The Outdoor Adventure Leadership (OAL) degree develops leadership skills, facilitation methods, and effective communication techniques.  This degree combines the study of educational and leadership theory and practice with technical outdoor travel and adventure.  Students will acquire and enhance environmental skills and knowledge related to a variety of populations including senior citizens and youth-at-risk.  They will also explore issues ranging from ethical controversies and risk management to program design.  In addition, the ability to safely engage in and provide outdoor activities and effectively teach skills in outdoor and indoor settings are central to the degree.

Outdoor Adventure Leadership prepares students for careers in a wide variety of leadership.  The Outdoor Adventure Leadership degree allows the student to teach outdoor skills, safely oversee outdoor activities, and design programs for corporate and community organizations.  Students are prepared for professions with agencies that have a natural resource foundation and public and private entities utilizing the outdoors.  OAL graduates pursue careers in many different areas.  Options include employment with specialty outdoor training schools, recreation and environmental education centers, municipal park and recreation departments, land management agencies, military programs, student recreation in higher education, and commercial guiding operations, among others.

A grade of C- or higher is mandatory in all health and human performance courses satisfying the major requirements.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency with a range of land-, water-, and challenge course-based outdoor skills, including basic emergency response.
• Manage actual and perceived risk according to industry standards and best practices.
• Integrate sound experiential education principles to design, implement, and evaluate effective adventure experiences.
• Demonstrate effective leadership for a range of client groups and outcomes.
• Advocate for the environmental responsibility and ethics expected of outdoor professionals.
• Exhibit effective problem-solving and communication skills both in the field and classroom to make and implement quality decisions.

Admission Requirements for Outdoor Adventure Leadership

All students desiring admission to the Outdoor Adventure Leadership program are required to file an application for admission.  Applications for admission to the Outdoor Adventure Leadership program can be obtained online at www.msubillings.edu/chps/hhp or from the Department of Health and Human Performance Office in the Physical Education Building, Room 120.  The application should be submitted to the faculty advisor for review and approval, signed by the advisor and the Department Chairperson.  Each applicant must:

1. Complete 15 credit hours of required general education courses with a minimum GPA of 2.75 (see application for list of courses).
2. Have completed 18 or more credit hours from the list of prerequisite courses (see application for list of courses), including at least 4 credit hours of Skills courses with minimum GPA of 2.75 (no more than 4 credit hours of skills courses count toward the 18 credit hours).
3. Be aware that courses taken on a pass/no pass or credit/noncredit basis will not be used to calculate the GPA requirement.  Students should consult with their academic advisor.
4. Attach a current working copy of the transcript to the application form.
5. Submit a letter to the student’s Outdoor Adventure Leadership academic advisor explaining how the degree fits with his or her long term personal and professional goals, why he or she should be accepted into the program, and how he or she intends to enrich the program.
6. Be aware that applications are handled on a rolling admissions basis.  Students will be notified of the status of their application within 15 working days of submitting the complete application.  Enrollment in some major courses is limited to students admitted to the program.
7. Be aware that no student will be allowed to register for restricted upper division courses in Outdoor Adventure Leadership without admission to the Outdoor Adventure Leadership program.

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
General Education Requirements		31
Students should consult with their advisors to determine if specific courses are necessary in order to satisfy the General Education requirements within this major.
Interdisciplinary Core
ACT 498	Internship/Cooperative Educ	6
BIOE 202	Intro to Environmental Ecology	3
ECP 312	Wilderness Medicine	4
HEE 310	Methods of Adapted Hlth Enhncm	3
HTH 110	Personal Health and Wellness *	3
PSYX 230	Developmental Psychology	3
Subtotal		22
Degree Core
REC 200	Fnd Outdoor Advent Leadershp	3
REC 201	Fnd Outdoor Adv Leadershp Lab	1
REC 280	Challenge Course Facilitation	3
REC 300	Advt Program Design & Delivery	3
REC 306	Applied Wilderness Leadership	3
REC 308	Appld Wildrnss Leadrshp-Winter	3
REC 309	People and the Environment	3
REC 310	Leadership in Adventure Prgrms	3
REC 411	Adventure Guiding/Instructing	3
REC 430	Risk Management in OAL	3
REC 470	OAL Operations & Asset Mangmnt	3
REC 499	OAL Capstone	3
Subtotal		34
REC Electives
Select at least 9 credits from the following:		9
REC 230	Instrct Strat: Bckcntry Anglrs
REC 233	Instruct Strat: Ski/Snowboard
REC 257	Instruct Strat: Rock Climbing
REC 270	Instruct Strat: Water Program
REC 381	Expedition Leadership
REC 401	Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare
Specialization or Approved Cognate
The Specialization allows Outdoor Adventure Leadership students to pursue further study in a discipline or area that interests them. Choose from one of the advisor-recommended minors available at MSUB, or create a Cognate of courses from an approved list. Cognate must be approved by faculty advisor. A minimum of 24 credit hours are required for either option.		24
Total Minimum Credits		120

*

May satisfy General Education requirements.

Certain courses in this program have prerequisites; students should check the course descriptions for required prerequisites.

Due to the course content and environmental requirements, a significant number of REC classes will be held off of the MSU Billings main campus.  Courses may meet on weekends and/or during semester breaks.  Some courses require a special fee that covers, but is not limited to:  transportation, food, gear, lift tickets, and certifications.

Suggested Plan of Study

This checklist provides a recommended sequence of courses for first year students.  Students are advised to use this form in conjunction with the MSUB academic catalog and meetings with the academic advisor and faculty mentor.  Actual course sequencing may vary depending on course availability, course prerequisites, specialization requirements, and student preferences.  Summer courses may be required.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
First Year
Fall
WRIT 101	College Writing I	3
REC 200 & REC 201	Fnd Outdoor Advent Leadershp and Fnd Outdoor Adv Leadershp Lab	4
Gen Ed Life Science (BIOB 101 or BIOB 160 recommended)		3
HTH 110	Personal Health and Wellness	3
REC or ACT course		2
COLS 108	The College Experience	1
Total		16
Spring
REC 310	Leadership in Adventure Prgrms	3
BIOE 202	Intro to Environmental Ecology	3
PSYX 100	Intro to Psychology	3
General Education		6
Total		15
Second Year
Fall
PSYX 230	Developmental Psychology	3
REC 280	Challenge Course Facilitation	3
Cognate/Specialization		3
General Education		6
Total		15
Spring
HEE 310	Methods of Adapted Hlth Enhncm	3
REC 300	Advt Program Design & Delivery	3
REC Elective		2
REC 309	People and the Environment	3
General Education		3
Total		14
Third Year
Fall
REC 306	Applied Wilderness Leadership	3
REC Electives		4
Cognate/Specialization		6
General Education		3
Total		16
Spring
General Education		3
REC 308	Appld Wildrnss Leadrshp-Winter	3
REC Elective		3
Cognate/Specialization		6
Total		15
Fourth Year
Fall
REC 411	Adventure Guiding/Instructing	3
REC 499	OAL Capstone	3
ACT 498	Internship/Cooperative Educ	3
Cognate/Specialization		6
Total		15
Spring
REC 430	Risk Management in OAL	3
REC 470	OAL Operations & Asset Mangmnt	3
ECP 312	Wilderness Medicine	4
Cognate/Specialization		3
Total		13

¹

BIOB 101 or BIOB 160 recommended.

²

PSYX 100 recommended.

³

Optional