This course examines the transactions between people and their everyday physical environment. Topics include environmental perception and cognition, environmental stressors such as noise, spatial behaviour such as personal space and territoriality, the physical settings where we live, work, and learn, and designing for more fitting environments.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 2: Environmental Perception and Cognition
Unit 3: Ambient Environment
Unit 4: Personal Space and Territoriality
Unit 5: Privacy and Crowding
Unit 6: Our Residences
Unit 7: Our Cities and Communities
Unit 8: Our Schools
Unit 9: Our Workplaces
Unit 10: Designing More Fitting Environments
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 432, you must achieve a composite course grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. If you receive less than 50 percent on your final exam, your final exam mark will become your course grade. The weighting of assignments is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Written Exercise
10%
Two Quizzes
15%
Course Project
40%
Final Exam
35%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Gifford, R. (2014). Environmental psychology: Principles and practice (5th ed.). Colville, WA: Optimal Books. (Print)
Online Materials
The course materials also include an online Course Information, a Study Guide, a Student Manual, and readings accessible in the Digital Reading Room.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.