The Outdoor Education and Leadership (OEL) minor provides specialized skills and certifications for students interested in careers in outdoor and environmental education, adventure leadership, guide services, and related fields. Students develop competencies in backcountry medicine, outdoor leadership, experiential education curriculum design and delivery, Leave No Trace ethics and training, and organizational management. In the OEL focus area students obtain a Wilderness First Responder Medical Certification, a Leave No Trace Level 2 Instructor Certification, and the ability to effectively lead groups outdoors, develop and deliver environmental education programming, and analyze outdoor-focused organizations. Graduates are prepared for opportunities such as outdoor educators, wilderness guides, adventure program leaders, park naturalists, environmental interpreters, and related roles supporting healthy, ethical engagement with the natural world.
A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.
To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 18 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
Purpose Statement
The Outdoor Education and Leadership (OEL) minor prepares career ready professionals for rewarding positions in the outdoor field by promoting experiential education and real-life challenges which teach students to plan, organize and facilitate backcountry programs to meet the needs of an ever-changing population.
Students will develop a personal signature leadership style that is situationally appropriate for effectively leading others in a backcountry setting. OEL prepares and certifies students for careers in experiential education, risk management, environmental ethics, and programming within the private, non-profit, and public sectors of outdoor-leisure services. Students establish a background in program assessment, budgeting, planning, pedagogical design, teaching, leading, facilitating, and risk management as it relates to all sectors of outdoor-leisure services. Coursework provides students with professional preparation focusing on concepts and philosophies involved in organizing outdoor programs, designing experienced-based curricula, and safely facilitating educational and transformative nature-based experiences. In successfully completing this program, students will earn nationally recognized certifications in wilderness medicine and environmental ethics.
Students will have the ability to integrate the full spectrum of skills through a hands-on project where they will plan, assess, budget, and enact a multi-week field expedition. This program is well suited for students who wish to gain leadership skills while working in an outdoor environment. Students who complete this program will be able to design, plan, assess, and safely execute outdoor-based programs and events for a wide variety of groups.
Student Learning Outcomes
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.