Outdoor Education

Overview

Outdoor education programs include topics such as:

• Leadership skills
• Wilderness survival skills
• First aid
• Counseling techniques
• Environmental studies
• Rock climbing, ropes course, and backpack techniques

Internships

Internships allow students to develop skills at companies or organizations. Some outdoor education programs require students to develop a portfolio or complete an internship.

Schools

Several community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in outdoor education. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete.

A few colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in outdoor education. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.

A few universities offer graduate degrees in outdoor education. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

• Education, General
• Environmental Studies
• Recreation and Parks Management
• Recreation Therapy
• Recreation, Fitness, and Leisure Studies

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

• Recreation Guides
• Recreational Therapists

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

• Park Naturalists

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

• Algebra
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Probability and Statistics

Graduate Admissions

Admission to master's degree programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree and good grades. You also need to submit letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.

Additional requirements at some schools include:

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
• Related work or volunteer experience

Although it's helpful to have a bachelor's degree in agriculture, many graduate programs consider applicants who majored in a related field such as biology, geology, or horticulture.

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

In this undergraduate program, you typically take courses such as the following:

• Environmental Science
• Biology
• Psychology
• Education
• Adventure Leadership
• Wilderness First Aid

Graduate Program Courses

Graduate course work tends to vary depending on the program. However, the outline of a typical master's degree curriculum looks like the following:

• Required core courses
• Elective courses
• Thesis and thesis defense

Things to Know

For information about farm occupations, opportunities, and 4-H activities in your area, contact your local county extension service office.

If you're interested in studying agriculture at an international scope, you should also take courses in a second language, international relations, and geography.

Schools

East Side Area

Central Washington University

• Sport Management--Physical Activity Programming

Wenatchee Valley College

• Outdoor Recreation Management

King-Snohomish Area

AlderLeaf Wilderness College

• Advanced Wilderness Skills Program
• Alderleaf Wilderness Certification Program

Spokane Area

Eastern Washington University

• Physical Education--Outdoor Recreation Leadership

Spokane Community College

• Natural Resource Management--Parks and Recreation

Tacoma Area

Pacific Lutheran University

• Outreach Education