Program Description
The Outdoor Education & Leadership degree program is for the student interested in careers in outdoor education, environmental education, adventure programming, or conservation. This unique program combines wilderness expeditions and outdoor skills courses with natural history and a liberal arts curriculum. The program emphasizes leadership development and experience-based education. CWC’s Alpine Science Institute offers a range of courses that use non-motorized travel (hiking, skiing, mountain biking and whitewater rafting) to visit and learn about remote wilderness areas in and around the Wyoming Rockies.
The Outdoor Education & Leadership program is a 4-semester program for the student ready for college-level courses. A student who places into pre-college math or English courses may require a preparatory semester before beginning the four-semester program. Most majors choose to live at the Alpine Science Institute (ASI) near Lander, WY. In the foothills of the Wind River Mountains, ASI offers unparalleled opportunities for reflective solitude, outdoor adventure, and study of the natural world. The student pays an equipment fee which grants access to mountain bikes, snow bikes, cross country and downhill skis, snowboards, rafts, canoes, paddleboards, climbing and camping gear.
The student has the option to spend up to one full semester taking wilderness-based courses with the Nols. Nols offers 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, visit www.nols.edu or call 1-800-710-6657.
General Education Requirements
| Writing Level I (WR1) |
3 credits |
| Writing Level II (WR2) |
3 credits |
| American & Wyoming Government (POLS 1000) |
3 credits |
| ARTS |
3 credits |
| HUM |
3 credits |
| LSCI |
(in program) |
| MATH |
3 credits |
| ORAL |
3 credits |
| SOC |
3 credits |
| UNST |
1 credits |
Program Requirements
Course Requirements
| BIOL 1080 | Intro to Environmental Science | 4 credits |
| EDUC 1055 | Introduction to Outdoor Education | 3 credits |
| ORTM 2470 | Outdoor Education Practicum | 4 credits |
| ORTM 1000 | Foundations of Recreation & Tourism | 3 credits |
| ORTM 2410 | Outdoor Leadership | 3 credits |
| | | |
| HLED 2010 | Wilderness First Responder | 4 credits |
| | OR | |
| HLED 2015 | Wilderness EMT | 9 credits |
OEAC 2031, G&R 2050, and either EDUC 2050 -OR- EDUC 2045 together constitute the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester course and must be taken concurrently if CWC students are taking a NOLS Semester-length course.
In addition HLED 2010 or HLED 2015 may be taken concurrently for select NOLS semesters which include medical training.
Students must choose four (4) credits from the following list of Expedition Courses
| EDUC 2015 | Outdoor Educator: | 1 - 5 credits |
| EDUC 2045 | Outdoor Leadership Instructor | 1 - 5 credits |
| EDUC 2050 | Outdoor Education & Leadership | 1 - 5 credits |
| G&R 2032 | Winter Expedition: | 1 - 5 credits |
| G&R 2033 | Rock Climbing: | 1 - 5 credits |
| G&R 2034 | Water Expedition: | 1 - 5 credits |
| G&R 2050 | Environmental Ethics & Management: | 1 - 5 credits |
| OEAC 2020 | Mountaineering: | 1 - 5 credits |
| OEAC 2030 | Wilderness Backpacking: | 1 - 5 credits |
| OEAC 2031 | Combined Expeditions: | 1 - 5 credits |
OEAC 2031, G&R 2050, and either EDUC 2050 -OR- EDUC 2045 together constitute the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester course and must be taken concurrently if CWC students are taking a NOLS Semester-length course.
In addition HLED 2010 or HLED 2015 may be taken concurrently for select NOLS semesters which include medical training.
Students must choose three (3) OEAC credits from the following list of approved courses
Program Electives
Students must choose seven (7) additional credits from the OEAC courses above or from the following list of approved courses:
OEAC 2031, G&R 2050, and either EDUC 2050 -OR- EDUC 2045 together constitute the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester course and must be taken concurrently if CWC students are taking a NOLS Semester-length course.
In addition HLED 2010 or HLED 2015 may be taken concurrently for select NOLS semesters which include medical training.