Outdoor Leadership, Undergraduate Certificate

  • Outdoor Leadership, Undergraduate Certificate

    The Undergraduate Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (OL) is a one-year program focused on specific technical skills and the foundations of outdoor recreation for work in a professional setting such as tourism, outdoor recreation and guiding.

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Outdoor Leadership, Undergraduate Certificate

The Undergraduate Certificate in Outdoor Leadership is a one-year program focused on specific technical skills and the foundations of outdoor recreation for work in a professional setting such as tourism, outdoor recreation and guiding.

There's no better place to learn these skills than in Valdez, Alaska, with opportunities to ski, backpack, hike, and explore the natural settings right outside your classroom. 

Requirements

  • 30 Credit Hours
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA

Please view the current catalog for a list of all required classes for this program.

Catalog Description

 

Program Quick Facts

Cost Per Credit: $234 (for both in-state and out-of-state students); Grants, scholarships, and other financial aid is available for qualifying students and programs.

Location: Valdez 

For more information about this program and to enroll you can contact PWSC Student Services:

email: pwsc.student.services@alaska.edu

call: 907-834-1600 (Mondays-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. AKST)

Request More Information

Apply Online

Risk, Physical Ability, and Gear

Risk is a part of life. We all take a constant progression of risks throughout every day. That said, we each are responsible for choosing which risks we deem appropriate within our lives. The program is not designed for every student, and there are a number of inherent risks that we choose to take.

In addition:

  • Many of our courses require good physical condition and ability to perform comfortably in extremely cold and/or inclement weather.
  • Multi-day overnight trekking and camping are required.
  • Courses will be occasionally carried out over uneven terrain, often without a trail, and may include river crossings or other hazards, depending on route and travel logistics.
  • Students must be prepared to spend long days in potentially harsh terrain, with a number of environmental concerns to mitigate, including bears, mosquitos, moose, wolves, rivers, tides, weather, temperature, etc.
  • Students must be 16 years or older to attend any outdoor leadership course

Students may need to rent or purchase additional equipment for courses.

Required Gear for Specialized Field Courses

 

  • Tour Guide
  • Recreation Manager
  • Special Events
    Planner
  • Adventure Wilderness
    Guide
  • Wilderness Medicine
    Instructor

Graduates of this program may continue their studies by earning an associate degree and/or bachelor's degree:

This is a full list of all the certificates available through the outdoor leadership program, exact certificates earned depends on courses chosen to complete certificate requirements.

Swift Water Rescue

The River Company

Outdoor Leadership Training Course

Wilderness Education Association (WEA)

Certified Outdoor Leader

Wilderness Education Association (WEA)

Leave No Trace Trainer

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Leave No Trainer Master Educator

Leave No Trace (LNT)

Sea Kayaking Skills 

American Canoe Association (ACA)

Sea Kayaking Instructor Certification

American Canoe Association (ACA)

River Kayaking Skills

American Canoe Association (ACA)

Avalanche 1

American Institute for Advanced Research and Education (AIARE)

Avalanche 2

American Institute for Advanced Research and Education (AIARE)

Wilderness First Aid

Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO)

Wilderness First Responder

Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO)

   

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Meg McKinney, Outdoor Leadership Instructor at Prince William Sound College in Valdez, Alaska

Learn more about the skilled individuals that teach the Outdoor Leadership courses at PWSC

Meet the Outdoor Leadership instructors
Kaylee, Outdoor Leadership student at Prince William Sound College in Valdez, Alaska

Read stories and interviews from the Outdoor Leadership students

Meet some of the Outdoor Leadership students