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 four 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 teach various outdoor-related lessons that aim to the development of new skills, knowledge or values. Third, they learn how to develop, frame, facilitate and process adventure experiences so that their future clients and students grow personally and professionally. And fourth, they also learn to interpret and teach about the various natural environments they will encounter when teaching in the great outdoors.

Students enrolled in the Adventure Education program take a variety of courses that cover adventure programming history, philosophy, ethics, theory, leadership group behavior and management, group processing and facilitation, experiential pedagogy, risk management, legal issues, and program administration. Students have the option of taking a 15-credit package of Adventure Education courses in a Fall Immersion Semester, which involves wilderness backpacking and canoe camping expeditions lasting four to 15 days. They also have the option of spending a semester in the Outdoor Education program at LaTrobe University in Bendigo, Australia. Adventure Education students can also take courses with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) that will count toward the completion of their degree in Adventure Education.

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 work at the PSU Outdoor Center or with the Adventure Education Club, while some will be accrued through summer jobs in camps or outdoor programs.

The mission of the Adventure Education program is to provide an environmentally sustainable, academically comprehensive, and technically proficient education for future adventure educators. In addition, the program embraces the University motto Ut prosim (that I may serve) by actively seeking and providing services to the campus and regional community.

Degree Requirements

Credits