Outdoor Education and Leadership Specialization

The Outdoor Education and Leadership specialization is designed to prepare students in Environmental Studies to become professional, informed, and skilled leaders in outdoor education or recreation fields or apply skills of outdoor leadership, risk management, and education to careers in Environmental Studies. The specialization is specifically focused on the theoretical, practical, and pedagogical skills necessary to work in instructional and educational outdoor fields. 

Internship opportunities are intended to help future outdoor leaders apply their knowledge and abilities in real leadership situations and will be supervised by Outdoor Program staff. Examples include, but are not limited to:

 Raft Guiding  C of I Sustainability Council Project
 NOLS Instructor Training  Snow School at Bogus Basin
 Backpack Guiding  Foothills Learning Center
 Wilderness Therapy Guiding  McCall Outdoor Science School
 Rock Climbing Guiding  Field Work with Professor
 Idaho Conservation Corps  College of Idaho Outdoor Program
 Outward Bound  

Requirements

23-25 credits

Core (9-11 credits)

HHP-130Introduction to Outdoor and Adventure Education

3 credits

HHPA-310Wilderness First Responder

2 credits

INT-497Internship

1-6 credits

LSP-201Leadership Theories, Styles & Realities

3 credits

The Wilderness First Responder course is taught by the Wilderness Medicine Training Center.

Expedition Leadership (6 credits)

Complete one off-campus field study course.

IND-305.1Winter Wilderness Experience

2 credits

-
and

IND-305.2Winter Wilderness Experience

4 credits

-
or

BIO-346.1Field Biology Preparation

2 credits

-
and

BIO-346Field Biology

4 credits

Elective Courses (6 credits)

Complete two courses.
BUS-225Principles of Management

3 credits

EDU-202Introduction to Teaching

3 credits

PSY-360Environmental Psychology

3 credits

Either BUS-100 or BUS-101 is a prerequisite of BUS-225 .

Outdoor Activity Courses (2 credits)

Take two outdoor-related activity courses from among those listed below to gain technical skills.

HHPA-106Fly Fishing

1 credit

HHPA-110Rock Climbing

1 credit

HHPA-155Scuba Diving

1 credit

HHPA-157Kayaking

1 credit