Adventure Education teaches students how to use human powered outdoor pursuits to expose people to purposeful challenge, high adventure, and new growth opportunities. Students majoring in Adventure Education engage in outdoor activities such as backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, ropes courses, and mountaineering to systematically learn three broad sets of skills. First, they learn the professional and technical skills to operate competently and safely in demanding outdoor environments. Second, they learn how to instruct others in these adventure pursuits. And third, they learn how to develop and frame adventure experiences so that their future clients and students grow personally and professionally.

Students have the option of taking a 15-credit package of Adventure Education courses in a fall Immersion Semester, which involves wilderness and mountain backpacking trips lasting four to 15 days. They can also spend a spring semester in the outdoor education program at LaTrobe University in Bendigo, Australia. Adventure Education students also take a variety of courses that cover adventure philosophy, history, leadership, processing and facilitation, experiential pedagogy, ethical issues, and program administration.

Many of the field-based courses require additional cost for transportation, food, permits, supplies or equipment rental. To meet these expenses, most field-based courses have fees attached to them. Students can expect to pay between $1,500 and $2,500 in additional course fees to complete the Adventure Education major. The range in cost depends on what optional courses students choose to take throughout their studies in Adventure Education. In addition, students are expected to provide basic personal outdoor clothing and equipment. The program will provide group, technical, technological, and safety gear but we will not be able to outfit students with outdoor clothing, boots, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc.

Students majoring in Adventure Education are preparing for future careers in field-based leadership, instruction, and administrative positions with non-profit and commercial outdoor education, therapeutic adventure, environmental, and recreation programs. Because field-based courses may occur on weekends, over Spring break and in May after classes end, the schedule for Adventure Education students will need to be carefully planned and may disallow participation in an athletic team and/or affect their availability for working during some semesters. Additionally, students will be required to complete a minimum of 60 days of documented adventure leadership or instruction prior to their internship (AP 4880) or 30 days prior to their Clinical (AP 3980). This leadership/instruction experience must occur after the student’s formal matriculation into the Adventure Education program. Some of this experience will be gained through Adventure Education course work, while some will be accrued through summer jobs in camps or outdoor programs.

Degree Requirements

Credits