3-year, 90-quarter credit program.
Academic term: Quarter system. There are 3 courses per 10-week quarter.
The Doctor of Arts in ecological psychology is a terminal degree.

The Study of Ecological Psychology

Ecological psychology recognizes that we live with a complex and responsive planet that acts upon us (all life forms) as much as we act upon the planet. A changing climate is a pressing example.

Problems communities face today, from climate disasters, ecological and social justice conflicts, lack of access to education, physical and mental health, and economic fairness, to the destruction caused by ecocide, culturecide, and genocide, are not new.

These interrelated problems stem from human narratives and their practices – from our psychology. We take unexamined narratives into every community, organization, and institution. Narratives and their practices infuse culture, policies, laws, treaties, and international relations. An ecological crisis is a psychological crisis.

Therefore, Viridis Graduate Institute has designed unique graduate programs that develop ecological literacy and psychological capabilities necessary for reconfiguring detrimental narratives and practices underpinning our communal and planetary problems.

Transformative Education

The Doctor of Arts in ecological psychology is an advanced study of how to transform detrimental narratives that underpin every human behavior and practice affecting social and ecological dispoliation.

The complexities of the world and a climate crisis require different narratives and practices affecting changes in policy, ecological and social justice actions, and practices for planetary livability.

Doctoral graduates advance processes and principles of ecological psychology that are the most effective tools for making the necessary changes at the community, organizational, institutional, and global levels.

The Practice of Ecological Psychology

Graduates practice as non-licensed ecopsychology professionals, ecological psychologists (like environmental or conservation psychologists), cultural ecologists, ecological sociologists, and social or cultural ecologists.

Additionally, graduates will possess the skills and capabilities most sought by organizations, corporations, academics, and communities to be successful in their chosen professions.

Program Fit

Our aim at Viridis is for this program to be a good fit for you and to inspire ways for you to be effective in your chosen profession.

The D.A. 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 applicable knowledge and ways to apply ecopsychology.

Clinical and 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.

Unique Curriculum

Course examples, which are found in detail in our catalog, include core ecological psychology courses, narrative foundations of ecopsychology, humans & landscapes, contemporary narratives, ecotoxicology, climate crisis, art, image & perception change, ecological ethics, native science and indigenous epistemologies, business ecologies, and applications.

Completion of the Doctor of Arts program requires passing two comprehensive exams, successful completion of a doctoral project, and oral defense.

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.

DA Tuition

ADMISSIONS

Student Testimonials

What is Ecopsychology?

How to Apply Ecopsychology

We Look Forward to Your Involvement!

Jessica *****

When I first looked at what the Viridis DA program offers I thought… “this is too good to be true.” After years of searching for somewhere that would be the right fit for me on my educational journey, I found it. Not only has my connection to the natural world grown stronger but I have found strength within myself and my psyche I never knew possible. This program truly is a life changing experience and equips you with the skills and knowledge to pass that experience onto others.

Almost in my final year of the program,I already find myself using ecopsychological application in all areas of my everyday life. My connections with the professors, staff, and my fellow students are stronger than anything I experienced in person during my undergraduate and graduate studies prior, which I didn’t think was possible with distance learning.

This program is for all the dreamers, the change makers, the ones that want to fight for equal rights of everything on this planet. A place you can be yourself and let your ideas flourish and develop. Enrolling in this program was the best decision I have ever made.

Stella *****

It’s a real life changing course, mind opening, awakening, developing senses and skills I was not aware I had or that I was not using. In just a few months, I’ve been learning so much about myself, my creative ability, about my environment, both on an ecological and psychological level.

VGI has a very supportive environment throughout, from Day 1, from the professors to the cohort itself, diverse, with various backgrounds, which adds to the richness of the course. I don’t feel it’s online at all thanks to the platform and resources made available. I feel connected all the time to my cohort and courses.

The content is certainly dense and deep. It challenges us and ruffles up quite a few feathers while exploring the meanders of our psyche.More importantly for me is that I find myself in the values of the program and of VGI, I’ve found my purpose and a great community of ecopsychologists. Very grateful to be part of this program indeed.

My only regret is : why didn’t I start earlier 🙂