Contact Parks and Recreation Management
Essential Eligibility Criteria Accordion Open
Outdoor Education & Leadership Emphasis
The Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) Outdoor Education & Leadership (OEL) emphasis area program prepares professionals for rewarding positions in the outdoor field. Northern Arizona University promotes experiential education and real-life challenges which teach students to plan, organize and facilitate backcountry programs to meet the needs of an ever changing population.
Students within this emphasis will have the ability to:
- Make critical decisions related to injury and illness prevention, assessment, treatment and evacuation of patient(s), through application of wilderness first responder training, in response to medical and outdoor emergencies, while in wilderness and other remote backcountry settings.
- Implement the basic hard and soft skills necessary to competently lead others in outdoor environments of the Southwest with a focus on canyon terrain.
- Develop experiential curriculum lesson plans and effectively deliver to a pre-determined audience in a wilderness environment.
- Lead Leave No Trace Trainer Courses and Awareness Workshops within the standards of the Leave No Trace Master Educator certification.
- Analyze an in-depth case study of an outdoor non-profit organization and/or for-profit company of their choosing.
- Students will have developed a personal signature leadership style that is situationally appropriate for effectively leading others in a backcountry setting.
Finally, students will have developed a personal signature leadership style that is situationally appropriate for effectively leading others in a backcountry setting.
Outdoor Education and Leadership Emphasis
Emphasis area: 18 credit hours
- PRM 216 Wilderness First Responder (3)
- PRM 232 – Introduction to Outdoor Leadership (Beginning Fall 2024) — Previously PRM 331 (3)
- PRM 352 Experiential Process (3)
- PRM 411 Leave No Trace Master Educator (3)
- PRM 431 Outdoor Leadership and Expedition Planning (3)
- PRM 452 Outdoor Recreation Program Assessment (3)
The OEL PRM Progression
Class prerequisite requirements for Spring Block Semester Accordion Closed
- PRM 232 – Introduction to Outdoor Leadership (Beginning Fall 2024) — Previously PRM 331
- Or similar course work such as: NOLS, Outward Bound, or Wilderness Education Association course with instructor approval.
- PRM 216 – Wilderness First Responder medical certification
- Or higher medical certifications such as : WEMT, EMT, or OEC with instructor approval.
- Registering as a PRM major in LOUIE
- Declaring the Outdoor Education & Leadership Emphasis area in LOUIE
*Students must have a C or better in the above coursework to meet the requirements.
The OEL PRM Spring Block Semester Accordion Closed
- PRM 352 – Experiential Process
- PRM 431 – Outdoor Leadership and Expedition Planning
- Note: PRM 431 has a 17- day field-based component
- PRM 452 – Outdoor Recreation Program Assessment
- PRM 411 – Leave No Trace Master Educator
Note: Additional coursework outside of these listed courses during the semester block are NOT ADVISED. Exceptions to this may be requested through advisement once your application has been approved. Examples of possible exceptions could include: Concurrent enrollment in PRM 216 or other 1st 8 week courses that do not conflict with block field time during the second 8 weeks.
Apply for the Outdoor Education & Leadership Spring Block Semester
Please take the time to fully complete this application in a highly detailed manner, as your responses will be used within a point matrix to aid in determining your potential for being accepted into the OEL Spring Block session.
*The PRM OEL program operates under special use permit by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) United States Forest Service (USFS): Kaibab NF, Tonto NF, Gila NF, and Coconino NF.
