EDUC-3310 The Natural Environment & Well-Being

The course introduces students to the benefits of natural environments on human health and well- being. Topics of study include the historical and cultural traditions of human's connections to nature, theoretical frameworks and mechanisms of human/nature connections, implementation of interdisciplinary research agendas, as well as implications for education, health policy, and urban planning. A significant portion of the course will take place in the field, where students will explore local and regional parks, nature-based educational settings, and the practice of forest therapy. While most field work will take place during the 3-hour course time frame, there will be one full-day field trip required, plus additional local field work completed in small groups outside of class time.