There are remarkable processual movements among ecological processes, elemental composition, patterns of lifeforms and landscapes, and that of an intra-active multiverse, setting naturehuman within the wider deeper nature of things.
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a doctor of arts degree in ecological psychology (Ecopsychology)
Doctor of Arts in Ecological Psychology & Environmental Humanities
Two Specializations are offered within the Doctor of Arts program:
Doctor of Arts in Ecological Psychology and Environmental Humanities with a Specialization in Climate Response & Resilience
Why choose ecological psychology at Viridis?
Ecological psychology (ecopsychology), moves out of humancentric ecologies and psychologies to engage non-anthropocentric, affective, and effective studies of nature, naturehuman, and natureculture.
The focus of Ecological Psychology (ecopsychology) is to reconfigure narratives underpinning detrimental behavior and practices damaging complex ecological-social-economic-cultural relationships.
The program emphasizes that humans are ecological; we are symbionts living with a symbiotic and sympoietic planet. When human narratives and practices rupture the entangled complexity among planetary processes and all lifeforms – we do untold damage to livability with a shared world.
Understanding how ecological humans are subject to the same planetary processes, dynamics, symbioses, and sympoietics that shape Earth’s narratives and behaviors – completely reconfigures our narratives, behavior, and practices.
Current climate disruptions and global ecological and social devastations are not new phenomena: they are related practices that stem from narratives such as exceptionalism, purism, and individualism.
Narratives permeate all of us, our communities, cultures, policies, laws, institutions, and international relations. In these precarious times, we need ecological literacy and psychological skills to promote creative thinking-with, responsible narratives and accountable behavior that support just practices and a flourishing world.
Viridis Graduate Institute offers the only ecological psychology program in the world. We take seriously that human narratives affect planetary processes, cycles, and other lifeforms that matter for Earth livability.
No prior degree required
Open to students without previous degrees in ecology or psychology.
Viridis moves out of unuseful mechanistic and economic metaphors so prevalent in both of these disciplines. We study the most current thought and ideas that make for a dynamic ecological psychology.
Practical applications
Graduates practice as non-licensed ecopsychology professionals, ecological psychologists (like environmental or conservation psychologists), cultural ecologists, or social or cultural ecologists.
Terminal Degree
The Doctor of Arts (D.A.) is a terminal degree and an alternative to a traditional research-based Ph.D. The Doctor of Arts terminal degree in higher education is acknowledged and respected academically and professionally across industries.
The purpose of the Doctor of Arts degree is to offer advanced ecological literacy and psychological capabilities for immediate application in a chosen profession or a new enterprise.
All doctoral students may earn a masters-in-passing degree upon successfully completing the first comprehensive examination and 48 graduate quarter credits from Viridis Graduate Institute.
Program Fit
Our aim is for our program to be a good fit for you and inspire ways for you to be effective in your chosen profession.
The DA program is excellent for educators, healthcare professionals, sustainability executives, environmental managers, energy industries, conservation and land restoration, community/urban design, civic governance and policy-making, community activists, artists, nonprofit executives, theologians, and economists.
The program also serves anyone who wishes to gain practical knowledge and ways to apply ecopsychology.
Clinical & THerapeutic application
Students already licensed in the health care professions are able to apply ecological psychology in their clinical and therapeutic practices immediately.
Viridis Graduate Institute is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Society for Environmental, Population, and Conservation Psychology (APA Division 34), which includes Ecopsychology.
