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

  • 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

  • Field work with professor

  • C of I Outdoor Program

Requirements

All students will take these courses. Note: The Wilderness First Responder course is taught by the Wilderness Medicine Training Center.

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

Expedition Leadership Requirement

This element is fulfilled by taking ONE off-campus field study course from among those listed below (4-6 credits).

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)

Take any two of the following: (6 credits)

BUS-225Principles of Management

3 credits

EDU-202Introduction to Teaching

3 credits

PSY-360Environmental Psychology

3 credits

PSY-221Educational Psychology

3 credits

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

Take two outdoor-related activity courses from among those listed below to gain technical skills: (2 credits)

HHPA-106Fly Fishing

1 credit

HHPA-110Rock Climbing

1 credit

HHPA-155Scuba Diving

1 credit

HHPA-157Kayaking

1 credit

Total Credit Hours: 21-25