Conservation Social Sciences Courses
CSS 200 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
CSS 203 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
CSS 204 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
CSS 235 Society and Natural Resources (3 cr)
See For 235.
CSS 287 Foundations of Conservation Leadership and Management (3 cr)
Overview of conservation leadership and management from a political, economic, behavioral, and land use management perspective; philosophical, theoretical, historical, and managerial foundations of conservation as they relate to societal trends. Overview of applied communication methods necessary for the successful management of natural resources as well as an introduction to applied public involvement. Recommended Preparation: NR 101. (Fall only)
CSS 299 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
CSS 304 Conservation Social Sciences Field Studies (3 cr)
Field site evaluation of conservation and social science cases. One hundred and twenty hours of instruction during a 12-day field excursion during summer session; pre- and post-visit written and oral assignments; special fee assessed. (Summer only)
CSS 310 Social Research Methods in Conservation (4 cr)
Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches to studying social aspects of conservation and the environment; how to choose and apply selective research methods; design, collection, and statistical analysis of primary and secondary data; program evaluation; reporting results; interpreting research literature; lab exercises in research design, data collection, and analysis; and the communication of research issues and findings to lay and professional audiences. Special fee assessed. Three lec and 2 hrs of lab a wk. Recommended Preparation: Basic computer skills. (Fall only)
Prereq: Stat 251
CSS 364 Politics of the Environment (3 cr)
See PolS 364.
CSS WS381 Hospitality Leadership and Organizational Behavior (3 cr)
Same as Rec 382. Focusing on interpersonal skills and group dynamics; covers key hospitality leadership and management issues
CSS 385 Conservation Management and Planning I (4 cr)
Intro to theory, processes, and techniques for the management and planning of conservation systems including conservation organizations, natural areas, and their uses; focuses on resource and user management programs and techniques such as programming, budgeting, financing, contracting, and personnel management processes as well as conservation planning processes including operational, strategic, and long-range planning for natural sites and larger landscapes. A required 2-day field trip, collaborative group projects and a Service-Learning project are required. (Fall only)
Prereq: Junior or Senior standing
CSS 386 Conservation Management and Planning II (4 cr)
Advanced theory, processes, and techniques for the management and planning of conservation systems including conservation organizations, natural areas, and their uses; focuses on resource and user management programs and techniques such as programming, budgeting, financing, contracting, and personnel management processes, as well as conservation planning processes including operational, strategic, and long-range planning for natural sites and larger landscapes. A required 2-day field trip, collaborative group projects and a Service-Learning project are required. (Spring only)
Prereq: CSS 385 and Junior or Senior standing; or Permission
CSS 387 Environmental Communication Skills (3 cr)
Introduction to communications skills in the context of natural resources, including environmental and cultural interpretation; communication psychology and media applied to noncaptive audiences in natural resource situations. Field trip may be required. Special fee assessed.
Prereq: CSS 287 or Permission
CSS 398 (s) Internship (cr arr)
CSS 400 (s) Seminar (cr arr)
CSS 401 (s) Practicum in Tutoring (1-3 cr, max 3)
Tutorial services performed by advanced students under faculty supervision. Graded P/F.
CSS 403 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
CSS 404 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
CSS 462 Natural Resource Policy (3 cr)
Same as PolS 462. Political and institutional context for making natural resource policy; emphasis on interaction between private and public sectors and the federal, state, and tribal governments, including an examination of topical issues in natural resource politics.
CSS 481 Conservation Leadership (3 cr)
Generates essential understanding, insight, and skills into leadership of political and organizational systems designed to conserve natural resources. Field trip may be required. (Spring only)
CSS 483 Senior Project Presentation (1 cr)
See For 483.
CSS 485 Ecology and Conservation Biology Senior Project (1-3 cr, max 3)
See WLF 485.
CSS 486 Public Involvement in Natural Resource Management (3 cr)
Theoretical and applied concepts of public involvement in both public and private sectors of natural resource management; historical and legal mandates, government agency responsibilities, applied methods and techniques, case studies, and practical experience. Three lec and three hrs of lab a wk; field trip may be reqd. (Spring only)
CSS 487 Environmental Education (3 cr)
Concept and techniques of environmental education with emphasis on informal education settings such as residential and day-use environmental education centers, nature centers, visitor centers. Field trip may be required. (Spring only)
CSS 489 Personalities and Philosophies in Conservation (3 cr)
Lives and thinking of people who have significantly influenced conservation practice including issues of communication, public involvement, environmental education and environmental interpretation. (Spring only)
CSS 490 Wilderness and Protected Area Management (3 cr)
Historical and legal aspects of the wilderness and protected area concepts; conceptual and applied approaches, considering both ecological and sociological elements; recent research. (Spring, alt/yrs)
CSS 491 Wilderness Leadership for Personal Growth (3 cr)
Diverse approaches used in wilderness experience programs, theoretical bases for different approaches, and hands-on experience with soft skills approaches to wilderness experience. Three field trips.
CSS 493 International Land Preservation and Conservation Systems (3 cr)
Same as LAS 493. An examination of international approaches to land preservation and conservation; comparative analysis of philosophies, methods of implementation (Parks, Biosphere Reserves, RAMSAR sites, etc.), and associated issues and concerns with these social interventions; ramifications of conservation practices for biophysical and social systems. Field trip may be required. (Spring only)
CSS 496 Monitoring Impacts in Protected Areas and Wilderness (3 cr)
Theoretical and applied concepts of identifying, measuring, and monitoring changes in wilderness and protected area ecosystems caused by human influences, including recreation use, management practices, and both on-site and off-site development. Field trips may be reqd. (Spring, alt/yrs)
CSS 498 (s) Internship (cr arr)
CSS 499 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
For the individual student; conferences, library, field, or lab work.
Prereq: Senior standing, GPA 2.5, and Permission
CSS 500 Master's Research and Thesis (cr arr)
CSS 501 (s) Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Society and Natural Resources (cr arr)
Major philosophy, management, and research problems of wildlands; presentation of individual studies on assigned topics.
CSS 502 (s) Directed Study (cr arr)
CSS 503 (s) Workshop (cr arr)
Selected topics in the conservation and management of natural resources.
CSS 504 (s) Special Topics (cr arr)
CSS 505 (s) Professional Development (cr arr)
Credit earned in 505 will not be accepted toward graduate degree programs.
CSS 506 Fundamentals of Research (4 cr)
Research approaches, designs, and methods as applied in natural resources, leisure, and tourism professions. (Fall only)
Prereq: Basic Statistics
CSS 510 Applications of Communication Theory in Natural Resource Management (3 cr)
Examination of communication theories and their applications in sustainable natural resource management; emphasis on social psychological approaches to understanding persuasive communication and applications in environmental interpretation and education, marketing, and sustainable development. (Alt/yrs)
CSS 560 Community Ecology for Env. Educators (3 cr)
Cover plant and animal community ecology from both a qualitative and quantitative perspective. Topics will include: community interaction of plants and animals; community dynamics, succession, and disturbance; basic data collection and statistical analysis of habitat association data; and the effect of abiotic factors on community structure. (Fall only)
CSS 561 Ecological Inquiry for Environmental Educators (2 cr)
Address basic ecological concepts and natural resource management issues in the local ecosystem. Emphasis will be placed on developing critical thinking skills and exploring the effects of resource management policy and actions. Course direction will involve moving from a "known facts" way of thinking into the realm of questioning and evaluating the effects of human management of the system. Offered at the McCall Field Campus. (Spring only)
CSS 562 Field Science Teaching (2 cr)
Address basic natural history concepts for instructors involved in experiential environmental education with students 12 to 18 years old. Field activities, readings, and instructor modeling of teaching techniques will be included in the format of the course. The course will focus on how to engage each student to learn ecological principles and apply them in a field teaching setting. (Fall only)
CSS 563 Place Based Env. Education (3 cr)
Educating students so that they have the skills and knowledge base in order to begin to understand the human and natural environment in which they live is a complicated endeavor. This course is designed to provide a foundation of educational pedagogy, a survey of place-based literature in areas critical to this educational endeavor, and opportunities for personal and professional application. (Fall only)
CSS 565 Advanced Instructional Strategies in Environmental Education (3 cr)
Expand on student knowledge of the components of lesson planning (thematic statements, goals, performance objectives, assessment, and state standards) and take lesson planning to a more sophisticated level, to introduce forms of authentic assessment, to increase student familiarity of the variety and quality of Env. Ed. curricula, and to explore various theories on learning and student development, to understand how they relate to lesson planning and teaching students. (Spring only)
CSS 567 Environmental Education Teaching Practicum I (2 cr)
The teaching practicum is an opportunity to improve teaching methods and techniques and expand professional skills under the guidance of mentors at a residential environmental learning center. Teaching in a residential environmental learning center consists of classroom lectures and demonstrations with groups up to 30, as well as field teaching groups of 8 to 10. (Fall only)
CSS 568 Environmental Education Teaching Practicum II (1-2 cr)
The teaching practicum is an opportunity to improve teaching methods and techniques and expand professional skills under the guidance of mentors at a residential environmental learning center. Teaching in a residential environmental learning center consists of classroom lectures and demonstrations with groups up to 30, as well as field teaching groups of 8 to 10. (Spring only)
CSS 569 Environmental Education Teaching Practicum III (2 cr)
The teaching practicum is an opportunity to improve teaching methods and techniques and expand professional skills under the guidance of Teton Science School staff. Teaching at the Teton Science School consists of classroom lectures and demonstrations with groups up to 30, as well as field teaching groups of 8 to 10. (Spring Only)
CSS 572 Human Dimensions of Restoration Ecology (3 cr)
An in-depth investigation of multi‑dimensional human considerations, including economic, social, and cultural values and the role they play in maintaining, restoring, or sustaining ecosystems. Explores the major premise that projects designed for the restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems and associated resources must be ecologically sound, economically viable, and socially desirable to be successful. Web course. (Spring only)
CSS 573 Planning & Decision Making for Watershed Management (3 cr)
Focus on ecological and human factors in process-oriented approaches to watershed analysis and planning for effective decision-making; emphasis on practical applications of current tools and approaches, e.g., GIS, MAU Theory, collaborative management. (Fall only)
CSS 575 Leadership for the Environmental Educator (2 cr)
Addresses basic outdoor leadership theory and practice for instructors involved with experiential environmental education with students 12 to 18 years old. Includes a backcountry trip, class work, instructor modeling, peer feedback and reflective practice. Focuses on the individual student's understanding of leadership theory and ability to put theory into practice as a member of a community of learners. Offered at the McCall Field Campus. (Fall only)
CSS 580 Restoration Ecology Practicum (2 cr)
Capstone experience in the Restoration Ecology Certificate Program. Students work independently to develop plan for implementing and assessing the success of ecological restoration; plan must synthesize literature, concepts, and challenges; plan shall be written with graphics and electronic submission for possible Internet publication.
CSS 581 Water Policy and Politics (3 cr)
Graduate level introduction to the politics of water use and management in western U.S. Examines models of policymaking to explain the politics of water resources. Specific topics include collaborative watershed management, irrigated agriculture, rural-urban demand, habitat conservation, regional conflict and cooperation, and social-ecological systems. (Spring, alt/yrs)
CSS 582 Natural Resource Policy (3 cr)
See Pols 562.
CSS 583 Nature-Based Tourism (3 cr)
Current methods and approaches to natural resource tourism and its social, economic, and resource impacts, organizations involved, and management styles used by travel and tourism industry. (Spring, alt/yrs)
CSS 587 Research Literature in Conservation Social Sciences (3 cr)
Readings in research literature pertinent to problems, practices, and theories of the conservation social sciences; evolution of literature and critical evaluation of scientific methods used. (Fall only)
CSS 591 Theories of Environmental Behavior (3 cr)
Social science perspectives on attitudes and human behavior in relation to environmental concerns; pertinent psychological, sociological, and anthropological frameworks are explored. (Fall only)
CSS 597 (s) Practicum (cr arr)
CSS 598 (s) Internship (cr arr)
CSS 599 (s) Non-thesis Master's Research (cr arr)
Research not directly related to a thesis or dissertation.
CSS 600 Doctoral Research and Dissertation (cr arr)
Prereq: Admission to the doctoral program in "natural resources" and permission of the department.