female sitting outside on a bridge

Outdoor Education Certificate

Leave the desk behind. Make a career doing what you love and where you do it best — teach others how to connect and appreciate the great outdoors.

UND's Outdoor Education Certificate is designed to develop diverse, engaged and capable outdoor educators and leaders able to meet demands in the field among various employers.

Program type:
Certificates/Programs - Undergraduate
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
1 to 2 years
Credit hours:
9

Why get a certificate in outdoor education?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

The Certificate in Outdoor Education provides students with a highly impactful opportunity to develop competency in instructing in outdoor settings dealing with environmental topics.

UND's Outdoor Education Certificate provides students with important credentials for diverse educative and outdoor settings and environments, from formal schools to parks and nature centers. Schools, nature centers, environmental learning centers, zoos, environmental non-profits, and governmental agencies all have needs concerning environmental education and fostering sustainability and stewardship.

This certificate is an excellent complement for students studying:

Outdoor Education Certificate at UND

  • You will have a wide variety of rewarding career opportunities available in the field of outdoor education, with emphasis on nature-based learning, outdoor education methodology, environmental education practice and environmental interpretation.

  • You will have opportunities to work with the newly established UND Learning Gardens Project, work with schools and local environmental learning centers such as Agassiz Environmental Learning Center and participate in regional organizations and conferences, such as the Heartland Region of National Association for Interpretation and the Place-based Educators Network.

  • You will be immersed in a variety of outdoor education settings and fields in each class.

  • There is increasing recognition of the need for ecologically literate citizens and environmental educators like you can help foster this literacy in schools and informal settings.

  • You can meet students with like minds by joining the UND Environmental Restoration Club, Students for Sustainability, or The Wildlife Society.

  • You will have the opportunity to take Outdoor Education Methods (OLEE 271) as a study abroad course in Belize.

Outdoor Education Certificate Courses

OLEE 271. Outdoor, Experiential Learning. 3 Credits.

Learn about the history, theories, philosophies, and contexts of nature based outdoor education for diverse learners, with a focus on experiential and immersive learning. Students will spend considerable time outdoors experiencing the natural world first-hand. F, odd years.

OLEE 362. Nature as Classroom. 3 Credits.

The world is facing increasing environmental challenges and issues, the majority linked to human impact. Ecological literacy and nature-based environmental education have become essential to foster the necessary awareness, critical thinking, attitudes and motivations that enable us to address these environmental issues. Nature-based environmental education provides an integrated approach to teaching centered on localized ecological and cultural (biocultural) systems with a specific focus on culturally relevant ways of understanding and working with the land and ecosystems significant to place. In this introductory course we will explore nature-based environmental and focus on critical analysis of readings and perspectives, experiential learning, our own connections to the natural world and hone our skills in nature-based leadership in topics such as learning gardens and watershed education. F, even years.

OLEE 470. Wild Thoughts: Interpreting the Natural World. 3 Credits.

As a field, Interpretation helps people develop a deep relationship to nature. This relationship changes based on history, culture, personal meaning and communication. Through an examination of the concept of wilderness, students will engage with the principles, methods, and insights of Environmental Interpretation and explore the many ways human societies have communicated values and relationships to the natural world. S, odd years.

Online Outdoor Education Certificate

#1

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

160+

online programs

In UND's online certificate in Outdoor Education, you'll never need to come to campus for class. This online certificate has both asynchronous and synchronous courses.

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this online course format.

Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled times to:

  • Listen to a lecture
  • Ask questions
  • Participate in class discussions
  • Conduct group activities
  • Participate in video-sharing
  • Have chat conversations
  • Use interactive whiteboards
  • Take live polls

You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor and thinking about how to contribute to the next live class.

Top-Tier Online Student Resources

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)

Leaders in Education

UND students are prepared to be leaders in their field to motivate future generations.

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