Outdoor Education and Leadership Program Requirements

Faculty

• Kellie Gerbers (Chair)
• AJ Verkouw

VIEW Outdoor Education and Leadership Courses

Program Goals

• Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively teach diverse learners in front and backcountry settings.
• Students will graduate with an understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of outdoor education and recreation.
• Students will become experienced leaders with the ability to facilitate successful group experiences and foster leadership in others.
• Students will demonstrate competence in specific outdoor skills at a level where they can model, teach, and manage novices.
• Students will integrate natural science, cultural history, land management, literature, and Environmental studies into impactful place-based outdoor programming.
• Students will understand and articulate the transference of outdoor education & leadership skills to other disciplines and will graduate highly qualified to work professionally in the outdoor field.

Objectives

The Outdoor Education and Leadership program offers an academic major leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as an academic minor. The Outdoor Education & Leadership academic degree provides students the opportunity to develop leadership, technical, and critical thinking skills through field-based, experiential, and integrated learning. The OEL major curriculum explores the concept of place, not only in our natural environment but also in the historical, cultural, political, and social connections and implications within these spaces.

The Outdoor Education & Leadership academic degree provides students the opportunity to develop leadership, technical, and critical thinking skills through field-based, experiential, and integrated learning. The OEL major curriculum explores the concept of place, not only in our natural environment but also in the historical, cultural, political, and social connections and implications within these spaces.

Students will engage in the field of outdoor education, understanding how diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical to the philosophy and transformative possibilities of outdoor education. Students will learn how to work with diverse groups of learners and develop strong community relationships through outdoor education. Graduates will be prepared to work in the outdoor education profession in one or more settings, including:

• Expedition-based outdoor education programs
• Guiding
• Non-profit management
• Adventure/outdoor program administration
• Adventure therapy
• Environmental education and interpretation
• Public land management
• Camp programs
• Community recreation programs
• Programs specializing in working with people with disabilities

Program Requirements

All students must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a 3.0 GPA in OEL courses, and have a minimum grade of C in all OEL coursework. OEL courses may only be repeated once.

Students can select coursework to emphasize in a particular discipline. All students complete foundations coursework, Engaging the World coursework, WCore coursework, electives, and an internship.

Students considering the major are encouraged to meet with the program advisor as early as possible in their studies so that a program plan of coursework can be mapped.

In addition to major or minor requirements, students must meet these university-wide graduation requirements in order to obtain the OEL major or minor:

• 124 total hours
• 30 upper-division hours
• WCore or Honors College requirements

Major Requirements

Recommended Plan of Study

Minor Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum 2.3 GPA in all courses required for the Minor.

Westminster University requires all participants of activity-based classes and trips to carry personal health insurance. In the case of an accident, injury, or illness, your personal health insurance will be the primary provider and Westminster University insurance will be secondary if necessary. Up to 4 credit hours of other courses may be used in the elective category as approved by a program advisor. Six to Seven elective credits may not be skills-based courses.