Minor and Second Major Options

To support lifelong learning and to open up future career opportunities, all students majoring in Outdoor Education are required to successfully complete four courses from a secondary area of interest. Often, students decide to extend this basic requirement and pursue a minor or even a second major. Commonly pursued areas include Education, Social Work, Business, English, Psychology, or various Natural Sciences, although many other possibilities exist.

Teaching Certification Option

Through a unique partnership with the Education Department, Outdoor Education students have the option to pursue K-12 teaching certificates. Students interested in working in or with public schools are encouraged to consider this option, as a teaching certificate can be a tremendous career asset. By completing the required coursework and teaching internship, students can become certified as teachers for K-6 elementary education or in middle school general science. Secondary education certification is also possible, requiring considerable coursework in a subject-matter discipline. Students can also consider enrolling in Live, Learn and Teach to gain real-world skills and complete a portion of their coursework over the summer. Students considering a teaching certificate should talk to their advisor as early as possible, or they can email Jayson Seaman for more information.

Pursuing a Minor in Outdoor Education

Students majoring in other academic disciplines are encouraged to consider pursuing an Outdoor Education minor. This option provides valuable skills and perspectives on how experiential and outdoor education can supplement teaching, training, or other careers. Interested students are asked to work with an Outdoor Education faculty member to select an appropriate 20 credits of courses that support their primary major and their interest in the outdoors.

Double Major with Social Work

Outdoor Education students, who combine their core technical competencies with teaching and leading adventure activities, can also concurrently complete a social work degree. Through the joint program, students are oriented to social work practice that focuses on populations at risk, values and ethics in social systems, and social and economic justice in human services. The culmination of the two majors is an internship placement with an organization that uses outdoor or experiential philosophies in a social work setting. The double major also prepares qualified students who wish to pursue graduate education in schools of social work and other human services.