Courses in Environmental Communication

This page lists links to descriptions or syllabi for post-secondary courses in environmental communication.

To request a new listing or update an existing listing, please complete the course listing request form and then email it to Mark Meisner at mmeisner@esf.edu. Thanks for your help.

Undergraduate Courses
Graduate Courses
Related Links

Undergraduate Courses

California State University Channel Islands Instructor: Trudy Milburn • course web page	COMM/ESRM 440 - Environmental Communication
California State University Channel Islands Instructor: Tracylee Clarke • syllabus (PDF)	COMM/ESRM/POLS 450 - Environmental Conflict Resolution This course provides practical experience in negotiation and mediation techniques within the context of complex environmental and public policy disputes. We will discuss theories of public policy dispute resolution, various processes and the necessary techniques to solve complex, interdisciplinary issues. This is a hands-on course with simulated role-plays based on real-world conflicts.
Central Connecticut State University Instructor: Ben Tyson • syllabus (text)	COMM 495 - Strategic Environmental Communication
Colorado State University Instructor: Cara Marie DiEnno • syllabus (PDF)	NR 400 - Public Relations in Natural Resources The purpose of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of public relations principles as they can be applied to natural resource issues. Through exposure to communication theory as well as real world examples, students develop an understanding of the ways in which public relations can be utilized to convey natural resource and environmental issues to diverse audiences. Additionally, students are encouraged to cast a critical eye on the use of public relations techniques including the ethical and legal responsibilities of PR, the growing use of greenwashing, and how students themselves are impacted by PR messages on a daily basis.
Colorado State University Instructor: Jessica Thompson • syllabus (PDF)	NRRT 360 - Group Decision Making in Natural Resources This course is designed to provide an overview of communication processes involved in small group interactions and collaborative decision making related to natural resources and natural resource management. We will focus on theoretical and practical applications of group dynamics, decision making, and problem solving related to natural resources. We'll balance time spent discussing material from the readings and practicing it with interactive class activities. The primary goal is to develop competencies for future group decision-making experiences through (1) exposure to theory, (2) engaging group processes, and (3) identifying and evaluating behaviors that facilitate and/or impede group decision-making processes.
Colorado State University Instructor: Jessica Thompson • syllabus (PDF)	NRRT 362 - Environmental Conflict Management This course has been designed to aid your development of theoretical, critical and practical approaches to negotiation and conflict management related to natural resources. This class will provide you with skills to increase your ability to perform well in conflict situations and help to manage conflict in organizational contexts. This course will provide students with a safe and supportive environment in which to learn more about different styles of handling conflict and help determine which approaches and skills are the most productive for the individual and various scenarios.
Colorado State University Instructor: Jessica Thompson • syllabus (PDF)	NRRT 462 - Environmental Communication in Natural Resources Human beings experience and understand the natural world through communication. We use various communication channels, modes, and messages to make sense of the world around us. We will investigate theories, research and applications of environmental communication through service-learning projects and the primary example of communicating climate change. There are two primary goals for this course: (1) provide an in-depth exploration of the many theoretical, methodological, and applied aspects of environmental communication and (2) put those understandings into action with the creation of an environmental communication campaign related to communicating global climate change.
Colorado State University Instructor: Brett Bruyere • syllabus (PDF)	NRRT 463 - NGOs and Conservation In this course, students will assess the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs, non-profit organizations) in the conservation and preservation of our natural resources. These roles can include land ownership and stewardship, education, advocacy, technical assistance and others. NGOs come in many shapes and sizes, from world-wide multi-million dollar organizations (e.g., Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund) to small organizations run entirely by volunteers with minimal budgets.
George Mason University Instructor: Star Muir • course web page	COMM 433 - Environmental Communication
Houston Baptist University Instructor: Marie Mater • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 4292 - Environmental Communication
Illinois State University Instructor: Jeffrey L. Courtright • syllabus (PDF)	COM 274 - Environmental Communication
Indiana University Instructor: Phaedra Pezzullo • syllabus (PDF)	C406 - Public Advocacy: U.S. Environmental Movements
James Madison University Instructor: Pete Bsumek • course web page	SCOM 354 - Communication, Environment and Environmentalism
Loyola University Instructor: Bob Thomas • course web page	CMMN A370 - Environmental Communications
Loyola University Instructor: Bob Thomas • course web page	CMMN A371 - Covering the Environmental Beat
Loyola University Instructor: Bob Thomas • course web page	CMMN A496 - Management and Communications of Environmental Relations
Metropolitan State University Instructor: Helen Correll • syllabus (PDF)	Writing 575 - Environmental Communications
North Carolina State University Instructor: William Kinsella • syllabus (PDF)	COM 436 - Environmental Communication Environmental communication is an area of growing interest within the communication discipline; this course provides an overview of its theoretical approaches, research literature, and practical applications. Topics include the social construction of nature, and human relationships with nature, through discourse, rhetoric, and communication practices; critical and cultural approaches to environmental discourse; communication about environmental issues in organizational, mass media, political, and international contexts; communication in environmental controversies; stakeholder dialog, and conflict; public understanding of environmental issues; public participation in environmental decision-making; expert-public-government dialog; environmental risk communication; communication in environmental advocacy, deliberation, and public relations contexts.
North Dakota State University Instructor: Mark Meister • syllabus (text)	SPCM/MCOM 320 - Environmental Communication Analysis
Northern Arizona University Instructor: Lea Parker • course web page	COM 150 - Environmental Communication
Northern Arizona University Instructor: Lea Parker • course web page	COM 250 - Environmental Perspectives on Communication Arts
Northern Arizona University Instructor: Lea Parker • course web page	JLS 440 - Environmental Research and Reporting
Northern Arizona University Instructor: Brant Short • syllabus (PDF)	SC 365 - Communication and Contemporary Affairs
Oregon State University Instructor: Gregg Walker • course web page	COMM 412/512 - Environmental Conflict Resolution
Rutgers University Instructor: Andrew Pleasant • course web page	17:17:45 - Environment and health in society and the mass media
Rutgers University Instructor: Andrew Pleasant • course web page	17:19:25 - Environmental Communication
Rutgers University Instructor: Andrew Pleasant • course web page	17:21:15 - Communication in the Life Sciences
Rutgers University Instructor: Andrew Pleasant • course web page	17:21:16 - Health literacy: Empowerment for better health
San José State University Instructor: Dennis Jaehne • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 146 - Communication and the Environment
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Instructor: Susan Senecah • course web page	CMN 493 - Environmental Communication Workshop Three hours of cooperative learning activities, lecture and discussion per week. A workshop format on a specified environmental program or issue introduces the theories and skills of alternative dispute resolution approaches, public participation structures and dynamics, public policy decision making and implementation, risk communication, leadership styles, and small group dynamics.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Instructor: Mark Meisner • course web page • syllabus (PDF)	EST 245 - Nature and Popular Culture The environmental crisis is also a crisis of culture and meaning. What does our society value? What does Nature mean to us? Permeating this crisis are the dominant ideologies of 20th century Western thought, anthropocentrism and consumerism. These are often expressed though the artifacts and texts of popular culture. Focusing on the expression of these ideologies in everyday life, this course provides a familiar way for students to engage with the deeper issues raised by environmental degradation. A range of popular culture phenomena will be explored, including advertising, nature shows, tourism, parks, zoos, fashion, feature films, food, cars, and lawns.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Instructor: Mark Meisner • course web page • syllabus (PDF)	EST 393 - Environmental Discourse and Communication The course considers the relationship between discourse and nature by exploring the scope and character of a wide range of public discourses around environmental affairs. Combining theoretical material with examples, it addresses the following topics: the cultural and social contexts of environmental discourse; the social construction of nature and environmental issues; theories of communication; approaches to the analysis of a variety of forms of environmental discourse; and the representation of nature and environmental issues in a variety of fora covering a range of environmental viewpoints. Emphasis is on the analysis and understanding of the rhetoric of environmental texts.
Tufts University Instructor: Julian Agyeman • syllabus (PDF)	UEP 294A - Environmental Communication and Education
Univeristy of Montana Instructor: Steve Schwarze • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 377/EVST 377 - Rhetoric, Nature and Environmentalism
Univeristy of Southern Maine Instructor: Travis Wagner • syllabus (PDF)	ESP 203 - Environmental Communication
University College of the Cariboo Instructor: Shawn Thompson • syllabus (html)	JRL 315 - Media issues II: Scientific and Environmental Media Issues
University of Cincinnati Instructor: Steve Depoe • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 467 - Environmental Communication
University of Idaho Instructor: Troy Hall • course web page	CSS 387 - Environmental Commucation Skills
University of North Carolina Instructor: Cindy Spurlock • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 375 - Environmental Advocacy: Communication, Conservation, and Community in Theory and Practice
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Instructor: Robert Cox • syllabus (PDF)	Communication Studies 175/ENST 175 - Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere
University of Texas at El Paso Instructor: Stacy Sowards • syllabus (PDF)	Communication 4350 - Environmental Communication
University of Washington Instructor: Michele Poff • syllabus (PDF)	COM/ENVIR 418 - Communications and the Environment This course examines the role of the mass media in environmental communication and how that influences public opinion on environmental issues. Students conduct original research, examining mass media output on a single environmental issue from sources representing two different ideologies (e.g. liberal/conservative, US/UK, US/Australia, etc.). Goals are to recognize a) our environmental views are constructed by mass media; b) specific ideological perspectives will present environmental views consistent with those ideologies, suggesting that environmental perspectives are ideologically driven; c) public opinion results from mass media representations of the environment; d) social movement tensions result from diverse values and ideological perspectives in play.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Instructor: Adrian Ivakhiv • syllabus (PDF)	Environmental Studies 272 - Environment, Communication, and Culture

To request a new listing or update an existing listing, please complete the course listing request form and then email it to Mark Meisner at mmeisner@esf.edu. Thanks for your help.

Graduate Courses

Duke University Instructor: Brian Day • course web page	- Environmental Communication for Behavior Change (Online course)
Florida State University Instructor: Andrew Opel • course web page	Com 6400-02 - Media, Culture and the Environment
Metropolitan State University Instructor: Helen Correll • syllabus (PDF)	Writing 575G - Environmental Communications
North Carolina State University Instructor: William Kinsella • syllabus (PDF)	COM 536 - Seminar in Environmental Communication Environmental communication is an area of growing interest within the communication discipline; this course provides an overview of its theoretical approaches, research literature, and practical applications. Topics include the social construction of nature, and human relationships with nature, through discourse, rhetoric, and communication practices; critical and cultural approaches to environmental discourse; communication about environmental issues in organizational, mass media, political, and international contexts; communication in environmental controversies; stakeholder dialog, and conflict; public understanding of environmental issues; public participation in environmental decision-making; expert-public-government dialog; environmental risk communication; communication in environmental advocacy, deliberation, and public relations contexts.
Northern Arizona University Instructor: Brant Short • syllabus (html)	COM 698 - Seminar in Communication Theory
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Instructor: Susan Senecah • course web page	EST 608 - Environmental Advocacy Campaigns and Conflict Resolution Addresses complex dynamics, strategies, and tactics of 1) organized campaigns by grassroots to international organizations to advocate for particular environmental policy and 2) processes that seek to resolve, manage, or prevent environmental conflicts when appropriate. Readings, simulations, projects, and case study analysis.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Instructor: Mark Meisner • course web page • syllabus (PDF)	EST 645 - Mass Media and Environmental Affairs This course is an exploration of the role of the mass media, especially the news media, in environmental affairs. It introduces students to both a critical sociological perspective on the media and research on media and the environment. It considers the relationships between the media industry, media messages, and the audiences for media texts. Includes material on the history of media coverage of environmental issues, interest group politics and the media, the media's construction of nature and environmental problems, and the impact of environmental media coverage on audiences and policy-makers.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Instructor: Mark Meisner • course web page • syllabus (PDF)	EST 696 - Climate Change: Science, Perception and Policy This course introduces students to the challenges posed by climate change through an exploration of the scientific, economic, policy, and communicative dimensions of the issue. The course will cover topics such as the current state of scientific knowledge about climate change, the role of the media in shaping public opinion on the issue, competing discourses of climate change, risk and uncertainty in decision-making, costs and benefits of different types of policies, the Kyoto protocol and other policy initiatives, and actions being taken to address the issue. Co-taught by Syracuse University and ESF faculty in law, economics/public administration, earth science, and environmental studies.
Univeristy of Montana Instructor: Steve Schwarze • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 595/EVST 595 - Rhetoric and Environmental Controversy
University of Cincinnati Instructor: Steve Depoe • syllabus (PDF)	COMM 801 - Advanced Rhetorical Theory: Environmental Communication
University of New Mexico Instructor: Tema Milstein • course web page • syllabus (PDF)	C&J 512 - EcoCulture: Humans and "the Environment" This course explores cultural and communicative ways that humanity informs, shapes, and shifts relations with "the environment." Following extant scholarship, the course situates human-nature relations as both actively socially constructed and as deeply and materially experienced. As learners, through readings, discussion, field study, and research, we explore how: 1) Cultural and communication processes and contexts inform, construct, and produce perceptions of and actions toward nature; 2) Cultural and communication research can be used to deconstruct and critically investigate dominant and alternative understandings of nature. The learning focus in this course is on student-driven creative and critical exploration and discussion, as well as out-of-the-classroom group field experiences.
University of Texas at El Paso Instructor: Stacy Sowards • syllabus (PDF)	Communication 5332 - Environmental Communication
University of Wisconsin-Madison Instructor: Sharon Dunwoody • course web page	ES 860 - Science and Environmental Communication This graduate-level readings course is for students seeking professional or research training and who are interested in science and environment communication. It will tackle a set of issues and content areas important to both professional and scholarly worlds and will ask you to evaluate them through the lens of science and environmental communication scholarship and informed commentary. The major goals of the effort are to share with you the latest scholarly literature in this area and, ultimately, to help you become more introspective about the process of enhancing public interaction with science and environmental issues.

To request a new listing or update an existing listing, please complete the course listing request form and then email it to Mark Meisner at mmeisner@esf.edu. Thanks for your help.