews, carrying out text situations and
minor research ventures. Journal notations are especially important,
concerning the ways in which the professional arena informs the student's
understandings of applied issues within the special area of study.
Students should notate and define any situations in which the workplace
demonstrates or fails to demonstrate the effectiveness of theories,
principles and practices, as presented in the readings. These notation
should be formally summarized in chronological order in a formal written
report for review by the instructor.
-Assignment #4: Scholarly Paper
Within the requirements for a course final paper found at
http://www.ecopsych.com/eco500paper.html prepare a major paper
containing a scholarly discussion of your findings.
Students are to gather insight into the differences between theory (from
the readings) and practice (from the field observations), identify and
clarify these incongruities, and propose solutions to better understanding
these differences. The paper should be approximately 15 double-spaced
typewritten pages and include thorough referencing of the literature and
observations.
SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING RESOURCES
-Internet Resources
*Guide to Internet Research
http://users.southeast.net/~drgwen/index.html
*Gateway to Academic Resources on Internet
<http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/gw/>
*Research Guide on Internet
http://www.lib.odu.edu/start/index.html
-Textbooks
*Specialty Books
5833 Industrial Drive
Athens, OH 45701
(800) 466-1365
(614) 594-2274
Fax (614) 593-3045.
Email: order@specialty-books.com
http://www.specialty-books.com
*Amazon Books
549 South Dawson
P.O. Box 81410
Seattle, WA 98108-1310
(800) 201-7575
(206) 694-2992.
Fax (206) 694-2950.
Email: orders@amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com
Books can be ordered directly from the Web site.
INDIVIDUALIZATION OF STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
The primary purpose of this course is to provide opportunities for students
to carefully inspect the applicability of the theoretical literature within
their own professional environment. This course allows the student to
select a topic for study, identify the appropriate literature and
professional arena within which the exploration will be undertaken.
COURSE EVALUATION
The instructor will evaluate the completeness and effectiveness of the
student's written materials, including the annotated bibliography, the
report on field observations, and the scholarly paper.
The instructor will reflect upon the following expectations in evaluating
the work of the student:
*detail of presentations
*richness and diversity of the material presented
*clarity of references to the scholarly readings
*focus and conceptual quality
*richness and coherence in translation of academic theories and concepts
*appropriateness of applications
*quality of writing of the scholarly presentation
COURSE GRADING DETERMINANTS
The course grade will be calculated according to the following formula:
*annotated bibliography 20%
*report on field observations 20%
*scholarly paper 60%
COURSE COMPLETION TIMETABLE
While the student is expected to carry out and complete all assignments and
expectations of the instructor within 180 days from the start date,
students are encouraged to pursue the course requirements according to the
following timetable.
Week #1: Make telephone contact with the instructor for the purpose of
establishing the plan of action and scheduling the timeline and mode of
communications for the duration of the course. Secure a recommended
bibliography from the instructor and begin to gather text and journal
literature in support of the selected topic.
Week #2: Submit by email a summarization of the agreed upon plan of action
for the course. Continue to gather literature and begin readings and
maintenance of journal notations (which must continue for the duration of
the project) related to all readings. Begin creation of an annotated
bibliography of the special project literature
Week #4: Continue to read and review the literature. Maintain journal
notations related to all readings. Begin to organize your thinking related
to the professional environment for the field observations.
Week #6: Initiate field observations and related journal notations.
Continue to review the scholarly literature, maintenance of journal
notations, and frequent communications with instructor.
Week #12: Prepare and submit the annotated bibliography. Begin at this
point to formulate reflections concerning observed differences between the
scholarly literature as it applies within the "real world" of the workplace
or professional environment.
Week #16: Prepare and submit written report related to field observations.
Begin structuring the scholarly paper. Continue communications with
instructor and maintenance of journal notations.
Week #20: Submit scholarly paper.
Week #22: Receipt of effective feedback from the instructor.
SPECIAL NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS
-Course Completion
The grade of Incomplete may be given ONLY AFTER discussion with the
instructor and only if there is an extremely good reason to give such a
grade. An Incomplete will NOT be given because a student is "behind" in
work, needs extra time, simply because s/he wants to delay the completion
of the assignments. It is important that you turn in assignments within
the parameters of the agreed timeline. However, there are often unforeseen
circumstances will may befall any of us, therefore, I will be patient with
you in the event of some personal crisis. Don't surprise me at the last
minute, call me, email me, and we will work it out.
-Thoughts about Writing.
Purchase a collegiate writing style manual. If you are unclear which is
the appropriate manual, please contact me and we can discuss this important
issue. All written work should adhere to the writing style and manuscript
preparation guidelines described in your style manual. Pay extra special
attention to the rules related to referencing and citation of the academic
literature. In all circumstances, you will be expected to acknowledge th
works of others which have informed the work you wish to submit as your
own.
-Academic Integrity
Academic dishonest in any of its forms, including cheating, plagiarism,
misuse of the University web site, failure to comply with guidelines for
the conduct of human or animal research, and all aspects of professional
ethics, will not be tolerated. Any form of academic dishonesty is grounds
for dismissal from the program.
FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Director, Project NatureConnect
P. O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA
Tel: (360) 378-6313
Email: nature@pacificrim.net
Website: www.ecopsych.com
Communications should take place during daytime working hours in the western time zone or by appointment.
Project NatureConnect
Institute of Global Education
Special NGO consultant to United Nations Economic
and Social Council.
P.O. Box 1605 Friday Harbor WA 98250
(360) 378-6313
nature@pacificrim.net
www.ecopsych.com