The paper aims at providing the initial report of the mental reactions of Ecological Faculty students of RUDN University to the concept of patriotism. The term “patriotism” is used to refer to love of a country as well as to an ideology, which holds that one’s primary allegiance should be to one’s country and its citizens’ needs. Patriotism is considered as a virtue and environmentalism – as one of its important manifestations. The subjects for the present study were 66 Bachelor’s students of Ecological Faculty of RUDN University. The survey was conducted in September-October 2020. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. The results were assessed and the conclusions related to the current stage of the study were made