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Discover limitless possibilities for a career in the outdoor recreation industry

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 Number Course

Credits

BIOL 1080 Intro to Environmental Science

4 credits

EDUC 1050 Leading Adventure Programs

3 credits

ORTM 1000 Foundations 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 1000 General Psychology

4 credits

PEAC Choose 3 credits of PEAC from Electives below

3 credits

STAT 2000 Statistics and the World

3 credits

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

Course Number Course

Credits

ANTH 1100 Introduction to Biological Anthropology

3 credits

ASTR 1050 Survey of Astronomy

4 credits

EDFD 2450 Human Life Span Development

3 credits

EDUC 2045 Outdoor Leadership Instructor

1 - 5 credits

EDUC 2050 Outdoor Education & Leadership

1 - 5 credits

ENR 2425 Mountain Environments

4 credits

G&R 1010 Intro to Physical Geography

3 credits

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

1 credit

G&R 2020 Mountaineering:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2030 Wilderness Backpacking:

1 - 5 credits

G&R 2031 Combined Expeditions:

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 2035 River Rescue Certification

1 credit

G&R 2050 Environmental Ethics & Management:

1 - 5 credits

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

2 credits

GEOG 2310 Intro to Geographic Information Systems

4 credits

HLED 2015 Wilderness EMT

9 credits

NAIS 1350 American Indians in Contemporary Society

3 credits

PEAC 1258 Skiing & Snowboarding

1 credit

PEAC 1259 Cross Country Skiing

1 credit

PEAC 1287 Introduction to Outdoor Rock Climbing

1 credit

PEAC 1297 Whitewater Rafting/Rescue

1 credit

PEAC 1380 Outdoor Multi-Sport

1 - 3 credits

PEAC 1387 Indoor Rock Climbing

1 credit

PEAC 1540 Mountain Biking

1 credit

PEAC 2018 Water Safety

1 credit

PEAC 2025 Wilderness Navigation

1 credit

PEAC 2058 Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding

1 credit

PEAC 2088 Alpine Climbing and Rescue

1 credit

CourseCredits
Writing Level I 3
Writing Level II 3
American and Wyoming Government 3
ARTS/HUMANITIES/SOCIOLOGY 6
Oral Communications 3
University Studies 1

 

Total Credit Hours: 60

Get to know your instructors!

Darran Wells

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.

Stacy Wells

Adjunct Professor of Outdoor Education and Leadership

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

Jacob Urban

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.