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. Greening Online
Masters Degree Education: Nature-Connected, Sustainable,
Holistic, Counseling, Therapist Degree Training, Life Courses
and
Coaching Healing Power Programs: Alternative
Natural Career Education Psychology; Personal and Professional
Environmental Health and Wellness, Reiki Consciousness
Scholarships,
Grants and Jobs.
Educating, Counseling and Healing With NatureProfessional Diploma in Applied Ecopsychology Coursework and Degree Requirements
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Select Here for "INFORMATION BY TOPIC" streamlined, compact and specific information via the PNC Organization and Application website at www.ProjectNatureConnect.org
Select Here for "INFORMATION BY A PROGRESSIVE SEQUENCE OF LEARNING STEPS" to a certificate or degree.
Applied Ecopsychology
Professional Diploma Coursework and Project Requirements
Purpose:
The Professional Diploma is awarded to certify that its recipient has taken all the courses and internship training needed to master and teach the process of educating, counseling and healing with nature. The Diploma documents that the recipient can successfully introduce and guide qualified candidates through the established methods, materials and goals of Project NatureConnect's Natural Attraction Ecology Webstring Model program.
Procedure:Candidates successfully complete the Sequence of Steps 1-10 that are linked to the community process page of this website.
"Oh, what a catastrophe, what a maiming of love when it was made personal, merely personal feeling. This is what is the matter with us: we are bleeding at the roots because we are cut off from the earth and sun and stars. Love has become a grinning mockery because, poor blossom, we plucked it from its stem on the Tree of Life and expected it to keep on blooming in our civilized vase on the table."
D. H. Lawrence
"In learning how to think in communion with nature's self-correcting ways is the salvation of our sanity and Earth.
Stressfully separated from nature's sensuous rewards, we often psychologically bond to destructive gratifications.
Genuinely reconnecting our thinking with nature replaces our destructive bonds with the restorative power of natural constructive passions."
Michael J. Cohen, Department Chair
Laymen and experts alike recognize that the thinking of nature- separated human cultures is inflicting damage on people and the life sustaining systems and resources of the planet. Critical stress arising from the duality of the nature disconnected way we think, adversely impacts people and the environment. It deteriorates human relationships, the air, water, and soil, our climate, and plant and animal species. The thought process of industrial society damages earth's ability to provide for life in balance and risks damaging vital personal and global systems beyond repair. Nature connected cultures and individuals who have not been touched by, or have outgrown, the destructive aspects of industrial thinking neither display nor promote the runaway problems we face. Until recently, no process has been widely available that enables people to think like nature works and thereby help our troubles subside.
Our destructive ways are not logical. They are psychological, they arise from disturbing the natural logic of the psyche which, in turn, emotionally disturbs our thinking into producing our dilemmas. It is illogical to try to solve our problems by using the same thinking process that causes them.
People are part of nature. Research in natural areas during the past 30 years has produced the Natural Systems Thinking Process, a nature reconnecting distance learning program. It empowers individuals and institutions to learn how to make conscious sensory contact with natural areas. People psychologically tap into nature's wisdom, beauty and balance there, and think with it by letting it heal, nurture and energize into awareness the loving intelligence of nature that
In view of our rising personal and environmental problems, the dire need for a cadre of experts who can implement, use and teach the Natural Systems Thinking Process is unquestionable.
Although many pages and articles are available that help interested learners better understand the Project NatureConnect program, a free, 15 minute discussion by phone with a faculty member has proven most effecient and helpful in discovering how to customize the program to your goals.
Program Objectives
Although environmental and humanitarian issues are at the fore of modern society, virtually unrecognized are their psychological roots in our disconnection from nature. This program develops professionals who not only have the academic and scientific background to study key nature disconnected psychological issues, but who also design, develop, and implement practical ecopsychology solutions to the problems that face people, society and the environment. Participants are challenged to think about problems and issues from a sensory, inter species, global community, web of life point of view. Within this framework students learn to apply the Natural Attraction Ecology Process to their other interests. Mastery of the process helps them develop sustainable balanced relationships on critical fronts.
The educational philosophy of the Integrated Ecology/Applied Ecopsychology program is to empower motivated adult learners to become experts in implementing, teaching, promoting and researching the values of educating counseling and healing with nature. Graduates have the ability to evoke responsible personal and global relationships.
Participants will be empowered to effectively use and teach the use of nature connecting activities and materials which enable people to:
-Learn ways of thinking critically that reconnect with and heed natural callings within ourselves, others and natural areas.
-Understand why we naturally deserve to have good feelings and how to obtain them in personally and globally responsible ways.
-Learn how to self regulate by letting nature connections nurture the balanced spirit, wisdom and unity of nature within and about us.
-Reverse apathy, stress and dysfunction by energizing our natural senses and feelings.
-Scientifically let our natural connectedness regenerate and rejuvenate the hurt and abandoned parts of our inner nature.
-Enjoy nature's enchantment within and about us.
-Learn how to speak to Earth and let it teach us, to know nature as nature knows itself.
-Recognize the culturally induced unbalanced relationship between the old-brain and the new-brain and conscientiously let tangible contact with nature re-balance them.
-Learn to personally or professionally organize, facilitate and introduce the ecopsychology of Project NatureConnect's Natural Systems Thinking Process and to network with others with similar goals for responsible personal and global balance.
-Apply to appropriate parts of their personal and professional life the Natural Systems Thinking Process Ecpsychology guides that are described in the Orientation Section of ECO 501.
Additional information about the Natural Systems Thinking Process and program is available at http://www.ecopsych.com/ and in the book, Reconnecting With Nature, by Michael J. Cohen.
Program Audience
The program is designed to meet the educational and vocational needs of mid-career professionals who seek to integrate the Natural Systems Thinking Process into their personal and professional lives and bring its benefits to the public and planet. The program audience includes professionals employed in psychiatry, counseling, guidance, therapy, mental health, group work, social work, spiritual leadership, peace, conflict resolution, environmental studies, environmental education, recreation, nature interpretation, youth work, personal recovery, chemical abuse, interpersonal abuse, self-improvement, experiential education, wildlife management, outdoor education, citizenship, adjudicated youth, horticultural therapy, indigenous people, community development, landscape gardening, intentional relations, noetic science, leadership, systems theory, and public health.
Minimum Entry Requirements
Evaluation for admission mostly considers the applicant's success on the Orientation Course as well as the applicant's prior learning and professional experience, letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent from the applicant. Applicants should have completed a recognized undergraduate degree or its documented and approved equivalent in a related field of study. Candidates should show familiarity with and dedicated interest in the Natural Systems Thinking Process and its website at www.ecopsych.com. Participants must be proficient in standard English, be computer literate, and for the duration of their program, have access to a computer, electronic mail and the Internet.
NOTE 1: If any of the specific coursework or professional preparation elements are missing at the time of enrollment, participants will need to add these elements to their required program.
NOTE 2: On their Application, students should prepare a written statement of their practice and research interests in Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated Ecology and communicate with lead faculty .
Lead Faculty Information
Michael J. Cohen, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA
Tel: (360)378-6313
Email: nature@interisland.netMichael Cohen is an Ecopsychologist who founded and coordinates Project NatureConnect, a distance learning degree program with extended educational workshops and course offerings from The Institute of Global Education, a special NGO consultant to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. He has developed the Natural Systems Thinking Process through degrees at University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University and Akamai/SJDLC University along with 36 years of living outdoors year round researching and teaching multisensory nature activities. Dr. Cohen is faculty at several universities and has founded degree granting environmental outdoor education programs for the Trailside Country School, Lesley College, and the National Audubon Society. His many books and articles include Reconnecting With Nature: finding wellness through restoring your bond with the Earth, the 1990 award winning Connecting With Nature: Creating Moments that Let Earth Teach, the self-guiding Applied Ecopsychology training manual Well Mind, Well Earth, and Educating, Counseling and Healing With Nature. He is the 1994 recipient of the Distinguished World Citizen Award and has been recognized as a maverick genius.
The Appropriate University Degree Program
The quality, content and process of the core courses in the IGE program are fully accredited in the United States and internationally as a part of Project NatureConnect's regionally accredited cooperative University programs that review the courses and offer credit for them.
The appropriate university degree program works with accredited and non-accredited schools. Candidates should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of programs that are regionally accredited.
Professional Diploma Requirements
As participants in the Graduate Student Cooperative Program participants that qualify must complete A, below :
1. Complete our MS degree Organic Psychology Track of 23 credits online (18 months) including only ECO 751 and ECO 791 of the 700 series of courses and electives.
- use prior experience and challenge exams for equivalency in other courses we offer,
- complete an online Comprehensive Exam.
2. Design and complete an appropriate project
- Propose and validate a project completed, or create a new project, that makes a contribution by centering around the use or application of NSTP or the Webstring Natural Attraction Model. (for example, a proposed or ongoing plan that would help introduce PNC to youngsters at risk.)
- Include a statement of the problem your project addresses and why it should be solved. Reference to and comment upon relevant work by others on the same or similar problems.- State your ideas and insights for your project solving a problem and any preliminary results already obtained.
- State what kind of solution is being sought.
- Submit the project to Mike Cohen or an assigned faculty member
3. Write a descriptive paper of any length about your project that adequately:
- A. brings attention to the project's purpose,
- B. describes the needs that the project meets,
- C. describes the satisfactions that the project provides for.the needs identified in C
- D. presents a visualization of the project's potential.effects.
- E. Optional: suggests action steps
SELECT HERE FOR THE COMPLETE PROFESSIONAL
DIPLOMA APPLIED ECOPSYCHOLOGY TRACK COURSES
AND SEQUENCEOF LEARNING STEPS
B. ALTERNATE Presently not offered July 15, 2009
Complete our theoretical M.S. Degree minimum of 23 graduate credits, steps 1-10 and work on a a project in lieu of dissertation according to appropriate university guidelines.
Participants must also complete an admissions to university candidacy competencey examination at the conclusion of their academic coursework and then proceed with a project of full research proposal process.
Students who have completed coursework in any of the required areas may petition lead faculty for a waiver of these requirements. Students would then write a paper that showed how they would integrate NSTP into the waivered area by documenting their learning, skills and experiences in both.
Field Study Parameters
Field study parameters for Integrated Ecology consist of initiating, applying, promoting and integrating the Natural Systems Thinking Process into chosen fields of professional or personal interest. This may be done through on site or distance learning internships, apprenticeship, field investigation, professional practice, field project or action science techniques. ECO 501, 508, Prerequisites.
The goals of the field study element are to provide opportunities for meaningful experience through which participants may acquire and demonstrate an advanced expertise in applying and furthering the art and science of integrated ecology. This may be accomplished in organizations or institutions of the student's choice or as independent projects with approval from lead faculty. Professional presentation of the student's results at an appropriate conference or meeting is required.
Through experience, field opportunities are used to hone how the student utilizes and teaches the fundamentals of the Natural Systems Thinking process. We are born as part of nature yet nature and nature-centered people, in their wisdom, do not exhibit our runaway problems. We learn to live, on average, less than 1/2 day per lifetime consciously in tune with nature. It is the extremely nature-separated way we live, think and relate that brings about our most challenging problems.
Like an arm torn from a body, our excessive indoor lives and stories traumatize and separate our peace and reasoning from their natural origins in nature and its intelligence.
Skillfully, a surgeon can physically reattach an amputated arm to the body. Only then can nature's wisdom heal the separation and restore integrity. Gradually, the separation trauma and its destructive symptoms subside. With respect to Organism Earth, the Natural Systems Thinking Process, offered in Applied Ecopsychology and Integrated Ecology, acts like the surgeon. It enables students to skillfully and enjoyably help reattach people's thinking to nature's wisdom in the environment and each other. That wisdom then restores our disconnected reasoning, senses and interests.
Backyard or back country, the educational methods and materials of Natural Systems Thinking Process empower us to create moments that let Earth teach. We learn to sense, enjoy and validate the natural attractions found in natural areas and in our inner nature. We learn to honor these attractions and thoughtfully rebind them into our thinking. We learn to speak, feel and interact with the wisdom, love and spirit that guides natural people and Earth. This has proven to reduce stress, recycle our destructive thinking, and catalyze responsible personal, social and environmental relationships. Through this process all things become partners for personal and global recovery.
Research Parameters
Participants are expected to pursue a thesis emphasizing a small experimental research project or case study project, or a major product in lieu of research (with permission from lead faculty). Emphases for student projects are to integrate or establish the Natural Systems Thinking Process as part of appropriate psychological, therapeutic, educational, recreational, political or spiritual areas. Under the assumption that the purpose of life is to support life by fulfilling natural attractions, participants select and design research that produces their greatest contribution to the life process and helps others do the same. Qualitative studies, participatory action research, quantitative science or a mixture of these approaches may be used to meet this goal. For example:
-With the consent of their support committee, a participant would design and apply appropriate measurement techniques that scientifically document changes resulting from themselves or others:
-Designing and actualizing an Applied Ecopsychology course of study for the clients of a therapist.
-Introducing the natural systems thinking process into political, environmental or social areas of conflict as a means of resolving conflict.
-Introducing themselves as an trained agent of the natural systems thinking process into areas seeking or needing personal, social or environmental improvement.
-Acting as an ambassador on behalf of the natural systems thinking process and providing public information that would stimulate interest in the support and use of the process. *Promoting and implementing the natural systems thinking process as a stress management or mental health tool in industry or other institutions. *Promoting and implementing the natural systems thinking process in the field of distant education, environmental education, chemical or physical abuse, recovery, therapy, education or community development.
-Evaluate the research of people in related fields and how it could strengthen the natural systems thinking process
Course Descriptions
ECO 500: Global Citizenship Orientation: The Art and Science of Thinking With Nature. (2 credit) ORGANIC PSYCHOLOGY TRACK REQUIREMENT
This short course is offered to students when required or suggested by their department or by the student's personal choice during any period semester of enrollment or application. It may also be used as a student facilitator training internship once the student has completed the course. Students discover how our excessive separation from nature stresses our sensuous inner nature and initiates our personal and global troubles. Students learn to reverse this destructive process by mastering five thoughtful sensory nature reconnecting activities that dissolve stress by satisfying our deepest natural loves, wants, and spirit. This hands-on course teaches lasting leadership, education, counseling, and mental health skills that feelingly tap the "higher power" wisdom of Earth's creation process. The email and telephone contacts of the course empower students to let nature help them nurture warm interpersonal relationships, wellness, and responsibility on personal and global levels. Students relate the course methods and materials to their fields of interest in order to integrate these areas with the global ecosystem. They become familiar with the Natural Systems Thinking Process and improve their Globally Balanced Thinking Score.
ECO 501: Educating and Counseling with Nature I (4 credits) ORGANIC PSYCHOLOGY TRACK REQUIREMENT
Students will learn to promote personal, social and environmental responsibility by mastering and adapting unique "nature-connecting" methods for personal and professional use. Students will discover firsthand how tangible reconnection with nature provides information, satisfies deep natural wants and how, when unsatisfied, these wants disrupt inner peace and fuel personal, cultural and ecological disorders. Under the direction of the instructor, students establish and identify a three person study team with whom they work. They maintain a journal of their participation and prepare a 15 page reflective paper.
ECO 502 Educating and Counseling with Nature II (5 credits) ORGANIC PSYCHOLOGY TRACK REQUIREMENT
Students investigate advanced techniques to promote personal, social and environmental responsibility by mastering and adapting unique "nature-connecting" methods for personal and professional use. Students continue their work with a two or three person study team with whom they interact. They may assume the role of an intern, helping to promote, organize, and guide presentations for a selected group. Students exchange and react to their teaching, findings and evaluation efforts and prepare reflective paper of at least 15 double-spaced typewritten pages discussing how the program has informed their understandings of the importance of Applied Ecopsychology and Integrated Ecology within their personal and professional lives.
ECO 503 Directed Readings in Applied Ecopsychology/ Integrated Ecology (3 credits)
While they are learning the elements of Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated Ecology, students will pursue directed reading from a sensory ecology bibliography provided by lead faculty, supplemented by their own library research. Participants will carefully explore the literature and prepare an annotated bibliography. As the principal course assignment, participants will prepare a scholarly paper of at least 15 typewritten double-spaced pages discussing problems and solutions to important issues and practice of Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated Ecology.
ECO 504 Integrating Sensory Knowing and Culture (3 credits)
For use while they are teaching and researching Integrated Ecology, students will gather a library of references, from the internet and publications, that are related to their particular career field or interests that reflect upon the issues relevant to sensory ecology. Students will read and discuss the literature with Dr. Cohen and other professionals, discover how sensory ecology contributes to their career interests and then enact strategies that inject sensory ecology into institutions. Students will gather a bibliography of literature in their professional field or interest that supports work in sensory ecology and prepare an annotated bibliography. Students will prepare a reflective paper of at least 15 typewritten double-spaced pages discussing how the literature has informed their understanding of the opportunities for integration of lifeweb psychology concepts within their career field.
ECO 508: Natural Attractions Intelligences and Sanity (1-credit) ORGANIC PSYCHOLOGY TRACK REQUIREMENT
Students discover how to help prevent contemporary society's nature-separated thinking from deteriorating personal growth and responsible relationships. They increase their effectiveness, marketability and global citizenship by learning about the process of educating and counseling with nature. Course participants learn how to introduce a readily available organic psychology and natural systems thinking process into various aspects of society.
ECO 522: Public Relations and Marketing (3 credits)
Students survey the field of Public Relations and Marketing to determine the most significant means to promote, implement and produce support for their involvement in the natural systems thinking process. They identify what that makes each technique and strategy worthwhile, select those that make the most sense to them, defend them, and apply them in areas that add to the field of nature connected psychology and their personal interests. The student writes a three page progress report that documents their work and learning in this area and that would assist others who read it.
PREREQUISITES Students must complete ECO 501 or its equivalent.
ECO 751: Field Studies in Applied Ecopsychology/ Integrated Ecology (6 credits)
Students experience in theory and practice how Western Civilization separates the "human" from the "natural" and estranges us from nature's integrity, love, and spirit, in and around us. Students master, design and implement conscientious techniques which reverse this dilemma and catalyze responsible relationships for "reconnecting with nature in people and places" through negotiating a field experience placement within their career field which supports a practical observation of Integrated Ecology. This field experience will represent a minimum of 90 hours in one or more monitored placements. In them, students apply the syllabus of ECO 501 and ECO 502 as a perceptual filter, maintain a weekly log reflecting upon their experiences and prepare a scholarly paper (at least 15 typewritten double-spaced pages) discussing how the field placement experience has built their understanding of overcoming barriers to successful integration of Integrated Ecology concepts within their career field. [Prerequisite: ECO 501: Elements of Educating and Counseling with Nature I]
ECO 752: Externship in Applied Ecopsychology/ Integrated Ecology (6 credits)
Students independently promote, implement, and teach an integrated ecology course or program to three or more students as a group (or individually). This is an extensive reading project and a 300 hour field study program using reconnecting with nature activities in an appropriate setting, while investigating appropriate literature, areas for professional growth, and implementing introductory training programs in Integrated Ecology in relationship to their chosen career field. Based on their field experiences and reading, students will prepare a reflective paper (fifteen-page minimum) addressing the following questions: 1) Related to other alternatives now in effect, why is the study and implementation of Integrated Ecology essential to effectively addressing the human condition and the future survival of the earth and its systems? 2) What campaigns could the student wage from within their profession to re-educate or reverse the opposing forces identified as the most damaging factors acting in opposition to the implementation of the concepts of Integrated Ecology fostered by Project NatureConnect and like-minded programs and campaigns? [Prerequisite: ECO 541: Field Study in Integrated Ecology]
ECO 753: Case Studies in Education and Counseling with Nature (6 credits)
Students experience in theory and practice how Western Civilization separates the "human" from the "natural" and estranges us from nature's integrity, love, and spirit, in and around us. Students complete field research and prepare case studies describing and validating the growth and development of at least eight individuals who are using nature-reconnecting techniques and prepare a scholarly paper (at least 15 double-spaced typewritten pages) discussing all aspects of the research project and the findings. [Prerequisite: ECO 541: Field Study in Integrated Ecology]
ECO 791: 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.
ECO 792: Advanced Readings in Applied Ecopsychology/ Integrated Ecology (3 credits)
In collaboration with lead faculty, students select and pursue advanced readings in integrated ecology. This course is intended to allow students to add in a significant manner to the body of knowledge in integrated ecology. A scholarly paper is required.
ECO 541 Participatory Research Techniques for Applied Ecopsychology/ Integrated Ecology (3 credits)
Students will investigate the available literature on participatory research techniques. This may include readings in the literature pertaining to implementing system-transforming innovations (Bushe and Shani), participatory action research in the workplace (Whyte), reflection in action (Schon), reframing organizational culture (Frost, et. al.) and self-reliant initiative (Fals-Borda), as well as other qualitative and action science methodologies. Students will identify an appropriate mini-study, apply techniques from their readings, complete the study and prepare a technical paper of at least ten double-spaced typewritten pages referencing the literature and describing the value of participatory research techniques to the fields of Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated Ecology.
ECO 800: Petition for Certification in Applied Ecopsychology/Integrated Ecology (2 credit) ORGANIC PSYCHOLOGY TRACK REQUIREMENT
This course is taken during the student's final semester at IGE, Using materials, methods and questions developed by themselves and others as part of prior courses in the degree program, along with new material, the student helps design and implement procedures that validate his or her adequacy in participating in the IGE Cooperative Education process and meeting the academic challenges of the IGE Degree program. This includes asking and answering valid questions for and in a competency exam, and producing journaled, course communicated, and other forms of evidence that serve this purpose. The student prepares a short research Validation paper that documents his or her preparedness to enter the final phase of their degree program at the University of their choice. and that is accompanied by a petition that may help generate scholarship funds for his or her program completion. The paper will display the student's adequacy in using research techniques and referencing of resource materials under APA guidelines. When approved by the faculty and a voluntary student cooperative study group, this paper serves as a certification of the student's successful completion of the IGE Graduate Student Cooperative component of their degree program.
RES 890: Thesis Research (6 credits)
Participants prepare a faculty approved thesis proposal or proposal for a project in lieu of thesis as the requirement for this course. All aspects of the research project are governed by university guidelines and the research parameters of the degree field. The thesis must demonstrate mastery of a body of knowledge within the field of study which conforms to the University's standards and is expected to be a minimum of 50 double-spaced typewritten pages, conforming to an approved manual of style with proper referencing of the literature.
After you obtain information about the Project NatureConnect program from this web site by using the Navigation guide (left column), a free, helpful 15 minute discussion by phone with a faculty member is the most effecient way to customize the program to your goals.
INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION Special NGO consultant United Nations Economic and Social Council
PROJECT NATURECONNECT
Readily available, online, natural science tools
for the health of person, planet and spirit
P.O. Box 1605, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-6313 <email> www.ecopsych.com
ORGANIC ADVANCED ECOPSYCHOLOGY IN ACTION
The Natural Systems Thinking Process
Dr. Michael J. Cohen, Director
send email
All programs start with the Orientation Course contained in the book
The Web of Life Imperative.