Adventure Education BA
Why this program?
You are passionate about the outdoors. You are oriented toward equity and social justice, and want the skills needed to break barriers and foster holistic and experiential learning for all. Interdisciplinary skills gained: technical outdoor skills, social justice literacy, ecological knowledge, interpersonal fluency, and teaching competency.
What can you do with this degree?
Not only can you become a successful professional outdoor educator, but you can apply all your skills and knowledge to any field that requires effective communication, people skills, risk assessment, and problem solving (kind of everything). The question isn’t what can you do, the question is what can’t you do:
- Outdoor Education
- Field Instruction (e.g. Outward Bound)
- Activism and Advocacy
- Outdoor-based Non-Profit
- Wilderness Therapy
- Nature-Based/Adventure Therapy
- Rock Climbing Guide
- River Guide
- Adaptive Sports Instruction
- Mountaineering Guide
- Avalanche Forecasting and Education
- Ski Patrol
- Field Operations
- Careers in Public Land Management
- Forest Service/ Wilderness Ranger
- Interpretative Naturalist
- Teacher
- Nature-based Educator
- College Professor
What will this program look like?
We are experiential. Students apply everything they learn in the classroom to field settings through practicums, field expeditions, and special projects.
We are field-based. We spend at least 50% of our time learning in a field setting. Some expeditionary classes are 100% field-based like Environmental Perspectives & White-Water Rafting. Others like Intro to Rock Climbing take place in-town as well as in the classroom.
Key program information
Start Dates:
January 14, 2025
August 19, 2025
Application Deadlines:
On-Campus:
December 20, 2024
August 4, 2025
Admissions & Apply
- The Adventure Education Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The Higher Learning Commission has approved Prescott College to offer all of its degree titles via distance education.
- Outdoor Experiential Education
- Teaching & Learning in Experiential Education
- Origins & Directions in Adventure Education
- Expeditionary Instructor Development
- Practicum
- Senior Project
Theory and Philosophy: Learners will identify, analyze, and evaluate the key elements and perspectives, essential practices, and current trends in adventure education.
Leadership and Facilitation: Learners will apply leadership skills, experiential teaching strategies, and facilitation techniques to create intellectually, emotionally, and physically safe communities within adventure education.
Ecological Literacy: Learners will integrate ecological knowledge and practice in adventure education experiences.
Outdoor Skills: Learners will demonstrate technical competency in outdoor disciplines necessary for the implementation of safe, high-quality experiences.
Careers & Opportunities
Career Pathways
You’d be amazed at all the careers this degree has taken our graduates:
- Outdoor Education
- Outdoor Program Director
- Outdoor Education Curriculum Writer Developer
- Field Instructor (e.g. Outward Bound)
- Activism and Advocacy
- Director of Outdoor-based Non-Profit
- Marketing and Advancement for Non-Profits e.g. Adaptive Sports
- Wilderness Therapy
Career Planning
Our student success team works with you to map out a plan that works, for your goals and your life. There are many ways to get where you’re going, and we’ve seen it all!
Are you interested in being part of our community?
One thing we all have in common is our passion – passion for helping others, passion for the environment, passion for social justice and a passion for a different kind of learning experience.