Outdoor Education and Leadership
The Outdoor Education and Leadership degree program is designed for students interested in careers in outdoor education, environmental education, adventure programming, or conservation. The degree is provided through a partnership with the
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). This very unique program combines NOLS wilderness expeditions with an outdoor and general studies curriculum offered through CWC.
The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, experiential teaching techniques, outdoor skills, and environmental ethics in traditional classrooms and outdoor settings. CWC offers a range of courses that use non-motorized travel (hiking, skiing, or rafting) to visit and learn about remote wilderness areas in and around the Wyoming Rockies.
The NOLS component of this program amounts to 12 to 16 of the 64 total credits required for graduation. NOLS courses may be taken in 3-6 weeks (over summer and winter breaks) or as part of an entire NOLS semester. NOLS offers these educational wilderness expeditions at remote, pristine locations in the US and abroad.
The suggested semester progression for traditional (non-transfer) students begins with a semester at CWC followed by a NOLS semester before completing the final two semesters back at CWC. To receive college credit for NOLS courses, students must enroll concurrently with NOLS and in the appropriate corresponding course at CWC. For example, CWC students taking a NOLS semester course should be enrolled in G&R 2050, BIOL 2045, and EDUC 2050. Some NOLS semesters also feature a Wilderness First Responder course, which would also require concurrent enrollment in HLED 2010.
Associate of Arts Degree
| General Education Requirements |
Credits |
| Writing Level I (WR1) |
3 |
| Writing Level II (WR2) |
3 |
| American & Wyoming Government (POLS 1000) |
3 |
| ARTS |
3 |
| DIV |
3 |
| HUM |
3 |
| LSCI |
(In program) |
| MATH |
3 |
| ORAL |
3 |
| PEAC |
1 |
| SOC |
(In program) |
| UNST |
1 |
| WELL |
1 |
| Program Requirements |
| BIOL |
1010 |
Biology 1 OR |
|
| BIOL |
1020 |
Life Science (LSCI) |
4 |
| EDUC |
1050 |
Leading Adventure Programs |
3 |
| EDUC |
1055 |
Introduction to Outdoor Education |
3 |
| EDUC |
2470 |
Outdoor Education Practicum |
4 |
| HLED |
2010* |
Wilderness First Responder |
4 |
| PSYC |
1000 |
General Psychology (SOC) |
4 |
| * May substitute HLED 2015 Wilderness EMT |
| Program Electives |
| Students must choose 12 credits from the following list of approved courses: |
| BIOL |
2045** |
Natural History of Regional Ecosystems |
4 |
| EDUC |
2015 |
Outdoor Educator |
1-5 |
| EDUC |
2045 |
Outdoor Leadership Instructor |
1-5 |
| EDUC |
2050** |
Outdoor Education & Leadership |
4 |
| EQST |
2655 |
Wilderness Horsepacking |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2020 |
Mountaineering: |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2030 |
Wilderness Backpacking |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2031 |
Combined Expedition |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2032 |
Winter Expedition |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2033 |
Rock Climbing: |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2034 |
Water Expedition: |
1-5 |
| G&R |
2050** |
Environmental Ethics & Management |
4 |
| Additional approved courses depending on area of specialization |
8 |
| General Electives |
3 |
| Total |
64 |
**
G&R 2050, BIOL 2045, EDST 2050 together constitute the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester course and must be taken concurrently. In addition HLED may be taken concurrently for select NOLS semesters.