Outdoor Adventure BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The Outdoor Adventure BSc (Hons) at Ulster University equips students with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in outdoor adventure activities. The program focuses on developing leadership and coaching skills, alongside personal competence in outdoor activities. It combines lectures, workshops, and practical sessions with independent study, and includes a professional work placement in the second year. Graduates have diverse career options in outdoor adventure and recreation, educational, youth development, travel, environmental, charity, social enterprises, and businesses.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Objective

• This program equips students with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in outdoor adventure activities.
• Focuses on developing leadership and coaching skills, alongside personal competence in outdoor activities.
• Designed to be an immersive and challenging program that integrates theory with practical application in the outdoors.

Program Description

• 3-year full-time program delivered in partnership with Tollymore National Outdoor Centre.
• 2-week long residential courses per year at Tollymore in the Mourne Mountains.
• Combines lectures, workshops, and practical sessions with independent study.
• Teaches leadership and coaching in land and water-based outdoor adventure activities, enabling students to achieve industry qualifications and build work experience.
• Includes a professional work placement in the second year, providing real-world application of learned knowledge and skills.
• Students are expected to have an interest in outdoor adventure and ideally have, or be in the process of obtaining, a relevant national governing body coaching award.
• Entry is competitive and a selection process involving personal statements and an interview is often employed.
• All students are required to complete a health check before starting the course.

Outline:

Year One

• Fundamentals: Environmental Systems, safety, risk and benefit in outdoor education, personal performance skills, introduction to outdoor coaching and leadership, fundamentals of movement in outdoor adventures.

Year Two

• Advanced Topics: The atmosphere, contemporary structure of the outdoor adventure sector, applied outdoor coaching and leadership practice, professional placement, organizational leadership in sport and recreation.

Year Three

• Integration and Applications: Research and Professional Skills, critical interpretation of your context, sports innovation and entrepreneurship, expedition studies, advanced professional practice in outdoor adventure.

Assessment:

• Combination of assignments, presentations, practical assessments and reflective writing.
• Assessments are designed to evaluate both subject knowledge and practical application
• Reflective assignments encourage self-directed learning and personal development.
• Practical assessments gauge individual skill, leadership, and coaching abilities in outdoor activities.
• Professional placements allow for assessment of real-world application and knowledge integration.

Teaching:

• Highly qualified and experienced staff with active backgrounds and industry recognition in the outdoor adventure sector.
• Immersive and active learning approach that emphasizes hands-on experience in outdoor activities.
• Opportunities to achieve professional outdoor adventure qualifications.
• Industry partnerships and guest lectures provide practical insights into the professional world.
• Focus on developing leadership, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and innovation skills.

Careers:

• Diverse career options in outdoor adventure & recreation, educational, youth development, travel, environmental, charity, social enterprises, and businesses.
• Opportunities as outdoor activity instructors, guides, youth workers, educators, expedition leaders, social entrepreneurs, and business professionals.
• Potential for further study in postgraduate programs and research pathways in outdoor adventure and related fields.

Conclusion

The Outdoor Adventure BSc (Hons) program at Ulster University provides a comprehensive and practical education for those passionate about pursuing careers in the exciting and dynamic field of outdoor adventure.