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.

INSTAGRAM

Outdoor Studies

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Explore career pathways in outdoor entrepreneurship, land management, snow science, outdoor education, recreation, tourism, and more.
Gain real-world experience through practicum placements and employment opportunities throughout your degree.
Build professional connections with industry leaders, organizations, and employers.
Develop hands-on skills in leadership, risk management, program planning, and outdoor operations.

For students passionate about the outdoors, Outdoor Studies combines experiential learning with professional preparation, helping you build the skills and connections needed for a career in the outdoor industry. Gain technical outdoor skills, ecological knowledge, social justice literacy, teaching competency, and leadership experience for careers in the outdoor profession.

Career Opportunities

Avalanche Forecasting and Education
Ski Patrol
Interpretative Naturalist
Outdoor-based Non-Profit
Forest Service/ Wilderness Ranger
Mountaineering Guide
College Professor
Field Instruction (e.g. Outward Bound)
Adaptive Sports Instruction
Wilderness Therapy
River Guide
Outdoor Education Instructor
Nature-Based/Adventure Therapy
Sea Kayaking Instructor & Guide
Careers in Public Land Management
Rock Climbing Guide
Activism and Advocacy

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

American Avalanche Association Recreation Level 1 and Level 2 Certification
Professional Ski Instructors of America & American Association of Snowboard Instructors Instructor Certifications
American Canoe Association Coastal Kayak Instructor, Whitewater Kayaking Instructor, Packrafting Instructor, and Kayak Fishing Instructor Certifications
Leave No Trace Master Educator Certification
Climbing Systems
Search and Rescue
Swiftwater Rescue Certification
Wilderness First Responder Certification
Dog Mushing
Ice Climbing

Expeditions

Backpacking
Mountaineering
Sea Kayaking
Backcountry Leadership

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.

Whether you’re studying science, psychology, business, education, or liberal studies, the minor helps you develop essential backcountry travel, leadership, and risk management skills while gaining hands-on outdoor experience. Students also earn a Wilderness First Responder certification, adding valuable professional credentials that can enhance careers in outdoor recreation, education, health, conservation, and beyond.

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.

APPLY FLYER

Outdoor & Environmental Education

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Only program of its kind in Alaska
Paid teaching experience
Outdoor classroom on an 800-acre farm and forest
Small cohort model
Cascadia Pathway = Earn-While-You-Learn Option
Real curriculum design experience
Explore Alaska + Pacific Northwest outdoors

The Cascadia Pathway is a unique partnership between Alaska Pacific University and North Cascades Institute that combines graduate study with paid, hands-on teaching experience from the start. Students spend their first year at APU’s Kellogg Field School in Palmer, Alaska, and their second year teaching at North Cascades Institute’s Environmental Learning Center in Washington. In just over two years, graduates earn a master’s degree, gain two years of professional experience, and graduate without tuition debt. Learn more.

Students learn through immersive field experiences at APU’s Kellogg Campus in Palmer, Alaska, where they design and deliver real-world curricula in a living classroom of farm, forest, and wildlands. The program blends theory with practice, building the skills needed for careers in outdoor education, environmental leadership, and community-based learning.

Career Opportunities

Interpretative Naturalist
Nature-based Educator
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Nonprofit
Outdoor Education Curriculum Writer Developer
Forest Service/ Wilderness Ranger
College Professor
Field Instruction (e.g. Outward Bound)
Adaptive Sports Instruction
Wilderness Therapy
Outdoor Education Instructor
Nature/Adventure Therapy
Activism and Advocacy

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

Students can also earn an Alaska K–8 teaching certificate, allowing for dual preparation in outdoor and environmental education and traditional classroom teaching. The program combines immersive, place-based learning at APU’s Kellogg Campus with student teaching in Anchorage, qualifying graduates to teach elementary and middle school students.

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.

Resume

Send us your current professional Curriculum Vitae or Resume.

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

Provides opportunities for the APU community to explore and enjoy Alaska’s wilderness through recreational trips, clinics, and outdoor resources
Offers a wide range of activities, including sea kayaking, rock climbing, canoeing, ice climbing, backpacking, and skiing
Supports all experience levels, from beginners trying something new to experienced adventurers seeking advanced opportunities
Offers discounted rates for APU community members

OUTDOOR PROGRAMS

Community and Place-Based Education

Gain knowledge and skills needed to run place-based educational programs in Alaska, including experiential education, Alaska Native and rural culture, outdoor skills, and ethics.

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Environmental Public Health

Prepare to be an environmental health professional, investigating, reporting, and addressing environmental hazards in the built and natural environment.

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Marine & Environmental Sciences

Interested in marine biology, fisheries, ecology, climate change, applied mathematics, aquarium and animal
husbandry science, or environmental policy? This degree is for you.

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Student Testimonials

Claire Bicknell

One of my favorite classes was Snow Science II. Instead of just learning from a textbook, we were out in the field studying snow conditions and skiing through the terrain we were analyzing. Those hands-on experiences are what made my education at APU so memorable.

Claire Bicknell

Outdoor studies BA
Spring 2025

Audri Goodwine

My favorite part of studying at APU has been the expedition courses, where we get to apply what we’ve learned in the field. That’s where I feel like I learn the most because we’re working in challenging conditions, dealing with unpredictable weather, and trying new outdoor skills. Those trips have been some of my most memorable experiences. Even when they’re difficult, they’re incredibly rewarding, and I wouldn’t have had those opportunities if it weren’t for these classes.

Audri Goodwine

Outdoor Studies BA with minor in Counseling Psychology
Spring 2026

Audrey Palmer

Some of my most meaningful experiences at APU came through the outdoor studies courses. I loved spending a month in the Alaska Range during the mountaineering course, and later had the opportunity to TA the Winter Wilderness course. Those experiences challenged me, helped me develop a wide range of outdoor skills, and gave me the in-depth field experience that really sharpened my technical abilities.

Audrey Palmer

Environmental Science BS
Spring 2026

Audri Goodwine

Counseling Skills has been my favorite class at APU. Practicing counseling techniques and learning how to give and receive feedback has made it the most valuable class I’ve ever taken. It’s shaped the way I communicate with people, especially in vulnerable situations. Those skills have also carried over into my outdoor studies courses, where understanding how people think, respond, and work together is essential to supporting others effectively.

Audri Goodwine

Outdoor Studies BA with minor in Counseling Psychology
Spring 2026