Outdoor Studies Department
Undergraduate Course Descriptions
OS 101 Beginning Climbing (1)
Basics of climbing including stretching, knots, equipment, rope work, belaying, rappelling, and rock and ice climbing techniques. At least two weekend outings. Equipment rental and food costs.
OS 102 Introduction to Wilderness Skills (4)
Introduction to wilderness travel skills including trip planning, equipment, rations, camping and travel skills, and hazard recognition. The trips during the block cover backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, and survival skills. Students should expect to be in the field the majority of the class’s duration. Course requires additional lab fee.
OS 103 Dog Mushing (1)
An in-depth introduction to dog powered sports. Topics include dogsledding history, veterinary care, racing technique, and equipment. This course builds student experience through hands-on field classes and kennel visits, assisting with a dogsled race, and a dogsled/ski trip. An additional lab fee is assessed.
OS 110 Introduction to Winter Wilderness Skills (4)
Introduction to winter travel and camping skills, avalanche evaluation and backcountry skiing. The course will cover fundamentals of equipment, food, ski and snowshoe travel, cold injuries, avalanche awareness and rescue, and basic winter natural history. Prerequisites: OS 102. Lab fee.
OS 115 Sea Kayaking (1)
Fundamentals of sea kayaking. Topics include equipment selection and use, wet exits and rescues, paddling strokes, wind and waves, navigation, and seamanship. At least one weekend outing plus equipment and food costs.
OS 200 Introduction to Outdoor Studies (4)
Survey of the field of recreation and leisure services. As a required course for all Outdoor Studies majors and minors, it serves as an orientation to the profession. Satisfies the Sophomore Seminar: Directed Study GUR.
OS 201 Recreation Program Design and Leadership (4)
Prepares students to plan, conduct, lead, and evaluate programs in the field of outdoor recreation and adventure education. Students will analyze and review different styles and philosophies of local recreational programs and develop their own program design.
OS 205 Wilderness First Responder (4)
Fundamentals of emergency care in a non-urban environment, including physiology, injury assessment, short term care, anatomy, and small group rescues. CPR certification required, plus certification fees.
OS 207 Search Methods on Land (2)
This course provides an introduction to search history, management, planning, strategy, and tactics for finding lost or injured persons in forest and alpine environments as well as in caves and avalanches. Prerequisite: OS 205
OS 208 Rescue Methods on Land (2)
This course provides an introduction to the technical skills required from both improvised and organized rescues on steep terrain. The curriculum includes static and dynamic loads, technical rope skills, the tandem prusik belay, pulley systems, highlines, and assorted single and double rope rescue methods. Prerequisite: OS 101.
OS 215 Wilderness Classics: Treks Across Alaska (4)
This advanced course in Alaskan wilderness travel will develop a student’s abilities to choose, plan, undertake, and report on a significant backcountry expedition. Planning from USGS topographic maps, packing food and equipment, such as packrafts and mountain bikes, students will prepare for Alaska’s classic wilderness race routes, such as Hope to Homer, Nabesna to McCarthy, or Mentasta to McKinley. Students will plan, pack, and prepare all the food and equipment necessary for the expedition, which will last ten to twelve days. In the field, student will choose the route, making on the spot decisions about camping, bear avoidance, river crossings, game trail, and bushwhacking, sharpening their wilderness skills. Proper expedition behavior including respect, cooperation, leadership, minimum impact camping, risk assessment and avoidance will also be developed. Finally, a communications project that shares the experience with an audience beyond the participants will be expected. This could include a slide show, a newsletter, a theatrical skit, a published story, or a guide/map. Course to be offered Biannually.
OS 301 Recreation and the Public Land Resource (4)
The management of recreation on federal, state, municipal, and private lands. Topics include the history and philosophies which have shaped current recreation management, principles and policies used by various recreational entities, and current issues and trends affecting Alaska’s outdoor recreation profession.
OS 302 Expedition Leadership (4)
Expedition Leadership introduces students to the process of leading program oriented wilderness expeditions. Students will assist in planning, organizing, leading, and evaluating a twenty-one day expedition. Prerequisite: OS 102 or instructor approval. Lab fee plus personal food and equipment costs.
OS 303 Expedition Mountaineering (4)
A two to three week mountaineering expedition focusing on traveling and climbing on and around Alaska’s glaciers. Topics include: safe glacier travel skills; winter camping techniques; and snow and ice climbing techniques. Course requires additional lab fee. Prerequisite: OS 110, or Expedition Glacier Travel, or instructor permission.
OS 315 Expedition Sea Kayaking (3)
A two- to three-week expedition covering the fundamentals of sea kayaking in the Alaska coastal environment. In addition to learning the skills of safe sea kayaking, students will help organize and lead the trip. Topics include advanced strokes, bracing, rescues in rough water, secondary stability, boat/paddle section, trip planning, and hazard evaluation. Course requires additional lab fee. Course can be counted as activity credit. Prerequisites: OS 110 & OS 115 or instructor permission.
OS 316 Expedition Glacier Travel (4)
Expedition Glacier Travel emphasizes the skills required for traveling and climbing in Alaska’s heavily glaciated mountain ranges. Snow camping, expedition behavior, crevasse rescuer, snow and ice climbing, route finding, peak ascents, and avalanche hazard evaluation will be emphasized. Prerequisite: OS 101, OS 110, or instructor permission.
OS 385 Junior Practicum (3-12)
This practicum is an integral part of a student’s pre-professional preparation. This experience will expose students to their chosen profession before their senior project, giving direction for the project.
OS 401 The Business of Recreation (4)
An investigation of the concepts and theories of administration and management of recreational organizations. Theories, processes, and legal concepts behind established and entrepreneurial recreational organizations. Topics and projects include funding, incorporation, personal and fiscal management, community relations, and liability as related to recreational services.
OS 415 Outdoor Education (4)
Application of the theories and techniques of teaching in and about the natural environment. This course will develop, implement and evaluate programs for local schools using standard environmental curriculum.
OS 420 Alaska Natural History Interpretation (4)
This course explores the techniques and theories used by public land administrators to interpret the Alaska natural environment. Interpretive trail alignment and displays as well as oral and written interpretive presentations are emphasized.
OS 499 Senior Project (3-12)
The senior project is the culmination of the student’s academic career. The goal of the class is to help the student identify, plan, implement, and evaluate a project that focuses the student’s skills and knowledge in a way that demonstrates his or her professional interests. The class will meet periodically during the semester.
