Outdoor Leadership
Students canoeing on the Buffalo National River.
Attention: The Outdoor Leadership Minor program is not accepting new enrollments effective February 26, 2025.
Undergraduate Minor: Outdoor Leadership
The outdoor leadership field is a dynamic force in terms of jobs, economic development, and highly sought after lifestyles. Students can prepare for a career as an outdoor professional by developing the skills they need through an Outdoor Leadership minor. Students in the minor can earn professional certifications, gain a variety of skills through field-based experiences, and hone their leadership competencies.
Students must review an Acknowledgement of Requirements (AOR) form upon declaring the minor; contact the department for details.
Our Program: Clear Requirements with Great Outcomes
Outdoor Leadership Minor Requirements — 15 hours of study
Required Courses
- RESM 10203 — Foundations of Outdoor Leadership
- RESM 10302 — Outdoor Living Skills (requires overnight trip)
- RESM 30403 — Natural Resources & Outdoor Ethics (requires overnight trip)
- RESM 40203 — Applied Outdoor Adventure Leadership (requires 5-6 day overnight trip)
Plus 4 credit hours in skill-based courses:
- RESM 11401 - Social Issues in the Outdoor Industry
- RESM 10501 - Rock climbing I
- RESM 10601 - Rock climbing II
- RESM 11401 - Climbing wall instructor
- RESM 10701 - Introduction to mountain biking
- RESM 10801 - Mountain biking II
- RESM 10901 - Introduction to bike mechanics
- RESM 11301 - Introduction to bikepacking
- RESM 11201 - Trail stewardship and maintenance
- RESM 11001 - Wilderness first aid
- RESM 11903 - Wilderness first responder (may be applied for up to two credits)
- RESM 11601 - Canoeing I
- RESM 11501 - Kayaking I
- RESM 11701 - Caving I
- RESM 11801 - Caving II
- RESM 20101 - Recreation and sport practicum (may be repeated for up to two credits)
Certifications Students Can Receive
- Leave No Trace - Level 1 Instructor
- Professional Climbing Instructors Association — Climb Site Belayer
- Professional Climbing Instructors Association — Climbing Wall Instructor
- Professional Climbing Instructors Association - Sport Climbing Instructor
- Professional Climbing Instructors Association - Single Pitch Instructor
- Wilderness First Aid
- Wilderness First Responder
Jobs Students Will Be Prepared For
- Adventure guide
- Bike technician
- Outdoor educator
- Camp director
- Outdoor retail specialist
- Outdoor product and service development
- Land management agencies (NPS, USFS, BLM, FWS, COE and state parks)
- Park/trail design and development
- Many other adventure-forward careers
Interested? Contact a Program Faculty
Mike Hoover, Ed.D.
Clinical Instructor, Outdoor Leadership
University of Arkansas
UTCH 111
mdhoover@uark.edu
479-575-6834
Taylor Weichman, Ph.D.
Coordinator & Instructor, Outdoor Leadership
University of Arkansas
UTCH 109
weichman@uark.edu
479-575-6233
Outdoor Leadership Minor Monthly Newsletter
U of A Outdoor Leadership in the News
- "Outdoor Leadership Minor Sees Enrollment Boost, Increased Opportunities for Students," Arkansas News March 7, 2024
- "College of Education and Health Professions' Outdoor Leadership Minor Celebrates Early Success," Arkansas News, May 15, 2023
- "Recreation and Sport Management Program to Launch New Outdoor Leadership Minor," Arkansas News, Oct. 3, 2022
- "New Program at U of A to Support Outdoor Recreation Entrepreneurs," Arkansas News, Sept. 8, 2021
- "Short Documentary Highlights UREC Outdoors Leadership Program on the Rio Grande River," Arkansas News, Dec. 11, 2019
Students in Outdoor Living Skills hike to Triple Falls on the Buffalo National River.