I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right area but....I am looking to get my Bachelor's in sometype of Outdoor/Recreation/Adventure Degree. I'm currently looking into Oregon State University but I'm curious to know if there are any top schools that employers look for or any school with an outstanding reputation for this program. I am also curious what kind of extra certifications and classes I can be taken to help my experience and resume. Thanks!
Alicia
You can also check out Prescott College's undergrad programs, Evergreen College, Washington University in Pullman, and University of NH. Good luck
Hi Shawn,
Thanks for your help! Actually the schools in Washington work for me best because i'm headed that way I had checked out Oregon State University but I wasn't sure that I really liked their curriculum. My question is though do you know if they offer outdoor degrees at these schools because I had called them and they seemed confused. Thanks for your help!
Hi Alicia! I recently collected a partial list of schools offering experiential degrees, etc. You can see them all here: http://www.facilitutor.com/links.php#Schools
Most of them were collected from suggestions on the Ropes-Online mailing list. If you've found any not on the list, I'd love it if you posted them.
cheers,
James Bennett
Facili(tutor)
http://www.facilitutor.com
BREVARD COLLEGE!!!!! in the mountains of North Carolina- their degree is Wilderness Leadership adn Experiential Education- also check out Unity College in Maine.
There are a number of schools throughout the U.S. which are "known" for having quality Outdoor programs. I would encourage you to search inside yourself to determine if you want a more Recreation focused or Adventure/Outoor focused program. A recreation program is going to follow a heavily administrative/municipal track and the outdoor/adventure programs are still going to have administrative portions, but you will (should) pick up the time in the field working and learning different trades i.e. climbing, ropes courses, paddling, backpacking, etc.
I am currently wrapping up a masters program at Western Kentucky University which has been a positive experience. I also received my undergraduate degree here. The undergraduate Outdoor curriculum is solid. You also have the addition of the Recreation focused courses.
Some other schools which were not already mentioned are:
Georgia College & State University Dept. of Kinesiology & Outdoor Education Center Jude Hirsch CBX 065 Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490 U.S.A. E-Mail: jude.hirsch@gcsu.edu Phone: 478-445-1218 Website: http://hercules.gcsu.edu/~jhirsch/ Accreditation Expiration: 5/10/2011 First Accredited: 11/24/1997
Greenfield Community College Outdoor Leadership Program Austin Paulson 1 College Drive Greenfield, MA 01301 U.S.A. E-Mail: paulsona@gcc.mass.edu Phone: 413-775-1126 Website: http://www.gcc.mass.edu/ Accreditation Expiration: 11/9/2006 First Accredited: 11/9/1998
You can also look up other schools at the AEE accredited programs site :
http://www.aee.org/accreditation/AEEprograms
and the member page:
http://www.aee.org/find/program/results/
You can also look at the National Recreation and Parks Association page :
http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=1190
Hope this helps,
Ian
The University of New Hampshire (Durham Campus) has one of the best programs in the country
Warren Wilson College. Asheville, NC Right down the road from Brevard College. Small school, good program.
I currently teach at Ithaca College where we have a B.S. in Outdoor Adventure Leadership (http://www.ithaca.edu/hshp/depts/rls/). I graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Outdoor Recreation. They are close to Spoakne WA.
Chris