Lead, Learn, and Thrive in the Outdoors

Turn your passion for the outdoors into a purpose-driven career with APU’s Outdoor Studies degree. Grounded in Alaska’s vast wildlands, this program blends hands-on experience in recreation, business, education, tourism, and adventure-based fields with interdisciplinary skills in leadership, risk management, ecology, and social justice. You’ll graduate prepared to lead, teach, and adapt across public and private sectors—ready for wherever your path takes you.

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Outdoor Studies

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Whether you’re interested in outdoor entrepreneurship, land management, snow science, or other fields, the OS program provides real-world practicum and employment opportunities throughout your degree. With a strong focus on hands-on experience, professional networking, and industry-relevant skills, graduates are well-prepared for careers in the outdoor profession of their choice. Alaska’s unique landscape offers endless opportunities to explore and turn recreational sports into a lifelong career.

If you’re someone who loves the outdoors—whether through recreational sports or through simply going for a walk in the woods—APU’s Outdoor Studies program is the right choice. With serious experiential learning and vast employment opportunities throughout the program, OS provides hands-on experience in Alaska’s vast wildlands, coastline, and rivers. Students gain the skills needed for careers in parks and recreation, tourism, outdoor education, adventure therapy, and snow science. Expert instructors help you develop the ability to lead, teach, manage risks, plan programs, and work in both public and private sectors—ensuring you graduate with the knowledge, experience, and professional network for a successful career in the outdoors.

Career Opportunities

Educational Specialists
Ski Patrol/Assistant
Ski Patrol Director
Backcountry Ski Guide
State Park Ranger
Mountain Guide
Military Recreation Coordinator
College Outdoor Program Director
Outdoor Apparel Company
Reality TV & Film work
Outdoor Education Instructor
Wilderness Therapy
Sea Kayaking Instructor & Guide

Sample classes at the undergraduate level:

Core Curriculum

Introduction to Outdoor Studies, Recreation Program Design, Wilderness First Responder, Risk Management, Topics in Outdoor Leadership, and Research Methods

Skills Classes

Wilderness Skills, Winter Wilderness Skills/Avi I, Climbing Systems, Search and Rescue, Packrafting, Swiftwater, Nordic Skiing, Sea Kayaking, Dog Mushing, Ice Climbing, and Snow Science I and II

Expeditions

Leadership (backpacking)
Mountaineering
Sea Kayaking

Academic / Upper division courses

Human Impacts on Wildland Ecosystems
Applied Exercise Physiology
Outdoor Education and Interpretation
Business of Recreation
GIS and Remote Sensing
Natural History

Natural History

Weather and Climate, Glaciology and Glacier Travel, Oceanography and Surfing, Sea Birds and Marine Mammals, Physical Geology, Ecology, Natural History of Alaska, Climate Change, and more

Degree Completion

128 credits minimum are required to complete the degree program. Core competencies, foundational, major, and self- determined studies are offered in a mixed format of:

On-campus
Online via synchronous learning

Outdoor Education

The Outdoor Education concentration prepares students to lead transformative experiences in the outdoors while developing skills in communication, leadership, risk management, and problem-solving. Graduates are equipped for careers in outdoor recreation, environmental education, guiding, and a wide range of professions where people-centered leadership matters.

Land Management & Stewardship

The Land Management concentration prepares students for careers stewarding public lands and natural resources. Through hands-on learning, students develop the skills to balance conservation, recreation, and community needs while gaining a deeper understanding of land management practices and environmental stewardship.

Snow Science

The Snow Science concentration prepares students for careers in avalanche forecasting, snow safety, and environmental research. Through hands-on fieldwork in Alaska’s mountains and partnerships with industry leaders, students gain expertise in snowpack analysis, avalanche hazard assessment, and geospatial technologies while building the skills and professional networks needed for careers in the snow science field.

Outdoor Entrepreneurship

The Outdoor Entrepreneurship concentration combines outdoor leadership with business innovation, preparing students to build careers and ventures in the outdoor industry. Through coursework in entrepreneurship, ecotourism, and business fundamentals, students develop the skills to turn their passion for the outdoors into successful and sustainable enterprises while earning a minor in Business Administration.

Adventure Therapy

The Adventure Therapy concentration combines outdoor experiences with therapeutic practices to help individuals and communities thrive. Through hands-on fieldwork and coursework in eco-psychology, wilderness therapy, and counseling, students develop the skills to facilitate growth, resilience, and well-being while earning a minor in Counseling Psychology and certification as an Adventure Therapist.

Many undergraduate students combine their interest in science, psychology, business, or liberal studies with their passion for the outdoors by combining a minor in Outdoor Studies with their major degree program. The OS minor gives students the basic skills and knowledge to travel in the backcountry and includes a Wilderness First Responder certificate.

Application
Application Fee*
Official Final High School Transcript**
Official College Transcript(s)

*Fee waiver available for those who qualify
**If less than 24 college credits earned

Minimum GPA: 2.5 or higher – If you have a GPA lower than 2.5, there is an additional step in the admissions process, and we are happy to work with you to complete your application.

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Outdoor & Environmental Education

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Combine your passions for the natural world and for teaching in APU’s master’s degree program in Outdoor and Environmental Education. Our farm and forest will be your classroom at the Kellogg Campus in Palmer. Here you will hone your teaching skills at the Kellogg Field School outdoor education lab school. Join a small cohort of peers while pursuing your interest in outdoor, environmental, adventure and wilderness education in a seamless, place-based program in a place of unparalleled beauty.

A Letter from the Director

The Cascadia Pathway is a one-of-a-kind partnership between Alaska Pacific University and North Cascades Institute that combines graduate study with hands-on teaching experience in the very first semester. From day one, you’ll engage in a personalized, field-based curriculum that blends theory with real-world application. In just over two years, students emerge with:

A master’s degree
Two full years of professional work experience
No tuition debt

The program begins with a year at APU’s Kellogg Field School in Palmer, Alaska, where students immerse themselves in outdoor and place-based education at the Kellogg Field School. In the second year, students step into guaranteed, paid teaching positions at North Cascades Institute’s Environmental Learning Center, located on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. Graduates finish the program ready to lead in schools, nonprofits, parks, and environmental organizations across the country.

The only program of its kind in Alaska (or almost anywhere!), APU’s Master of Science degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education (MSOEE) prepares professionals in outdoor-related careers, current teachers and others with a passion for the outdoors for advancement into many interdisciplinary career fields involving outdoor education. Experiential learning starts early on in this personalized, hands-on program, where you will combine theory with design and delivery of curricula in the on-site teaching/learning lab that serves children and adults eager to learn about nature, well-being and the outdoors.

Career Opportunities

Environmental Educator, Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Field Instructor, Alaska Avalanche School
Certified Elementary Teacher, Houston Elementary School
Field Instructor, National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
Certified Elementary Teacher, Northern Pacific Academy
Faculty and Environmental Educator, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Recreational Therapist, Northstar Behavioral Health
Kids Don’t Float Program Coordinator, Alaska DNR – Office of Boating Safety
Interpretive Ranger, NPS
Public Safety Ranger, Alaska State Parks
Site Coordinator, Trailside Discovery Camps
Professional Development Manager, Camp Fire Alaska

Curriculum Design for Outdoor Educators
Power of Place in Education
Teaching Methods for Experiential Education
Research Methods
Learning Theory in Outdoor Education
Outdoor & Environmental Literacy
Elective Expeditions and Skills: Sea Kayaking, Mountaineering, Leadership
Thesis Seminar I
Thesis Seminar II
Research Methods
Practicum
Thesis Research/Professional Project

Student Thesis Titles

You love the outdoors. You love teaching. You will love this.

Students pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental and Outdoor Education (MSOEE) have the option to pursue a K-8 Teaching Certificate with APU’s Certificate Only Option Program (CO-OP). Students will dual-enroll in the Master of Science in Outdoor and Environmental Education (MSOEE) and the CO-OP, enabling them to obtain both the MSOEE and teacher certification in Alaska that will give you thorough preparation for teaching in public and charter schools with an emphasis in environmental and outdoor education. Your first year of the program will be spent taking classes primarily at APU’s 900 acre Kellogg Campus in Palmer, Alaska. The second year is spent at APU’s Anchorage campus preparing for and completing your student teaching.

This degree option gives you the flexibility to choose from a variety of careers, including positions in public, private or charter schools, interpretive and education specialist jobs in land management agencies and positions in non-governmental organizations and businesses such as conservation organizations and camps.

Essay

Write and submit a 750-1000 word essay outlining your motivations for seeking the Master of Science in Outdoor and Environmental Education degree. Include your professional interests and career goals.

Test Scores (Optional)

The submission of standardized test scores such as the MAT or the GRE is optional.

Résumé

Send us your current professional Curriculum Vitae or Résumé.

Letters of Recommendation

Submit three current letters of recommendation.

Background Check

All admitted students will be required to submit an Alaska State Troopers Background Check directly to the APU Outdoor Studies Department prior to engaging in coursework. A background check is required by the State of Alaska for program participation in courses that involve work with vulnerable populations.

Official Final Transcript(s)

Alaska Pacific University will require official transcripts from the institution from which the applicant has earned the highest prior degree. Additional undergraduate transcripts may be required in the following instance(s): a large portion of credits were earned at more than one institution, an evaluation of pre-requisite course requirements, and/or if transferring in graduate credits.

Transcripts are considered official when received in an envelope that was sealed by the credit-awarding institution and arrive at APU unopened. Electronic transcripts are also accepted when sent directly to APU from the credit-awarding institution via a secured electronic transcript service. All official electronic documents must be sent to admissions@alaskapacific.edu.

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Outdoor Programs

Let’s Get Outside

APU Outdoor Programs provides the APU community with opportunities to explore and enjoy Alaska’s incredible wilderness through a variety of recreational trips, clinics, and resources. From sea kayaking, rock climbing, and canoeing to ice climbing, backpacking, and skiing, we offer experiences for every skill level. Whether you’re looking to try something new or are an experienced adventurer interested in teaching or leading a clinic, there’s something for everyone.

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS