Course Overview

In this course, students learn thories and practices in decision making in diverse environmental issues ranging from natural resources utlization, pollution control and natural conservation based on economics, psychology and applied behavioral science. Students first learn theoretical backgrounds of environmental decision making and then different cases of environmental decision making at different levels such as individuals and households, groups (i.e., schools, offices), societies (i.e., communities, cities) and policies (i.e., countries, regions, global). Toward the end of the course, students discuss how to encourage pro-environmental behavioral change and decision making.

Learning Achievement

This course aims to nurture students' understanding to theories and practices in environmental decision making at individual, group, societal and policy levels from the viewpoints of economics, psychology and pro-environmental studies.

Competence

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

Class participation (by participating in Q&A and discussion on class channel) 20%, interim paper 30%, term-end paper 50%

Course schedule

What is environmental psychology and environmental decision making?: Theoretical understanding from economics, psychology and pro-environmental behavior studies
Environmental decision making at individual and household levels (1) Economic and institutional factors
Environmental decision making at individual and household levels (2) Psychological factors
Environmental decision making at the group level
Environmental decision making at the societal level (1) Communities and cities
Q&A and discussion
Environmental decision making in policies (1) Balancing economic and environmental sustainability
Environmental decision making in policies (2) International environmental management
Interventions and policies to encourage pro-environmental behavior: Case studies
Q&A, discussion, and wrap-up

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Kaida Naoko

Other information

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university