Bachelor of Outdoor Education
Course code/s: EBOEB
Outdoor education is the study of the relationships humans have with nature through outdoor experiences. A strong emphasis is placed on environmental knowledge and gaining practical experience. The academic perspective centres on how knowledge is shaped by new environments and how the environment, in turn, is shaped by our thoughts and practices. The theoretical aspects of the program include: environmental studies and outdoor education concepts drawn from psychology, education, eco-psychology, environmental ethics and eco-philosophy.
The course offers three choices of Major study sequence.
Outdoor Education Major
This major is designed for motivated students who seek careers in outdoor education, adventure guiding, environmental education, sustainability education, eco-tourism or related fields. Elective fieldwork subjects include: bush environments, water environments, winter alpine environments, rock environments, and naturalist studies. Students undertake at least 140 days of practical experience. Graduates from the course are employed by schools, at camps, in outdoor travel and by commercial outdoor companies.
Environmental and Sustainability Education Major
This major prepares students for teaching and leading in fields relevant to outdoor environmental education with emphasis on natural history, environmental studies and social and cultural aspects of the environment. Students undertake at least 110 days of practical work. Graduates are employed in formal and informal education settings, local government agencies and commercial providers of outdoor environmental education or outdoor education.
Educational Nature Tourism Major
This major involves the study of natural environments, the practice of nature guiding, environmental interpretation, land management and outdoor and field naturalist practice. Students undertake at least 80 days of practical work. They also take elective studies from other disciplines. Graduates may gain work as nature guides and planners in the nature tourism industry, land management agencies and in other settings such as school camps and nature centres.
When combined with a Graduate Diploma in Education all majors can lead to a teaching qualification. Graduates may also go on to the Bachelor of Outdoor Education (Honours), and/or to Masters and Doctoral study.
Admission requirements
Students should satisfy the normal university entrance requirements, including a study score of at least 20 in Units 3 and 4 of English.
Special requirements
Special entry applicants or students who have completed year-12 more than 12 months prior to application should complete the VTAC Personal History form. Special entry applicants may also be required to sit for the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) Multiple Choice.
Students should ensure they are aware of the physical components and location requirements of the course. Students with a disability, medical condition or any concerns which may affect potential participation in some of the practical components of the course are invited to discuss their options with the course coordinator.
Course structure
The course is a three-year full-time program. It consists of 360 credit points of study. All subjects are 15 credit points, except where indicated.
Outdoor Education Major
First year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Ways of Knowing Nature | OED1WKN |
| TE-SEM-1 | Outdoor Living and Travel Skills | OED1AOL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Field Experience A | OED1AFE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Reading Australian Landscapes | OED1RAL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Worldviews and the Environment | OED1WE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Naturalist Studies | OED1NS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Introduction to Winter Alpine Environments | OED1BFE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Outdoor Environments | OED1OEE |
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-S | Field Experience C (30 credit points) | OED2FEC |
| TE-SEM-1 | Safety in Outdoor Environments | OED2OLB |
| TE-SEM-1 | Environment Elective 1 | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Australian Culture and Land | OED2ACL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Leading Groups in Outdoor Environments | OED2OLA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Environment Elective 2 | |
| Elective 1 |
Environment Electives:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Bush Environments | OED2BE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Rock Environments | OED2R |
| TE-SEM-2 | River Environments White Water | OED2RE |
| TE-SEM-2 | River Environments Flat Water | OED2REF |
| TE-SEM-2 | Winter Alpine Environments | OED2WAE |
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Education in the Outdoors | OED3EO |
| TE-SEM-1 | Field Experience D | OED3FED |
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching in Environment Elective 1 | |
| Elective 2 | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Teaching and Program Development | OED3TPD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Field Experience E | OED3FEE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Teaching in Environment Elective 2 | |
| Elective 3 |
Teaching Environment Electives:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching in Bush Environments | OED3TBE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching in Rock Environments | OED3TR |
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching in River Environments (Flat Water) | OED3TRE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Teaching in River Environments (White Water) | OED3TRM |
| TE-SEM-2 | Teaching in Winter Alpine Environments | OED3TWA |
Environmental and Sustainability Education Major
First year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Ways of Knowing Nature | OED1WKN |
| TE-SEM-1 | Outdoor Living and Travel Skills | OED1AOL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Field Experience A | OED1AFE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Reading Australian Landscapes | OED1RAL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Worldviews and the Environment | OED1WE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Naturalist Studies | OED1NS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Introduction to Winter Alpine Environments | OED1BFE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Outdoor Environments | OED1OEE |
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-S | River and Wetland Environments (30 credit points) | OED2RWE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Safety in Outdoor Environments | OED2OLB |
| TE-SEM-1 | Environmental Interpretation | OED2EI |
| TE-SEM-2 | Australian Culture and Land | OED2ACL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Leading Groups in Outdoor Environments | OED2OLA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Bush Environments | OED2BE |
| Elective |
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Education in the Outdoors | OED3EO |
| TE-SEM-1 | Field Experience D | OED3FED |
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching Natural History | OED3TNH |
| Elective | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Teaching and Program Development | OED3TPD |
| TE-SEM-2 | Field Experience E | OED3FEE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Education for Sustainability | OED3ES |
| Elective |
Educational Nature Tourism Major
First year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Ways of Knowing Nature | OED1WKN |
| TE-SEM-1 | Outdoor Living and Travel Skills | OED1AOL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Reading Australian Landscapes | OED1RAL |
| Elective | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Worldviews and the Environment | OED1WE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Naturalist Studies | OED1NS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Outdoor Environments | OED1OEE |
| Elective |
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-S | River and Wetland Environments (30 credit points) | OED2RWE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Environmental Interpretation | OED2EI |
| TE-SEM-1 | Regional Catchment Studies | OED2RCS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Australian Culture and Land | OED2ACL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Sustainable Nature Tourism | OED2SNT |
| TE-SEM-2 | Bush Environments | OED2BE |
| Elective |
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Natural Heritage Studies | OED3NSI |
| TE-SEM-1 | Parks and Wildlife Management | OED3PWM |
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching Natural History | OED3TNH |
| Elective | ||
| TE-SEM-2 | Education for Sustainability | OED3SES |
| TE-SEM-2 | Nature Tourism Practicum | OED3NTP |
| TE-SEM-2 | Politics of Land Management | OED3PLM |
| Elective |