Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Environmental Psychology (Online)

PSY 3500-30I

Course: PSY 3500-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSY
CRN: 30791

Course Description

Environmental psychology examines the interaction between the person and the environment. Topic areas range from the very broad (such as weather, climate and sustainability) to the very specific (interior design alternatives for different behavior settings). Many diverse, interdisciplinary areas of research and theoretical perspectives have emerged since this area of psychology was formulated in the 1960's. Human (and non-human) behavior is greatly affected by specific attributes of the physical environment. In addition, we have found that human behavior has dramatic impacts on the physical environment as well. A transactional approach will be the focus of study this semester, as we examine human and non-human behavior in natural and built environments.

Required Texts

REQUIRED
  1. Eggers, D. (2010). Zeitoun. New York: Vintage Press.
  2. Williams, F. (2017). The Nature Fix. New York: W. W. Norton.
  3. Various articles posted on Canvas
OPTIONAL
  1. Bell, et al., Environmental Psychology, 5th edition.

Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes specific to environmental psychology

By the end of the course, students are expected to understand:

  • the historical foundations and classic studies of environmental psychology.
  • how the physical environment affects behavior.
  • how human behavior affects the physical environment.
  • the importance of the environment when examining the past, present, and future.
Course Learning OutcomesCourse Assessment/EvaluationsCourse Assessment/EvaluationsCourse Assessment/Evaluations
Course Learning OutcomesExamsWritten ExpressionAssignments
Knowledge of the Physical and Natural WorldXXX
Critical ThinkingXXX
Personal and social responsibilityXX
CommunicationX
Teamwork
Information and Digital LiteracyXXX
Inquiry and AnalysisXXX
Integrative and Applied LearningXX

Course Requirements

Course Grading: Overall course grades will be determined based on performance in the following areas:
Exams | 150 points
Class Assignments | 50
Response Papers | 50
Total | 250 points

Evaluation: Grades will be determined using a traditional scale (where 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D). Plus and minus grades will be used in this course.

Exams
Exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions pulled from class materials (lectures, readings, videos, etc.). The exams are not cumulative. There are three exams throughout the semester. Exams will be completed on Canvas. Each exam is worth 50 points.

Response Papers
Two short response papers are required for completion of the course, based on the books from class, Zeitoun and The Nature Fix. While these are not APA style research papers, they should be written using 1” margins, double spaced, and in 12-point font. These papers are not meant to be book reports, instead you should go beyond merely describing facts and include your personal insights and reactions to specific material/events/concepts/topics covered in the book. Be sure to relate the material to specific areas of person-environment relationships discussed in class. Finally, what research related ideas come to mind? Conclude your response papers by proposing future directions in research based on the material you have covered in the paper. Each response paper should be 2-3 pages in length. The response paper for Zeitoun is due Oct 26, 2025. The response paper for The Nature Fix is due Dec 7, 2025.

Class Exercises
Numerous experiential assignments coinciding with topics currently under discussion will be given throughout the semester. These assignments will typically be worth 5-10 points each. Points earned in excess of 50 will be treated as bonus points.

Course Outline

Class Topic and Reading Schedule
Week ofTopicReading
Aug 27History of Environmental PsychologyThoreau, Muir
Sept 2Land Management and Historical ResearchersChief Seattle, Stegner, Abbey
Sept 8Place AttachmentT. T. Williams
Sept 15Environmental Ethics and BehaviorEthics readings
Sep 22-24First Exam Available on Canvas
Sept 29Weather, Temperature, AltitudeBegin Eggers; Psych of Weather
Oct 6Climate Change and BehaviorPsy Climate Change
Oct 13The Psychology of DisastersFinish Eggers
Oct 20-22Second Exam Available on Canvas
Oct 26Response Paper on Zeitoun Due
Oct 27Environmental Assessment; BiophiliaWilliams–Part I
Nov 3Environmental Perception and Cognition; SoundscapesWilliams — Part II
Nov 10Happiness, Walking, and Well BeingWilliams — Part III
Nov 17Wilderness, Creativity, AweWilliams — Part IV
Nov 17Children and NatureLouv; Nabhan and Trimble
Nov 24Thanksgiving Break
Dec 1Sustainability; Changing the Way We Do ThingsWilliams—Part V
Dec 7Response Paper on The Nature Fix Due
Dec 8-11Final Exam Available on Canvas

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Make-up exams and due-date extensions for papers and assignments are only allowed for those with an academic accommodation.  Any accommodations and academic adjustments needed to successfully complete the course are administered by the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center, (435) 865-8042.

Be sure to save assignments frequently and submit them early; technology lapses are not generally accepted as an excuse for late assignments unless there is a widespread system outage documented by the SUU IT department.

Attendance Policy

This is an online asynchronous course.  There are no formal class meetings at pre-scheduled times. It is up to you to stay current on class activities and materials by checking Canvas every week.  The course is organized using the Modules function in Canvas. Class materials for each week can be found within each weekly module. These materials include presentation slides with audio lectures, assignments, and additional readings.

Course Fees

There are no additional fees for this course.

Course Modality and Technology Requirements

This is an online asynchronous course. There are no formal class meetings at pre-scheduled times. It is up to you to stay current on class activities and materials by checking Canvas every week. The course is organized using the Modules function in Canvas. Class materials for each week can be found within each weekly module. These materials include presentation slides with audio lectures, assignments, and additional readings.

For success in this course, you will need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection through the entire length of the semester. Be sure to save assignments frequently and submit them early; technology lapses are not generally accepted as an excuse for late assignments unless there is a widespread system outage documented by the SUU IT department. It is also important you feel comfortable using Canvas and are knowledgeable about assignment submission. Using Google Drive is a great way to store assignments in-progress. However please download and submit these as a Word or PDF document so I can grade them using the Canvas grading tools.

I hope you will find the topics in this course as fascinating as I do! This is an amazing field with many opportunities and a diverse array of applications to our lives. I have structured the course to try and fit the online experience by having you complete assignments in different places. Please know the books you will be reading and the information we will be covering are just the tip of the iceberg! I will provide additional readings and content for you to explore, but if you would like still more, please do not hesitate to ask.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.