Outdoor Adventure Leadership, Associate of Science
The Outdoor Adventure Leadership degree supports all four core themes. As you earn your Outdoor Adventure Leadership degree, you will learn wilderness skills and gain confidence in leadership situations. We stress low-impact techniques for responsible environmental stewardship. This two-year outdoor education school teaches: wilderness studies, business and management principles, group development, leadership theory, communication & conflict resolution, safe & efficient travel, and Leave No Trace.
Outdoor Adventure Leadership prepares you to enter the job market and to transfer to a four-year institution like Southern Oregon University. Job opportunities include: adventure travel planners, nature and outdoor center guides, wilderness instructors, forestry technicians, outdoor recreation retail business owners or managers, and resort recreation or camp leaders.
Graduation Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 92 credit hours with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better. Twenty-four (24) credits must be completed at Southwestern before the AS degree is awarded.
Courses that are developmental in nature (designed to prepare students for college transfer courses) are not applicable to this degree.
Students must complete the graduation application process one term prior to the term of completion (e.g., spring term graduates must apply during winter term).
Student Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate responsible wilderness ethics and environmental stewardship as defined by current industry trends.
- Demonstrate excellence in technical skills with competence in safety and industry standards.
- Demonstrate expertise in logistics and expedition planning.
- Facilitate a quality outdoor program through the use of effective communication, appropriate relationships, and compassionate leadership.
Program Guide
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BI101 | General Biology 2 | 4 |
| OAL250 | Foundations of Outdoor Adventure & Leadership | 3 |
| SOC204Z | Introduction to Sociology 1 | 4 |
| WR121Z & WR121A |
Composition I and Corequisite Support for WR121Z |
5 |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Winter | ||
| ANTH222 | Cultural Anthropology II 5 | 3 |
| BI102 | General Biology 2 | 4 |
| ENG106Z | Introduction To Poetry 4 | 4 |
| WR122Z | Composition II | 4 |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BI103 | General Biology 2 | 4 |
| MTH105Z & MTH105A |
Math in Society and Corequisite Support for MTH105 6 |
5 |
| SOC206Z | Social Problems | 4 |
| SOC208 | Sociology of Sport 7 | 3 |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENV110 | Introduction Environmental Science | 3 |
| OAL150 | Outdoor Living Skills | 2 |
| PE131 | Intro to Health & Physical Ed | 3 |
| STAT243Z | Elementary Statistics I | 4 |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| ART205 | History of Western Art: Introduction to Art History 8 | 3 |
| HE253 | Wilderness First Aid | 3 |
| FN225 | Nutrition | 4 |
| PE259 | Care & Prev of Athletic Injuries | 3 |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM111Z | Public Speaking | 4 |
| HUM206 | World Mythology & Religion 9 | 3 |
| OAL223 | Wilderness Navigation | 2 |
| PE231 | Wellness for Life | 3 |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| PE185 3 | 1 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Total Credits | 92 | |
- 1
Choose from AAOT Social Science list.
- 2
Choose from AAOT Lab Science list.
- 3
For Sport/Activity courses, choose from PE185AE, PE185AF, PE185AG, PE185HA, PE185DG, PE185SD, PE185CB, PE185KY, or PE185PB.
- 4
May also select from ART115, ART116, ART117, ART131, ART244, ART253, ART256, ENG105Z, MUS201, MUS202, or MUS203.
- 5
May also select from ANTH103, ANTH221, ANTH223, ANTH230, ANTH231, ANTH232, CJ101, HST101, HST102, HST103, SOC208, or SOC218.
- 6
MTH105Z or higher, with a prerequisite of MTH95, excluding MTH211.
- 7
Choose from AAOT Cultural Literacy list.
- 8
May also select from ART204, ART206, ASL201, ASL202, ASL203, ENG204, ENG205, ENG253, ENG254, ENG255, COMM100Z, COMM220, SPAN103Z, SPAN201, SPAN202, SPAN203, or WR243.
- 9
Choose from AAOT Arts & Letters list.