Outdoor Recreation, AS

Program Description

This program offers students a business/ entrepreneurial perspective of the outdoor recreation service industry that includes learning, training, and assessment of leadership and program management skills.

Upon completion of this program, students will:

  1. Execute basic business practices
  2. Apply elements of human development to outdoor recreation program settings
  3. Evaluate leadership styles and group dynamics
  4. Demonstrate intermediate to advanced skill sets in a specific area of interest within outdoor recreation
  5. Manage risks associated with a variety of outdoor activities

Students have the option to spend up to one full semester taking wilderness-based courses with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). NOLS offers these educational expeditions at remote, pristine locations in the US and abroad. To receive college credit for NOLS courses, students must enroll concurrently in the appropriate corresponding course at CWC. For example, CWC students taking a NOLS semester course should be enrolled in G&R 2050, G&R 2031, and EDUC 2050. For more information on NOLS offerings visit www.nols.edu or call NOLS admissions at 1-800-710-6657.

Majors can also choose to live at our outdoor education center near Sinks Canyon in Lander. In the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, student cabins offer opportunities for reflective solitude and easy access to: trout streams, world class rock climbing areas, and a variety of hike and mountain bike trails.

The Outdoor Recreation program is especially appropriate for students wishing to start their own outdoor-related small business, build careers in parks, recreation and tourism or transfer to a university to complete their bachelor's degree.

General Education Requirements

Writing Level I (WR1) 3 credits
Writing Level II (WR2) 3 credits
American & Wyoming Government (POLS 1000) 3 credits
Student must complete six (6) credits of general education courses distributed over two (2) different general education areas, ARTS/HUM/SOC 6 credits
LSCI (in program)
MATH (in program)
ORAL 3 credits
UNST 1 credits

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Course NumberTitleCredits
BIOL 1080Intro to Environmental Science

4 credits

EDUC 1050Leading Adventure Programs

3 credits

ORTM 1000Foundations of Recreation & Tourism

3 credits

 

HLED 2010Wilderness First Responder

4 credits

OR

HLED 2015Wilderness EMT

9 credits

 

MATH 1000Problem Solving

3 credits

OR

MATH 1400College Algebra

4 credits

PEAC Choose 3 credits of PEAC from Electives below

3 credits

 

STAT 2050Fundamentals of Statistics

4 credits

OR

STAT 2070Intro. Statistics/Social Sciences

4 credits

Program Electives

Students must choose seventeen (17) credits from the following list of approved electives:

Course NumberTitleCredits
AIST 1350American Indians in Contemporary Society

3 credits

ANTH 1100Introduction to Physical Anthropology

3 credits

ASTR 1050Survey of Astronomy

4 credits

EDFD 2450Human Life Span Development

3 credits

EDUC 2045Outdoor Leadership Instructor

1 - 5 credits

EDUC 2050Outdoor Education & Leadership

1 - 5 credits

ENR 2425Mountain Environments

4 credits

G&R 1010Intro to Physical Geography

G&R 1090Avalanche Lvl 1:Dsn Mkng Avlnch Terrain

1 credits

G&R 2020Mountaineering:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2030Wilderness Backpacking:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2031Combined Expeditions:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2032Winter Expedition:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2033Rock Climbing:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2034Water Expedition:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2035River Rescue Certification

1 credits

G&R 2050Environmental Ethics & Management:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2090Avalanche Lvl 2:Anlz Snwpk & Aval Haz.

2 credits

GEOG 1100Introduction to Geographic Info Systems

4 credits

HLED 2015Wilderness EMT

9 credits

PEAC 1258Skiing & Snowboarding

1 credits

PEAC 1259PE:Cross Country Skiing

1 credits

PEAC 1287Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing

1 credits

PEAC 1297PE:Whitewater Rafting/Rescue

1 credits

PEAC 1380Outdoor Multi-Sport

1 - 3 credits

PEAC 1387Indoor Rock Climbing

1 credits

PEAC 1540Mountain Biking

1 credits

PEAC 2018PE:Water Safety/Lifeguard Training

1 credits

PEAC 2025Wilderness Navigation

1 credits

PEAC 2058Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding

1 credits

PEAC 2088Alpine Climbing and Rescue

1 credits

G&R 1090, G&R 2020, G&R 2030, G&R 2032, G&R 2033, G&R 2034, G&R 2035, G&R 2090, PEAC 1258, PEAC 1259, PEAC 1287, PEAC 1297, PEAC 1540, PEAC 2018, PEAC 2025, PEAC 2058: Field-based, off-campus course

*G&R 2031, G&R 2050, EDUC 2050 together constitute the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester course and must be taken concurrently. In addition HLED 2010 may be taken concurrently for select NOLS semesters.

Total Credit Hours: 60