Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Get Outside

Discover limitless possibilities for a career in the outdoor recreation industry

Play Video

Outdoor Recreation

Associate of Science

Learn about the business and entrepreneurial side of the outdoor recreation service industry through the Outdoor Recreation program. This program is a great launching point if you are a student eager to start your own outdoor-related small business or are seeking a career in parks, recreation or tourism. 

Best practices in training, leadership assessment, and program management will be explored, along with developing skills in understanding human development and psychology in outdoor recreation program settings and risk management. 

You’ll have 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 U.S. and abroad. For more information on NOLS visit the NOLS website. 

PMBI in black with a black circle that says Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Ass. Blue background inside the circle

Course NumberCourse

Credits

BIOL 1080Intro to Environmental Science

4 credits

EDUC 1050Leading Adventure Programs

3 credits

ORTM 1000Foundations of Recreation and Tourism

3 credits

HLED 2010 OR 
HLED 2015
Wilderness First Responder OR Wilderness EMT

4-9 credits

MATH 1000 OR 
MATH 1400
Problem Solving OR College Algebra

3-4 credits

PSYC 1000General Psychology

4 credits

PEACChoose 3 credits of PEAC from Electives below

3 credits

STAT 2000Statistics and the World

3 credits

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

Course NumberCourse

Credits

ANTH 1100Introduction to Biological 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

3 credits

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

1 credit

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 credit

G&R 2050Environmental Ethics & Management:

1 – 5 credits

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

2 credits

GEOG 2310Intro to Geographic Information Systems

4 credits

HLED 2015Wilderness EMT

9 credits

NAIS 1350American Indians in Contemporary Society

3 credits

PEAC 1258Skiing & Snowboarding

1 credit

PEAC 1259Cross Country Skiing

1 credit

PEAC 1287Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing

1 credit

PEAC 1297Whitewater Rafting/Rescue

1 credit

PEAC 1380Outdoor Multi-Sport

1 – 3 credits

PEAC 1387Indoor Rock Climbing

1 credit

PEAC 1540Mountain Biking

1 credit

PEAC 2018Water Safety

1 credit

PEAC 2025Wilderness Navigation

1 credit

PEAC 2058Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding

1 credit

PEAC 2088Alpine Climbing and Rescue

1 credit

CourseCredits
Writing Level I3
Writing Level II3
American and Wyoming Government3
ARTS/HUMANITIES/SOCIOLOGY6
Oral Communications3
University Studies1

Total Credit Hours: 60

Get to know your instructors

Professor of Outdoor Education and Leadership

Darran Wells is passionate about all kinds of outdoor activities – hiking, climbing, caving, and skiing, but mountain biking is a sport he dedicates most of his free time to.

Adjunct Professor of Outdoor Education and Leadership

Stacy Tostrup Wells has been teaching professionally in the outdoors for more than 20 years.

Adjunct Professor of Outdoor Education and Leadership

As an undergraduate professor, guide, program director, corporate trainer and business owner, Jake has been teaching in the outdoors for more than 20 years.

Let the adventure begin

If you have an interest in anthropology, environmental sciencegeospatial information systems technology (GIST), or outdoor education you can begin your studies and career on top of the Rocky Mountains as part of the Alpine Science Institute at Central Wyoming College.  

Student on glacier

BACHELOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE

Outdoor Program Leadership

Take the next step in your outdoor leadership journey. This 8-semester program offers students an administrative perspective of the outdoor recreation service industry that includes learning, training, and assessment of leadership and program management skills. The program is especially appropriate for students wishing to: start their own outdoor-related small business, manage an outdoor recreation or education program, or build a career in leadership of parks, recreation, tourism, or natural resource management.