Outdoor Leadership Courses

Although there is some flexibility in the OL course sequencing based on electives, minors/double-majors, the following is a suggested progression:

First Year

  • OL 107 Wilderness First Responder | 2 Credits
  • SLAM 201 Leadership Dynamics | 2 Credits    
  • OL 205 Outdoor Leadership Theory | 2 Credits
  • OL 206 Outdoor Leadership Practice | 2 Credits

Second Year (Immersion Semester in Fall)

  • OL 399 Outdoor Adventure Semester 
  • OL 260 Intro to Mountaineering | 2 Credits (SU) 
  • OL 360 Fundamentals of Alpinism | 2 Credits
  • OL 330 Expedition Behavior | 2 Credits 
  • OL 158 and/or OL 159 Intro to Rock Climbing and/or Intro to Paddle Sports
  • OL 358  and/or OL 359 Sport Climbing Instructor and/or Fundamentals of Whitewater

Second Year (Winter and Spring Semester)

  • Elective Category Course

Third Year

  • SLAM 362 Program Development & Design | 2 Credits
  • Elective Category Course
  • SLAM 300W Current Issues & Topics of Sport and Outdoor Rec | 2 Credits (WID)
  • OL 110 Expedition Planning | 2 Credits
  • OL 310 International Expedition | 2 Credits
  • OL 407 Outdoor Leadership Seminar
  • OL 409 and/or OL 408 Rock Guide or Whitewater Guide
  • OL 340 Risk Management in Recreation & Sport | 2 Credits 
  • OL 479 Field Experience/Practicum | 4 Credits

Fourth Year

  • Elective Category Course
  • OL 499 Capstone | 2 Credits

You should attempt to take OL 107, OL 205, OL 206 as early as possible (within the first 2 semesters), as they are prerequisites for a number of courses in the major and minors.

Your capstone project (OL 499) will be developed in consultation with a faculty advisor, and will typically be performed in the last semester (or two) of your program.