The B.A. in Outdoor Studies prepares students for careers in outdoor recreation and education through expedition and classroom learning.
Students may choose to pursue a concentration in outdoor education, wilderness therapy, commercial recreation/tourism, or land management. Our goal is to graduate students who are prepared to serve an increasingly diverse outdoor constituency.
A graduate with a degree in Outdoor Studies is expected to:
- Design, implement, and evaluate indoor and outdoor recreational programs
- Demonstrate the art of expedition leadership and related outdoor skills
- Understand the significance of public lands to a culturally diverse outdoor community
- Interpret natural history for educational curricula, and Articulate ethical principles and standards relevant to outdoor recreation professionals
General University Requirements
Major Requirements
- OS 20000 – Introduction to Outdoor Studies (4) (Sophomore Seminar)
- OS 20100 – Recreation Program Design (4)
- OS 20200 – Wilderness First Responder (4)
- OS 37000 – Risk Management for Outdoor Professionals (2)
- OS 38500 – Practicum (1-12) at least 3 credits
- OS 47000 – Advanced Topics in Outdoor Leadership (2)
- SC 40500 – Environmental Ethics (4)
- Natural History requirement (8)
- Upper Division requirement (8)
- Expedition requirement (4)
- Applied Statistics for Environmental Science (MT 22000) (4) *
- OS – Skill requirement (6)
- Research Methods requirement (4)
- OS 49900 – Senior Project (3-12) Total: 8-12
- Electives (varies)
Minimum Graduation Credit Hour Requirement: 128
* Also satisfies GUR’s. † Credits are satisfied by Major Requirements.
Natural History Requirement
Students will select two courses (8 credits) from the menu of courses to gain ecosystem level and process oriented understanding of the environment that graduates will use as outdoor professionals.
Select two courses: 8
(May not use laboratory science course used to satisfy GURs.)
- MAR 32000 – Ichthyology (4)
- MAR 33500 – Seabirds and Marine Mammals (4)
- MAR 41000 – Coral Reef Ecology (4)
- OS 21000 – Snow and Avalanche Science for Professionals I (4)
- SC 11000 – Natural History of Alaska (4)
- SC 12000 – Physical Geology (4)
- SC 12500 – Alaskan Earth History (4)
- SC 14000 – Introduction to Botany and Zoology (4)
- SC 15500 – Introduction to Meteorology (4)
- SC 16100 – Principles of Biology I (4)
- SC 21000 – Winter Ecology and Cold Weather Physiology (4)
- SC 21500 – Glaciology and Glacier Travel (4)
- SC 24000 – Principles of Zoology (4)
- SC 30000 – Tropical Natural History (4)
- SC 33000 – Ecology (4)
- SC 34000 – Animal Behavior (4)
- SC 35000 – Oceanography (4)
- SC 35500 – Meteorology: Weather and Climate (4)
- SC 40000 – Tropical Ecology (4)
- SC 45500 – Climate Change (4)
- MAR 25000 – Marine Natural History (4)
Select two courses: 8
- OS 30300 – Applied Exercise Physiology (4)
- OS 32500 – Snow Science for Outdoor Professionals II (4)
- OS 40200 – Outdoor Education (4)
- OS 40300 – Alaska Natural History Interpretation (4)
- OS 40500 – Recreation and the Public Land Resource (4)
- OS 40100 – The Business of Recreation (4)
- PY 35000 – Psychotherapeutic Uses of the Wilderness (4)
Complete 6 credits from the following courses: 6
(All skills courses have additional cost and fees)
- MAR 11000 – Introduction to Scientific Diving (2) or
- MAR 11500 – Scientific Diver in Training Level I (2)
- MAR 32800 – Scientific Diving (4)
- OS 11000 – Introduction to Wilderness Skills (4)
- OS 11100 – Dog Mushing (2)
- OS 11200 – Introduction to Winter Wilderness Skills (4)
- OS 11300 – Sea Kayaking (1)
- OS 11400 – Climbing Systems (2)
- OS 11500 – Beginning Ice Climbing (2)
- OS 11700 – Equipment Design and Repair (2)
- OS 20300 – Wilderness First Responder Refresher (1)
- OS 20400 – Leave No Trace Master Educator (1)
- OS 21100 – Backcountry Skills (4)
- OS 21200 – Backcountry Skiing (2)
- OS 21400 – Recreation, Culture, and Environment (4)
- OS 21500 – Mountain Rescue (4)
- OS 21600 – Introduction to Search and Rescue (2)
- PE 10300 – Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Level Physical Education and Outdoor Skill Activities (.5-2)
- PE 20300 – Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Level Physical Education and Outdoor Skill Activities (.5-2)
- SC 21500 – Glaciology and Glacier Travel (4)
Concentration Areas for the Outdoor Studies Major
Students can direct their course work toward five specific concentrations, Land Management, Outdoor Education, Snow Science, Tourism, or Wilderness Therapy. Students may use classes to meet both concentration and OS requirements where applicable.
Land Management
The concentration in Land Management will prepare students for a career with any of the state or federal agencies that manage public domain and give students the deep understandings necessary to balance the interests of the public and of the land.
- OS 40300 – Alaska Natural History Interpretation (4)
- OS 40400 – Research Methods for Outdoor & Environmental Studies (4) or
- SC 49800 – Research Methods (4)
- OS 40500 – Recreation and the Public Land Resource (4)
- SC 31000 – Environmental Assessment (4)
- SC 36000 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (4)
- SC 43500 – Environmental Law (4)
- OS 38500 – Practicum (1-12) at least 3 credits
- or
- SC 38500 – Practicum (4) at least 3 credits
Outdoor Education
The concentration in Outdoor Educaiton will prepare students for a career at outdoor centers around the world, including Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School.
- ED 21400 – Exploring the Learning Community (2)
- ED 24100 – Teaching Methods: Creative Expression (4)
- ED 45300 – Multicultural Education (3)
- OS 40200 – Outdoor Education (4)
- OS 40300 – Alaska Natural History Interpretation (4)
- OS 40400 – Research Methods for Outdoor & Environmental Studies (4)
- PY 34000 – Going to Extremes: Abnormal Psychology (3-4)
- SC 11000 – Natural History of Alaska (4)
- ED 38500 – Practicum (3-12) at least 3 credits
- or
- OS 38500 – Practicum (1-12) at least 3 credits
Snow Science
The concentration in Snow Science will prepare students for a career in snow science related fields, including snow safety, avalanche education, and applied avalanche research.
- OS 10600 – Mountain Weather (2)
- OS 21000 – Snow and Avalanche Science for Professionals I (4)
- OS 32500 – Snow Science for Outdoor Professionals II (4)
- OS 40500 – Recreation and the Public Land Resource (4)
- SC 35500 – Meteorology: Weather and Climate (4)
(3-12) or
(3-12)
- Pick two of the following courses:
- SC 21500 – Glaciology and Glacier Travel (4)
- SC 21000 – Winter Ecology and Cold Weather Physiology (4)
- SC 36000 – Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (4)
- SC 45500 – Climate Change (4)
Tourism
The concentration in Tourism with its strong emphasis on business, will prepare students for the rewards and challenges of commercial tourism in outdoor recreation.
- AC 20100 – Financial Accounting I (4)
- BA 10300 – Foundations of Business (4)
- BA 20700 – Marketing (4)
- BAM 21600 – Survey of Economics (4)
- OS 40100 – The Business of Recreation (4)
- OS 40500 – Recreation and the Public Land Resource (4)
- Choose 6-8 credits of the following:
- AC 20300 – Principles of Managerial Accounting (4)
- BA 22000 – Hotel & Lodge Management & Operations (2)
- BA 22100 – Hotel & Lodge Human Resource Management (2)
- BA 22200 – Hotel & Lodge Marketing (2)
Wilderness Therapy
The concentration in Wilderness Therapy will prepare students with the skills and understanings to provide the guidance and empathy required when outdoor recreation is used as a therapeutic tool.
- PY 15000 – Introduction to Psychology: Adjustment and Change (3-4)
- PY 22100 – Ecopsychology (4)
- PY 33000 – Psychology of Substance Use and Dependency (4)
- PY 34000 – Going to Extremes: Abnormal Psychology (3-4)
- PY 35000 – Psychotherapeutic Uses of the Wilderness (4)
- PY 38500 – Field Experience (3-12) At least 3 credits
- or
- OS 38500 – Practicum (1-12) At least 3 credits
