Certificate in Conservation Psychology

Understand the perceptions and challenges facing conservation.

Integrate conservation psychology into your work in conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainability, and developing effective environmental communication and education programs. This emerging interdisciplinary field promotes a scientific approach to understanding how environmental advocates can skillfully and effectively communicate important information with the public. Human attitudes, behaviors, and values towards sustainability can vary greatly, and it’s important to understand the diverse perspectives that different subcultures have towards environmental stewardship.

This certificate is offered by AU New England.

Program Overview

Conservation Psychology is an emerging interdisciplinary field that promotes a scientific approach to understanding the reciprocal relationships of human beings with one another and the more than human world with the explicit aim of enhancing environmental and biodiversity conservation.

Through coursework, this certificate introduces students and practitioners to conservation psychology approaches and tools; builds current knowledge and skills in the arenas of conservation biology or climate and environmental science research; and offers a range of opportunities to integrate conservation psychology learning through applied skills in communication, cultural competence or program evaluation.

The certificate is ideal for people whose environmental and conservation science work requires additional skills to engage effectively in communicating with the public; for environmental education and advocacy practitioners who want to enhance their program and campaign development approaches; and as an introduction to social research for those whose research programs or questions engage them with human attitudes, values, and behavior.

Degree Requirements

Program Length:

The certificate can be completed within 32 weeks. Conservation Psychology certificate courses meet one day/week or as intensives, aligned with our current Environmental Studies’ delivery models.

Requirements

The Environmental Studies Department offers this 9-credit certificate to matriculated and non-matriculated students. Matriculated students who fulfill the requirements of a certificate will earn a dual credential along with their Master of Science. We believe that each of these certificates will add tremendous value to our students’ professional development and career opportunities.

Students complete the required courses from the Environmental Studies MS curriculum, a minimum of  one course from each of the following areas:

1. Certificate Core Requirement
   • Conservation Psychology: Theory and Practice
2. Conservation & Climate Science):
   • Earth Systems and Climate Change
   • Climate Change Resilience, Adaptation and Mitigation
   • Conservation Biology
3. Application
   • Program Evaluation for Environmental and Conservation Educators
   • Exhibit Design
   • Environmental Communication in the Digital Age
   • Diversity, Justice and Inclusion