Teaching

We offer several courses focused on various human dimensions of natural resources. These courses include 100-level, which involve hands-on, field-based learning; courses for upperclassmen on social-psychology, collaboration, and interpretation/communication; and graduate courses on human dimensions research and methods. View the course schedule on the UM web site.

Current Courses

 

PTRM 300: Recreation Behavior

This course provides an understanding of recreation behavior in wildland and nature-based tourism oriented settings. Students will learn about theories/conceptual frameworks from social and environmental psychology and their application to visitor management issues in the wildland recreation and nature-base tourism fields. 

PTRM 300 Syllabus

NRSM 379: Collaboration in Natural Resource Decisions

This course explores theories and methods used by natural resource professionals to engage stakeholders in natural resource decision-making processes. In addition to understanding the sciences, professionals must know how to facilitate dialogue and create outcomes embraced by stakeholders. This course will prepare students to successfully participate in and lead decision-making processes that purposefully incorporate diverse interests to address complex natural resource issues.

NRSM 379 Syllabus

NRSM 121: Environmental Science & Sustainability

The course will provide a foundation for students to understand the dynamics of human relationships with the environment.  It will offer a unique combination of material covering environmental ethics, ecological processes, natural history, and current social conflicts regarding human uses of natural resources.  It will use the ecology of western Montana and topical issues in resource management as focal points for learning.

NRSM 121 syllabus

NRSM 574: Human Dimensions of Natural Resources

This course will provide graduate students with an understanding of multiple perspectives in human dimensions of natural resources. The course is intended to be broad in nature in order to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the topics. Students will read and discuss foundational pieces by Orr and Leopold (among others) and explore newer readings on current research. The course will cover social psychological and sociological perspectives and discuss key issues such as scale, multidisciplinary research, sustainability and social diversity in natural resources. Students will be challenged to approach natural resources issues from multiple perspectives, not just the perspective they are most familiar with. Students will be able to communicate effectively among social scientists and be able to integrate diverse perspectives. 

NRSM 574 Syllabus

WILD 291: Human Dimensions of Wildlife

This course provides a foundational understanding of multiple perspectives in human dimensions of wildlife and will explore the interactions natural resource professional have with stakeholders. The course is intended to be broad in nature to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the topics. Students will be challenged to approach human dimensions of wildlife issues from multiple perspectives.