Conservation Social Sciences

Catalog description

This course provides an overview of social science concepts and research important to the conservation and management of wildlife and natural resources. The course will introduce students to the social, psychological, and economic underpinnings of human dimensions research, and specific approaches used to change human behaviors to improve conservation outcomes. Some of the approaches covered in the course include economic incentives, behavioral nudges, and community-based conservation. Additionally, the course will provide an overview of the methods used by conservation social scientists including participatory, qualitative, and quantitative methods. Students will be challenged to approach human dimensions issues from multiple perspectives. The concepts covered about human dimensions will be relevant to a broad audience interested in environmental and natural resource conservation, management, and stewardship.