Program Overview

Outdoor Education (OUT) Program

The Outdoor Education (OUT) program offers a variety of courses that focus on the technical, teaching, and leadership skills required for outdoor recreation and education. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of outdoor education and its applications.

Course Descriptions

• OUT 444A - Risk and the Human Experience: Explores the construct of risk in two phases: knowledge building and knowledge application. The course employs a problem-based learning approach with four distinct modules that ask students to apply, experience, and evaluate risk in various contexts.
• OUT 515 - History of Outdoor Pursuits in North America: Examines the history of outdoor pursuits in North America, from the early 17th century to the present day. The course explores how Americans' experiences in the outdoors have influenced and been influenced by major historical developments.
• OUT 539 - Artificial Climbing Wall Management: Introduces students to the procedures, methods, and techniques of artificial climbing wall management, including operations, supervision, equipment and facility use/maintenance, and risk management strategies.
• OUT 540 - Top Rope Rock Climbing: Provides students with an understanding of the equipment, techniques, and procedures necessary for setting up and managing top rope rock climbing and rappelling sites, including advanced rescue skills.
• OUT 541 - Technical Operation of Aerial Adventure Courses: Focuses on the development of technical skills and judgment associated with facilitating/guiding clients at height, including equipment management, traditional and advanced belay techniques, and gear rescues.
• OUT 542 - Sea Kayaking: Introduces students to the technical, teaching, and leadership skills required to assist with kayaking programs on protected waterways, including individual kayaking skills, self- and group-assisted rescues, and safety and group management.
• OUT 545 - High Angle Rescue: Provides students with the skills necessary to perform self and group rescues in steep terrain and high angle environments, including the implementation of self- and partner-rescues in technical climbing environments.
• OUT 546 - Whitewater Canoeing: Introduces students to whitewater canoeing skills, including the equipment, techniques, and procedures necessary for conducting canoeing activities in flat water, moving water, and whitewater environments.
• OUT 547 - Lead Rock Climbing: Designed to provide students with a structured environment to transition from top rope rock climbing or sport climbing to multi-pitch traditional lead climbing, focusing on the development of technical skills and judgment associated with leading in a multi-pitch environment.
• OUT 549 - Wilderness Navigation: Introduces the methods and techniques of wilderness navigation, including map interpretation, compass use, global positioning systems, and other navigation methods.
• OUT 551 - Adventure Programming: Backcountry Based Experience: Introduces the leadership of land-based backpacking programs, including backpacking equipment, trip planning and organization, instruction of basic camping skills, and implementation of safety procedures and group management.
• OUT 552 - Adventure Programming: Water Based Experiences: Introduces the leadership of canoe expeditions, including necessary canoeing equipment, trip planning and organization, instruction of basic canoeing strokes, and implementation of safety procedures and group management.
• OUT 681 - Foundations of Adventure Education: Explores the models and theories underpinning adventure education, including adventure education history, outdoor leadership, personal growth, group development, risk taking and risk management, educational philosophy, and learning theory.
• OUT 682 - Experiential Teaching & Leadership: Provides an orientation to experiential learning, teaching, and leadership in outdoor recreation, education, and instructional settings, including program designs, lesson plans, teaching methods, activity facilitation, leadership styles, and risk management considerations.
• OUT 686 - Wilderness Emergency Medical Care: Covers the standards of practice for professionals providing emergency medical care in remote areas, including wilderness trauma and illness, search and rescue operations, and environmental emergencies.
• OUT 693 - Teaching Assistantship: Allows students to serve as teaching assistants in assigned class activities, including teaching and administrative duties.

Attributes and Equivalent Courses

• Many OUT courses have attributes such as Social Science (Discovery), Historical Perspectives (Disc), and Writing Intensive Course.
• Some OUT courses have equivalent courses in other departments, such as KIN (Kinesiology) and RMP (Recreation Management and Policy).

Grade Modes and Special Fees

• Most OUT courses use Letter Grading, but some may use Credit/Fail Grading.
• Some OUT courses have Special Fees associated with them, which may cover equipment, transportation, or certification costs.