Program Learning Goals:
- Demonstrate Leadership and Decision-Making: Students will demonstrate effective leadership by managing group dynamics, making informed decisions, and applying risk management strategies in diverse outdoor environments.
- Apply Technical and Safety Skills in Expeditionary Settings: Students will apply advanced technical skills (e.g., navigation, climbing, rescue techniques) and implement safety protocols to ensure successful and responsible outdoor experiences.
- Design and Evaluate Outdoor Education Programs: Students will design comprehensive outdoor education programs and evaluate their effectiveness in promoting leadership development, environmental ethics, and participant engagement.
Program Requirements
A minimum of 57 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 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ROE 293 | Outdoor Pursuits Education - Water w/ Lab | 3 |
| ROE 295 | Outdoor Pursuits Education - Snow Based w/Lab | 3 |
| ROE 296 | Outdoor Pursuits Education - Land Based | 3 |
| ROE 391 | Experiential Education Theory and Pedagogy | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) | ||
| Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-HI1) | ||
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History | ||
| Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education | ||
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Recreation and Sport Marketing | ||
| Entrepreneurship and Commercial Recreation | ||
| Total Credits | 21 | |
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).
Certification Hours in Outdoor Leadership
Additionally, students must complete at least 100 hours of certification-based or skill-based courses (not including WFR, Project Wet, Project Wild, or other certifications associated with required courses).
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 |
| ROE 182 | Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Education | 3 |
| WWGE 101/102/103/104 | Headwaters (select one) | 2 |
| Western Watershed | Western Watershed Course(s) | 7 |
| 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 | |
| Summer | ||
| **Summer courses count towards a student’s GPA, Academic Standing, and follow summer tuition fee structure. | ||
| ROE 293 or ROE 296 |
Outdoor Pursuits Education - Water w/ Lab or Outdoor Pursuits Education - Land Based |
3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| ROE 235 | Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education | 3 |
| ROE 240 | Alternative Programming | 3 |
| Elective | Elective Course(s) | 6 |
| 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 333 or ROE 398 |
Recreation and Sport Marketing or Program Planning (with laboratory) |
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 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 124-130 | |
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.