Program Learning Goals:
- Apply Experiential Learning in Outdoor Settings: Students will apply experiential education principles to design and implement outdoor learning experiences that foster environmental awareness and stewardship.
- Analyze Environmental Issues Using Field-Based Inquiry: Students will analyze contemporary environmental challenges by conducting field-based investigations and synthesizing data from natural and social sciences.
- Create Educational Programs that Promote Social and Environmental Change: Students will create innovative outdoor education programs that integrate sustainability concepts and inspire communities toward positive environmental action.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 68 credits is required, including the 36-credit Recreation and Outdoor Education Core:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Outdoor Education Core | ||
| ROE 182 | Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Education | 3 |
| ROE 189 | Principles of Outdoor Education | 3 |
| ROE 240 | Alternative Programming | 3 |
| ROE 283 | Leadership and Facilitation | 3 |
| ROE 351 | Inquiry into Sustainability | 3 |
| ROE 398 | Program Planning (with laboratory) | 3 |
| ROE 454 | Human Development and Counseling for Outdoor Educators | 3 |
| ROE 468 | Leadership and Administration | 3 |
| ROE 490 | Recreation Philosophy and Ethics | 3 |
| ROE 491 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| ROE 499 | Internship in Recreation and Outdoor Education | 3-9 |
| Total Credits | 33-39 | |
And the courses listed below. Additionally, students must become certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ROE 230 | Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History | 3 |
| ROE 235 | Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education | 3 |
| ROE 391 | Experiential Education Theory and Pedagogy | 3 |
| Required supporting courses: | ||
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Outdoor Pursuits Education - Water w/ Lab | ||
| Outdoor Pursuits Education - Snow Based w/Lab | ||
| Outdoor Pursuits Education - Land Based | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Global Environmental Policy | ||
| Entrepreneurship and Commercial Recreation | ||
| Facilities and Administration | ||
| Select eight credits of the following: | 8 | |
| Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | ||
| Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) and Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | ||
| Physical Geology (GT-SC2) and Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Medical Requirement
All Recreation and Outdoor Education majors must obtain a medical competency prior to graduation. Recreation emphasis majors must take ESS 276 Emergency Response or equivalent. Students with an emphasis in Outdoor Environmental Education, Outdoor Leadership, or Recreation and Outdoor Education Major: Comprehensive Program with Five-Year Master in Environmental Management must obtain certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR).
Capstone Course Requirement
The following courses in the Recreation and Outdoor Education Major fulfill the capstone course requirements: ROE 499 Internship in Recreation and Outdoor Education.
Western Watershed General Education Requirements
Students must complete all Western Watershed General Education requirements to graduate.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Sample Plan
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) (Western Watershed - Fundamental Skills) | 3 |
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-HI1) | 3 |
| ROE 182 | Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Education | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 4 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters: Studies in...(select one) | 2 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) (Western Watershed - Fundamental Skills) | 3 |
| MATH 140 | College Algebra (GT-MA1) (Western Watershed - Fundamental Skills) | 3 |
| ROE 189 | Principles of Outdoor Education | 3 |
| ROE 283 | Leadership and Facilitation | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ENVS 200 | Writing the Environment | 3 |
| ROE 240 | Alternative Programming | 3 |
| ROE 235 | Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 3 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ROE 230 | Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History | 3 |
| ROE 295 | Outdoor Pursuits Education - Snow Based w/Lab | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 6 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| ROE 293 or ROE 296 |
Outdoor Pursuits Education - Water w/ Lab or Outdoor Pursuits Education - Land Based |
3 |
| **Summer courses count towards a student’s GPA, Academic Standing, and follow summer tuition fee structure. | ||
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| ROE 351 | Inquiry into Sustainability | 3 |
| ROE 398 or ROE 333 |
Program Planning (with laboratory) or Recreation and Sport Marketing |
3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 6 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) Within Major | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ROE 398 or ROE 333 |
Program Planning (with laboratory) or Recreation and Sport Marketing |
3 |
| ROE 391 | Experiential Education Theory and Pedagogy | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) Within Major | 3 |
| WWGE 301/302/303/304 | Delta (select one) | 1 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| ROE 296 or ROE 293 |
Outdoor Pursuits Education - Land Based or Outdoor Pursuits Education - Water w/ Lab |
3 |
| Elective | ROE Online Elective | 3 |
| **Summer courses count towards a student’s GPA, Academic Standing, and follow summer tuition fee structure. | ||
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| ROE 454 | Human Development and Counseling for Outdoor Educators | 3 |
| ROE 499 | Internship in Recreation and Outdoor Education | 3-9 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 3 |
| Credits | 9-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ROE 468 | Leadership and Administration | 3 |
| ROE 490 | Recreation Philosophy and Ethics | 3 |
| ROE 491 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| ROE 496 | Field Experiences | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 3 |
| Wilderness First Responder | WFR 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 121-127 | |
- 1
All Recreation and Outdoor Education majors must obtain a medical competency prior to graduation. Recreation emphasis majors must take a Red Cross Emergency Response First Aid course or equivalent. Students with an emphasis in Outdoor Environmental Education, Outdoor Leadership, or Recreation and Outdoor Education Major: Comprehensive Program with Five-Year Master in Environmental Management must obtain certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) or higher certification.
Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.