Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies (BS)

Program Overview

The Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies program prepares students for careers in outdoor business management, adventure services, and leadership. It combines coursework in leadership, business, adventure planning, and sustainability. Graduates are qualified for jobs in retail, resort management, outdoor education, and professional guiding, among others.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies degree program prepares students to enter the world of outdoor industry business management, sales, and marketing, adventure services, guide services, adventure programming, expedition planning and adventure leadership. The program recognizes the multifaceted nature of the outdoor industry, combining a wide range of coursework in outdoor leadership, business management, innovation and entrepreneurship, adventure planning, tourism, risk management, stewardship and sustainability. Students completing the degree will be prepared to work in one of the largest growing segments of the economy: the outdoor recreation industry. At more than 2% of the GDP and over $880B in consumer spending per year, the outdoor recreation industry is a powerhouse economic driver that demands a highly skilled workforce. Students will gain qualifications for jobs in such fields as outdoor industry business- including retail and manufacturing- resort and ski area management, state and national park service, outdoor education, camp administration, and professional guiding.

Objectives:

• Critically evaluate historical, socio-economical, and philosophical aspects of the outdoor recreation industry.
(Critical Thinking)
• Apply fundamental concepts of management, administration, marketing, finance, and economics to the outdoor recreation industry.
(Applied Learning)
• Apply technical skills of survival, risk management, and leadership in outdoor settings.
(Applied Learning)
• Construct codes of personal ethics and apply codes of professional and environmental ethics within the outdoor recreation industry profession.
(Personal and Social Responsibility)
• Explain and navigate the relationships between the outdoor recreation industry and state/federal legislation, public lands and water, climate science, wildlife corridors, and regulatory agencies.
• Articulate the implications of economic development, education and workforce, public health and wellness, and conservation and stewardship within the outdoor recreation industry.
(Specialized Knowledge, Quantitative Fluency)

Careers:

Students will gain qualifications for jobs in such fields as outdoor industry business- including retail and manufacturing- resort and ski area management, state and national park service, outdoor education, camp administration, and professional guiding.

Other:

• The program code is 3151.
• Students are required to complete a Wilderness First Responder course certificate.
• The program requires a minimum of 120 semester hours.
• Students must complete a minimum of 30 of the last 60 hours of credit at CMU, with at least 15 semester hours in major discipline courses numbered 300 or higher.
• Students must complete 40 upper-division credits.
• Students must have a 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
• A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
• No more than six semester hours of independent study courses can be used toward the degree.
• Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed 30 semester credit hours for a baccalaureate degree.
• A maximum of 15 of the 30 credits may be for cooperative education, internships, and practica.
• Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
• The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate.
Students should visit with their advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements they should follow.
• The program includes a suggested course plan grid.
• Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head.