Outdoor Education and Leadership Specialization

The Outdoor Education and Leadership Specialization is designed to prepare students 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 other areas. The specialization is specifically focused on the theoretical, practical, and pedagogical skills necessary to work in instructional and educational outdoor fields.

Requirements

27-30 credits

Core (11-14 credits)

Complete the following courses:

HEHP-1030Introduction to Outdoor and Adventure Education

4 credits

HHPA-3010Wilderness First Responder

2 credits

-
 

LEAD-4010Team Building and Leadership

4 credits

-
or

LEAD-4015Leadership Theories, Styles, Realities

4 credits

-
 

INTR-4997Internship

1-4 credits

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

Students completing the 3+1 Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership may substitute LEAD-5010 for LEAD-4010 and LEAD-5015 for LEAD-4015.

Internships are intended to help future outdoor leaders apply their knowledge and abilities to real leadership situations. They will be supervised by Outdoor Program staff. Examples include, but are not limited to: Raft Guiding; NOLS Instructor Training; Backpack Guiding; Wilderness Therapy Guiding; Rock Climbing Guiding; Idaho Conservation Corps; Outward Bound; C of I Sustainability Council Project; Snow School at Bogus Basin; Foothills Learning Center; McCall Outdoor Science School.

Expedition Leadership (6 credits)

Complete one off-campus field study course sequence from the following:

BIOL-3346Tropical Ecology

2 credits

-
and

BIOL-3347Field Biology

4 credits

-
 

-
or

-
 

ENVS-2011Winter Wilderness Experience Preparation

2 credits

-
and

ENVS-2012Winter Wilderness Experience

4 credits

Electives (8 credits)

Complete two courses (8 credits) from the following:

BUSN-2025Principles of Management

4 credits

EDUC-1000Introduction to Teaching

4 credits

PHIL-3004Environmental Philosophy

4 credits

PSYC-3600Environmental Psychology

4 credits

Outdoor Activities (2 credits)

Complete two courses (2 credits) from the following:

HHPA-1006Fly Fishing

1 credit

HHPA-1011Rock Climbing I

1 credit

HHPA-1055Scuba Diving

1 credit

HHPA-1057Kayaking

1 credit

Some courses will require the completion of prerequisite coursework.