Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Americans in the Outdoors (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 2040-02

Course: ORPT 2040-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Kinesiology & Outdoor Rec
CRN: 30979

Course Description

Examines human values, uses, and management of natural settings at the individual, community, and societal levels. Topics include psychological responses to nature, history of U.S. Park and natural resource management, environmental sociology and politics, and nature in non-Western cultures. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None General Education Category: Humanities

Required Texts

There is no required text for this class. All readings will be in PDF format and will be available on the course Canvas page. We will be reading from a variety of sources, including popular articles, book chapters, scientific reports, legal documents, and peer-reviewed articles.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
  • Use primary sources to derive evidence regarding the complexities and changes in human experience through analytical reading and critical thought. 
  • Describe how human experience is shaped by social, cultural, and historical circumstances: specifically how human societies have shaped and influenced natural systems from cultural, historical, and political perspectives. 
  • Demonstrate attentiveness to linguistic, visual, and/or audio texts when communicating meaning. 
  • Use appropriate verbal, perceptual, or imaginative skills when organizing meanings, developing a sense of self, and balancing potentially disparate values. 
  • Develop and articulate a personal outdoor ethic. To do this, you will read a variety of publications, complete regular journaling activities, and complete a photo elicitation exercise, a carbon footprint exercise, and a final reflection.
  • To achieve these outcomes you will read a variety of publications, participate in group discussions, and complete quizzes, and other course assignments related to Americans’ relationship with the outdoors.

This course is also designed to support the following Essential Learning Outcomes (ELOs):
·       Critical Thinking (ELO 4.0)
·       Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World (ELO 11.0)
·       Ethical Reasoning (ELO 6.0)

Course Requirements

This class will be an in person, face to face class with an expectation that students will arrive ready to engage in the material for that day. Classes will be a combination of lectures, discussion, and experiential learning. Expect to be present, part of discussions, and having read all required material for the day based on the schedule. In case you weren't aware, SUU policy is that one credit hour is about 45 hours of work, so this class is like 3 weeks at a full time job with a little overtime! About 1/3 of those hours are our in-class time, so that means the other 2/3 (about 90 hours) is up to you. Expect to spend 5-6ish hours out-of-class time a week to be fully successful in this class (that will include reading, writing, discussions, quizzes, assignments, and thinking about this class while you're out on a trail). You can do it, but there is work involved. 

3-2-1 Reading Quizzes (5 pts. each): You will submit a short response assignment to the assigned readings.  Tell me 3 things you learned or stood out; provide 2 questions for clarification or discussion; and 1 piece of feedback.

Journal (10 pts. each I will occasionally start class with a relevant quote, table, figure, photo, etc. and provide you with a few moments to write a response. Please keep a separate notebook for the journaling exercise. Journals will be collected three times throughout the semester. You are certainly welcome to write more than the “quote quiz” responses, but I will be looking to see that you have provided some thoughtful response to or reflection on each week’s selection.

Photo Elicitation Exercise (50 pts.): Share a photograph and narrative that you feel addresses the theme of Americans in the Outdoors (a human-nature link).

Key Figure Paper (75 pts.): You will pick an important figure in the outdoors/environmental movement and write a paper about that person's role and influence. This could be a historic figure such as Teddy Roosevelt or a modern figure such as Deb Haaland. This paper should be 3-4 pages long and include a bibliography of your sources. 

Carbon Footprint Exercise (50 pts.): Calculate your carbon footprint and prepare a short reflection paper.

Issue Paper (150 pts. total): You will select an environmental issue that interests you and examine multiple perspectives related to that issue. You will turn in a topic summary and abstract; complete an annotated bibliography and synthesis matrix; and write a 6-8 page paper summarizing your findings and critiquing the arguments presented.

Reflection (150 pts.): Now that you have learned the various ways in which Americans and the Great Outdoors interact with and affect one another, prepare something that describes your personal outdoor attitudes and ethic. It can be an essay, a creative writing piece, a work or art, or take any other form.

Professionalism (100 pts.): Developing professionalism is as important in your education as learning the information and practices of your field. Professional expectations for this course include: 
·       Attendance: attending class meetings and trips; arriving on-time
·       Preparation: being adequately prepared for class activities by completing assigned readings, bringing appropriate equipment and materials, etc.
·       Follow-through: fulfilling commitments and completing work in a thorough and attentive manner
·       Participation and Expedition Behavior: meaningful participation and modeling good expedition behavior
·       Appropriate use of technology
·       Professional communication in email and other modes of communication
A final professionalism grade will be assigned at the end of the semester based on your performance on these criteria over the course of the semester.

Course Outline

Week 1: Course Introduction
Week 2: Public Lands Philosophy & Psychology
Week 3: The Park Service & Forest Service
Week 4: Yellowstone & The Railroad
Week 5: Teddy & Franklin Roosevelt's Conservation
Week 6: Wilderness & Wildness
Week 7: The Environmental Movement
Week 8: Value of Nature
Week 9: The Trouble With Wilderness
Week 10: Reintroduction of Wolves
Week 11: Managing Nature
Week 12: Tragedy of the Commons
Week 13: Holiday Break
Week 14: Review & Synopsis

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

All assignments are due by the date/time listed in the class schedule. Late assignments will be accepted but not for full credit. In general, late work will be penalized 5 points for each day it is late (including weekends and holidays).

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is required at all class meetings. The word attend not only means “to be present”, but also shares the root with the word “attention”. This means attendance is expected both in body and in spirit. Points may be deducted from your final grade for not attending class, but also for not being engaged while in class.  Excused absence from class should be due to: 
1.     Sickness: please do not come to class if you are sick. Pandemic or not, spreading germs is not a good idea. 
2.     Emergencies: please let me know your reason via email or text so I may note it. If you wait until the next class to let me know why you were absent, it will be marked as unexcused.
3.     Extra-curricular activities: Other classes or sports will occasionally require your absence. Please give me at least one weeks notice if you will miss due to an extracurricular activity.
4.     Note: having to work at your job is not an excuse for being absent from class. Please plan your work schedule around the class schedule. If work is hurting your studies, let’s find a solution that allows you to focus on learning.

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.