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Recreation and Outdoor Education

Recreation & Outdoor Education

Bachelor of Arts

Outdoor educators have the power to make a difference in the environment, the lives of at-risk youth and anyone who finds solace in the wilderness. At Western Colorado University, world-class adventures in the Rocky Mountains will challenge and train you to become a seasoned outdoor leader.

Program Overview

Recreation & Outdoor Education

Take your education beyond the classroom—to the rivers, canyons and peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Recreation & Outdoor Education (ROE) is about creating opportunities for people to live healthy, engaged and happy lives. In the program, you’ll acquire the managerial, technical, interpersonal and leadership skills, required of a successful professional in the billion-dollar outdoor industry. Located in the magnificent Gunnison Valley, Western’s ROE program combines a tightknit classroom environment with world-class field experiences for students to turn their passion for the outdoors into rewarding careers with organizations like Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School and the National Park Service.

Extraordinary adventure

Located in the magnificent Gunnison Valley, Western’s ROE program combines a tightknit classroom environment with world-class field experiences for students to turn their passion for the outdoors into rewarding careers.

Program Requirements

At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.

Program Requirements

A minimum of 68 credits is required, including the 36-credit Recreation and Outdoor Education Core:

Course List
Code Title Credits
Recreation and Outdoor Education Core
ROE 182Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Education3
ROE 189Principles of Outdoor Education3
ROE 240Alternative Programming3
ROE 283Leadership and Facilitation3
ROE 351Inquiry into Sustainability3
ROE 398Program Planning (with laboratory)3
ROE 454Human Development and Counseling for Outdoor Educators3
ROE 468Leadership and Administration3
ROE 490Recreation Philosophy and Ethics3
ROE 491Senior Seminar3
ROE 499Internship in Recreation and Outdoor Education6-9
Total Credits36-39

Medical Requirement

All Recreation and Outdoor Education majors must obtain a medical competency prior to graduation. Recreation emphasis majors must take ESS 276 Emergency Response or equivalent. Students with an emphasis in Outdoor Environmental Education, Outdoor Leadership, or Recreation and Outdoor Education Major: Comprehensive Program with Five-Year Master in Environmental Management must obtain certification as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR).

And the courses listed below. Additionally, students must become certified as a Wilderness First Responder (WFR).

Course List
Code Title Credits
ROE 230Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History3
ROE 235Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education3
ROE 391Experiential Education Theory and Pedagogy3
Required supporting courses:
ENVS 100Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2)3
ENVS 200Writing the Environment3
Select two of the following:6
ROE 293
Outdoor Pursuits Education- Water Based (with laboratory)
ROE 295
Outdoor Pursuits Education- Snow Based (with laboratory)
ROE 296
Outdoor Pursuits Education- Land Based (with laboratory)
Select one of the following:3
ENVS 360
Global Environmental Policy
ROE 364
Entrepreneurship and Commercial Recreation
ROE 466
Facilities and Administration
Select eight credits of the following:8
BIOL 151
Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory)
SCI 110
Habitable Planet (with laboratory)
BIOL 130
BIOL 135
Environmental Biology (GT-SC2)
and Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1)
GEOL 101
GEOL 105
Physical Geology (GT-SC2)
and Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1)
Total Credits32
Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
Elective Elective 3
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
ENVS 100 Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) 3
Essential Skill MATH 3
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
ROE 182 Introduction to Recreation and Outdoor Education 3
 Credits16
Spring
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab (suggested to select based on major requirements) 4
ROE 189 Principles of Outdoor Education 3
ROE 283 Leadership and Facilitation 3
 Credits16
Summer
ROE 293
or ROE 296
Outdoor Pursuits Education- Water Based (with laboratory)
or Outdoor Pursuits Education- Land Based (with laboratory)
3
 Credits3
Year Two
Fall
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab (suggested to select based on major requirements) 4
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
ROE 240 Alternative Programming 3
ROE 333 Recreation and Sport Marketing 3
 Credits16
Spring
ENVS 200 Writing the Environment 3
ROE 351 Inquiry into Sustainability 3
ROE 230 Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
Elective Elective (non-ROE) 3
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
ENVS 360
or ROE 364
or ROE 466
Global Environmental Policy
or Entrepreneurship and Commercial Recreation
or Facilities and Administration
3
ROE 235 Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education 3
ROE 398 Program Planning (with laboratory) 3
 Credits15
Spring
Elective ROE Elective 9
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3
ROE 391 Experiential Education Theory and Pedagogy 3
 Credits15
Summer
ROE 296
or ROE 293
Outdoor Pursuits Education- Land Based (with laboratory)
or Outdoor Pursuits Education- Water Based (with laboratory)
3
 Credits3
Year Four
Fall
ROE 454 Human Development and Counseling for Outdoor Educators 3
ROE 499 Internship in Recreation and Outdoor Education 3-9
Elective Elective (upper-division) 3-6
 Credits9-18
Spring
ROE 468 Leadership and Administration 3
ROE 490 Recreation Philosophy and Ethics 3
ROE 491 Senior Seminar 3
ROE 496 Field Experiences 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits120-129

Western is committed to doing our part to provide each student a clear path to graduation. This four‐year degree plan is a sample map for fulfilling requirements in the major and General Education. The pathway that you take to your degree may differ somewhat from this illustration, depending on where you start and the detours and side trips you may take along the way. You are responsible for ensuring your overall, upper division, and major‐specific credits as well as GPA requirements are fulfilled for graduation.

Spotlight

Recreation & Outdoor Education

Uma Costanza

Student

“I feel like our skills would be difficult to teach in a typical classroom setting. It’s difficult to teach when it’s a teacher, a projector and students in the seats."

Recreation & Outdoor Education

Brooke Moran, Ph.D.

Faculty

"The approach-problem-based learning and experiential learning in the ROE program absolutely foster growth."

Careers

Take the first steps toward your dream career.

Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.

Ready to apply or learn more about Western today?

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Find Your Career

The data is automatically collected by Lightcast, a firm that sources job market data. The statistics illustrate general trends in U.S. careers, but do not precisely represent every job and salary.

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Get Involved

Recreation & Outdoor Education

Make your education a life changing experience.

A college education is so much more than just taking classes. Expand your community and network, while gaining hands-on experience in your field.

  • Advanced Leadership Expedition: Students expand their global perspectives and hone their leadership skills by traveling to developing nations.
  • Certifications: Students are required to obtain 100 hours of professional certifications in addition to their Wilderness First Responder certification.
  • Field Courses: Four courses feature multiple days and nights spent in the backcountry.
  • Internships: Students often land full-time professional positions in the agencies they intern with for their capstone experience.
  • Teaching: Many students apply to work as TAs after their freshman year.

Developing leadership skills

Recreation and Outdoor Education students learn the technical, interpersonal and leadership skills—as well as managerial know-how—required of a successful professional in the billion-dollar outdoor industry.

News & Research

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission

Read More about Western Earns Accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
Drummer leading students

Western Hosts West African Dance and Drummers

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Outdoor Industry Equality Index

Western Programs to Participate in Outdoor Industry Equality Index

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Western professor publishes book focused on sustainability in business

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Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office Leader Luis Benitez Headed to VF Corp

Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office Leader Luis Benitez Headed to VF Corp

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Additional Resources

Concurrent Enrollment Schools

Credit for Outdoor Schools Western Offers Academic Credit for Field Courses Taken Through Many Outdoor Schools Including: National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Outward Bound (OB) International …

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Field Courses

Teaching Outside Part of the philosophy of Western’s Recreation & Outdoor Education department is for students to learn by doing. Because of this, we feel it is invaluable for students to …

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Future Careers

Future Career Options for ROE Majors So, What’s Next? A question sometimes asked by students and parents is, “What career options are available for Recreation & Outdoor Education …

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Internship Information

ROE Internship Information ROE Internship Paperwork To apply for an internship with the ROE department, read ROE internship application, fill out the internship form and work with your advisor prior …

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Wilderness Opportunities at Western

Wilderness Opportunities at Western is an experiential learning program for female high school students interested in the outdoor field and/or developing their leadership skills.

Learn More

Department Chairperson

Gary P. Van Guilder, Ph.D.

Professor of Exercise & Sport Science; Chair, Recreation, Exercise & Sport Science Department

Administrative Assistant

Terri Stinson

Administrative Assistant

Contact Information

970.943.7129

970.943.7125

Campus Location

Western Colorado University
Paul Wright Gym 209
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231

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