Outdoor Leadership - Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT)
Description
The COCC outdoor leadership program is grounded in the principles of lifelong learning, environmental stewardship, personal growth and leadership. The program emphasizes experiential methodologies to combine theory and practice in a strong field-based curriculum. Students will develop current and accepted skills,understand comprehensive knowledge and standards in the professional field, while being taught by highly skilled and knowledgeable faculty who exemplify the highest level of standards, integrity and ethics.
The general area of outdoor leadership includes specific careers in outdoor recreation, outdoor education, wilderness therapy and tourism and leisure enterprises. A student can earn an AAOT or AS degree with a focus in outdoor leadership at COCC to prepare to transfer to a baccalaureate institution to pursue a higher degree in any one of the areas mentioned above.
Learning Outcomes
Arts & Letters
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Interpret and engage in the Arts & Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life; and
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Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues.
Cultural Literacy
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Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.
Health
- Explain the relationship between human behavior and health.
Mathematics
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Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems; and
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Recognize which mathematical concepts are applicable to a scenario, apply appropriate mathematics and technology in its analysis, and then accurately interpret, validate, and communicate the results.
Science or Computer Science
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Gather, comprehend, and communicate scientific and technical information in order to explore ideas, models and solutions and generate further questions;
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Apply scientific and technical modes of inquiry, individually, and collaboratively, to critically evaluate existing or alternative explanations, solve problems, and make evidence-based decisions in an ethical manner; and
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Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge on human society and the environment.
Social Science
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Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior; and
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Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live.
Speech/Oral Communication
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Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals;
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Respond to the needs of diverse audiences and contexts; and
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Build and manage relationships.
Writing and Information Literacy
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Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences;
- Recognize and articulate the need for information, and then locate, evaluate, and ethically utilize that information to communicate effectively; and
- Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.
Entrance Requirements
While this program has no formal entrance requirements, individual courses may have prerequisites which must be met prior to enrollment.
Course Requirements
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education/Foundational | ||
| Health: | ||
| Choose 3 credits 1 | 3 | |
| Mathematics: | ||
| Choose one course | 4 | |
| Oral Communication: | ||
| Choose one course | 3-4 | |
| Writing: | ||
| WR 121 | Academic Composition | 4 |
| WR 122 | Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition | 4 |
| or WR 227 | Technical Writing | |
| General Education/Discipline studies | ||
| Cultural Literacy: | ||
| One course from the following categories must be designated as cultural literacy on the Discipline Studies list (credits count once). | ||
| Arts and Letters: | ||
| Choose three courses from at least two prefixes | 9-12 | |
| Social Science: | ||
| Choose four courses from at least two prefixes | 12-16 | |
| Science/Math/Computer Science: | ||
| Choose four courses from at least two prefixes including at least three laboratory courses in biological and/or physical science | 12-20 | |
| Electives | ||
| Choose any course numbered 100 or above that brings the total credits to 90 quarter hours. This may include up to 12 credits of Career and Technical Education courses designated by COCC as acceptable. 2 | 39 | |
| Resource Interpretation | ||
| Introduction to Outdoor Leadership | ||
| Outdoor Living Skills | ||
| Basic Wilderness Life Support | ||
| Technical Skills for Outdoor Leadership | ||
| Seminar in Outdoor Leadership | ||
| Psychology of Risk and Adventure | ||
| Facilitating Group Experiences | ||
| Outdoor Recreation Leadership | ||
| Co-op Work Experience-OL | ||
| Alpine Climbing | ||
| Canoe Program Instruction and Guiding | ||
| Mountain Bike Guiding and Trail Stewardship | ||
| Teaching Rock Climbing | ||
| Whitewater Raft Guiding | ||
| Total Credits | 90-106 | |
| 1 | HHPA activity courses (1 credit each) are not to be duplicated. |
| 2 | Elective courses must be numbered 100 or above and can be any combination of general electives, Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses (12 credits maximum) or CWE/HHPA activity courses (15 credits maximum). |
Advising Notes
The Outdoor Leadership AAOT models a cohort program, whereby students complete a set of courses each term with a single peer group. It is advised that students complete as much of their general education requirements prior to beginning their Outdoor Leadership courses.
Students begin their Outdoor Leadership work in the Fall, completing a set of introductory/fundamental courses. Fall is particularly special as students attend class for the entirety of the term, in an outdoor classroom, every day of the week and complete an 8 day expedition in November. Once students begin in the Fall, they complete a prescribed set of courses in both the following Winter and Spring terms. During Winter term, students work on advanced theory and application courses, gaining more extensive understanding about the practices of professional outdoor leaders. Finally, in Spring, students complete advanced skills courses, aimed at developing students' practice of professional standards within specific activities.
First year completion requirements for enrollment into the second year level include: completion of the OL prefix courses (OL 271 Facilitating Group Experiences, OL 273 Outdoor Recreation Leadership, OL 280 Co-op Work Experience-OL, OL 294 guide courses) with a grade of “C” or better; completion of a minimum of 36 college credits made up, in part, by the above courses, appropriate prerequisites. See advisor for details.
Performance Standards
- Academic Requirements:
- Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
- All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
Sample Plan
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Health (3 credits with HHP or HHPA prefix) | 3 | |
| Mathematics: | 4 | |
| Oral Communication: | 3-4 | |
| WR 121 | Academic Composition | 4 |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Arts and Letters | 3-4 | |
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| WR 122 or WR 227 | Argument, Research, and Multimodal Composition Technical Writing | 4 |
| Credits | 16-22 | |
| Third Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Arts and Letters | 3-4 | |
| Discipline Studies Arts and Letters | 3-4 | |
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 15-21 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| Elective (recommend OL 111) | 3 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 171) | 2 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 255) | 5 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 263) | 5 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Social Science | 3-4 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 207) | 2 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 271) | 5 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 273) | 5 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| Discipline Studies Science/Math/Computer Science | 3-5 | |
| Electives (recommend two of the following): | 6 | |
| Alpine Climbing | ||
| Canoe Program Instruction and Guiding | ||
| Mountain Bike Guiding and Trail Stewardship | ||
| Teaching Rock Climbing | ||
| Whitewater Raft Guiding | ||
| Elective (recommend OL 244) | 3 | |
| Elective (recommend OL 280) | 2 | |
| Elective (recommend FOR 255) | 3 | |
| Credits | 17-19 | |
| Total Credits | 92-108 | |
