Outdoor Recreation and Leadership, BS
Program Description
The bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership offers a comprehensive education with three distinct concentrations to cater to diverse career paths in the outdoor recreation industry. The Park and Land Management concentration includes an Associate's degree in Geospatial Technology, equipping students with advanced skills in mapping and spatial analysis essential for managing natural resources and protected areas. The Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism concentration features a certificate in Business Entrepreneurship, preparing students to create and manage sustainable tourism and outdoor adventure enterprises. The Environmental Education concentration emphasizes teaching skills in both formal and informal settings, training students to effectively educate diverse audiences about environmental stewardship and conservation. A senior capstone experience also allows students to showcase their knowledge. This degree provides a robust foundation in outdoor leadership, coupled with specialized expertise to succeed in various professional roles. Careers opportunities exist in the public, private, and commercial sectors.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Recreation Planning – The graduate will demonstrate proficiency and competence in planning recreational activities in a variety of settings.
- Facility Management and Outdoor/Adventure Education Leadership– The graduate will demonstrate leadership qualities, skills and competencies through the development of outdoor educational activities and programming.
- Land Management Policy – The student will be able to discuss and explain the history and derivation of the policies, practice and protocols specific to recreation, of the federal agencies which manage land masses for recreation either as a primary or secondary function.
- Research – Graduates demonstrate professional competence and expertise through completion of an original research study, including a written a senior research thesis and poster presentation.
- Statistics – The graduate will be able to apply statistical procedures and analysis to concepts and issues in the field of Outdoor Recreation and Leadership.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Program Requirements | ||
| RECS 101 | Int Recreation/Leisure Service | 3 |
| RECS 262 | Outdoor Recreation | 3 |
| RECS 360 | Facilitation & Interpretation | 3 |
| RECS 367 | National Park/Monument/Culture | 3 |
| RECS 492 | Internship | 6 |
| BIOL 132 | General Biology: Organisms | 4 |
| NRES 101 | Dev Sense Place Gr Lakes Reg | 3 |
| NRES 103 | Fund of Natural Resources | 3 |
| NRES 199 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| NRES 250 | Quantitative Ecology | 3 |
| NRES 284 | Principles Forest Conservation | 4 |
| NRES 286 | Principles of Watersheds | 3 |
| NRES 299 | Sophomore Seminar | 1 |
| NRES 350 | Eco Data Analysis & Interpret | 3 |
| NRES 399 | Research Project Design | 1 |
| NRES 495 | Senior Project | 2 |
| NRES 499 | Senior Capstone | 1 |
| BIOL 337 | General Ecology | 3 |
| EVRN 131 | Introduction to GIS and GPS | 3 |
| MATH 111 | College Algebra | 3 |
| CHEM 108 & CHEM 109 | Applied Chemistry and Applied Chemistry Lab | 3 |
| or CHEM 115 | General Chemistry I | |
| Complete one concentration: | 27-37 | |
Environmental Education | ||
Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism | ||
Park and Land Management | ||
| Total Hours | 86-96 | |
Environmental Education
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RECS 295 | Practicum | 2 |
| EMED 188 | Wilderness First Responder | 2 |
| MGMT 360 | Management Concepts & Apps | 3 |
| MGMT 464 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| SOWK 480 | Grantwriting | 3 |
| NRES 287 | Conservation Biology | 3 |
| TEAC 352 | 3-6 Design Lesson Sci Learning | 2 |
| TEAC 353 | 3-6 Science Pedagogy | 2 |
| Select two of the following courses: | ||
| Ichthyology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Aquatic Entomology | ||
| Total Hours | 20 | |
Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RECS 295 | Practicum | 2 |
| RECS 362 | Land Mgmt Recreation Purposes | 3 |
| RECS 365 | Expedition Management | 3 |
| RECS 390 | Rec Leader Apprenticeship | 2 |
| Select three of the following courses: | ||
| Backpacking | ||
| Paddling Sports | ||
| Rock Climbing and Rappelling | ||
| Cross Country Ski/Snowshoeing | ||
| Downhill Skiing, Snowboarding | ||
| EMED 188 | Wilderness First Responder | 2 |
| ACTG 132 | Principles of Accounting I | 4 |
| INTB 289 | Competing-Global Marketplace | 3 |
| BUSN 350 | Business Law I | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Principles Microeconomics | 3 |
| MGMT 360 | Management Concepts & Apps | 3 |
| MGMT 365 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| SOWK 480 | Grantwriting | 3 |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Park and Land Management
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RECS 295 | Practicum | 2 |
| EMED 188 | Wilderness First Responder | 2 |
| RECS 362 | Land Mgmt Recreation Purposes | 3 |
| MGMT 360 | Management Concepts & Apps | 3 |
| RECS 365 | Expedition Management | 3 |
| FIRE 102 | Wildland/Rural Fire Control | 3 |
| EMED 188 | Wilderness First Responder | 2 |
| ACTG 132 | Principles of Accounting I | 4 |
| EVRN 225 | Intermediate GIS | 3 |
| EVRN 325 | Geospatial Analysis | 3 |
| MGMT 360 | Management Concepts & Apps | 3 |
| MGMT 365 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| SOWK 480 | Grantwriting | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | ||
| GIS Programming & Applications | ||
| App Geospatial Technologies | ||
| Remote Sensing & Spatial Stats | ||
| Total Hours | 37 | |
General Education: All LSSU bachelor’s degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Requirements.
A minimum of 125 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.00 or higher. A gpa of 2.00 or higher is also required in your Major, as well as in your General Education Requirements.