Thinking about entering the booming outdoor-recreation industry? If you鈥檙e a student (or working on a career switch), there鈥檚 no better time to jump in. A growing number of colleges across the U.S. are now offering programs for future adventure-industry workers, with the aim of better equipping tomorrow鈥檚 gear makers, retailers, and business owners for success. The latest school to join the list: the University of Denver.
DU鈥檚 new program offers two post-grad certificates鈥攐ne in Outdoor Recreation Industry Business (ORIB) and another in Outdoor Recreation Industry Leadership (ORIL). The ORIB certificate focuses on core business skills like accounting, finance, and marketing, and is geared toward recent grads with no or limited business experience. The more advanced ORIL is designed for middle managers who already have some business savvy (in outdoor rec or elsewhere). Coursework for the ORIL involves more advanced subjects, like financial models, supply chain challenges, human resources, and growth management.
Both programs begin in the spring, and virtual attendance is an option for those who don鈥檛 live in the Mile High City.
鈥淲e鈥檙e creating specialized, easy-to-access programming that will prepare students for outdoor industry jobs that are available now, and future careers that will change the field,鈥 said DU chancellor Jeremy Haefner.
The new program is funded in part through a $3 million grant from the VF Foundation, the charitable arm of Denver-based , parent company of The North Face and Smartwool.
鈥淒enver is an important center for the outdoor industry, making DU the perfect home for such a program,鈥 said Steve Rendle, CEO of VF Corporation and board chairman of The VF Foundation. 鈥淭hrough the Foundation鈥檚 targeted support of scholarships for underrepresented individuals, combined with DU鈥檚 expansive offering of business and industry-relevant coursework, we hope to spark the next generation of diverse leadership in the outdoor industry.鈥
With the outdoor economy generating a whopping of annual consumer spending in the U.S., it鈥檚 no surprise that academic offerings like this one are popping up at colleges and universities nationwide. Below is a list of other notable programs catering to the business of getting people outside.
Arkansas
Want to start your own business in the outdoor industry? The University of Arkansas鈥 (GORP) helps would-be entrepreneurs understand the nuances of starting a business through workshops, mentorships, classes, and trainings in the university鈥檚 new 听in Bentonville, a destination with a growing outdoor reputation. Content is crafted for the unique challenges of operating outdoor businesses and bringing gear concepts to life鈥攁nd much of the consulting and networking services are free. Already have an outdoor company? GORP鈥檚 12-week Cohort Program also helps owners expand their concepts through year-round workshops, networking, and funding.
Arizona
Prescott College has two degree programs for those who want to making a living teaching鈥攂ut who want to do it outside. The offers bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in outdoor ed with coursework in program administration and leadership, wilderness therapy, and more.
Colorado
Dream of becoming a mountaineering guide or ski-area operator? The major at Fort Lewis College helps undergrads听become wilderness therapists, guides, experiential educators, and public-lands employees. After completing 33 credit hours in math, history, and science, students finish out the 57-credit-hour degree with courses like Wilderness Expedition, Foundations of 国产吃瓜黑料 Education, Wilderness First Responder, and Teaching Methods for 国产吃瓜黑料 Education. Electives include climbing Fundamentals, Swiftwater Rescue, and Advanced Winter Backcountry Travel. For those students听focused on the ski industry, the teaches the ins and outs of on-mountain and corporate ski resort management.
Earn your MBA with an outdoor emphasis at Western Colorado University in Gunnison. The 听is a two-year program that includes an MBA core as well as specialized tracks for either the product or service side of the outdoor industry. The product concentration has specialized courses in sustainable gear development and material sourcing; supply chain and logistics; and sustainable finance. The service concentration has specialized courses in resort and hospitality management, natural resource regulation, and sales. (Plus, you can explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison when you鈥檙e not studying.)
In Fort Collins, Colorado State University offers a pair of graduate certificates specifically tailored to the outdoor industry鈥攐ne in , the other in . The six-course, 12-credit programs require a bachelor鈥檚 degree to apply, but they鈥檙e open to established professionals and recent grads alike. At less than $1,000 each, the certificates are an affordable way to dip your toe into the industry and come out with marketable knowledge and skills in less than a year.
Not to be outdone, the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 includes an MS in Outdoor Recreation Economy, with supplemental graduate-level听certificates in topics like natural-resource policy and economic development. The program is completely online, so you can take it from anywhere, although Boulder offers awesome access to the outdoors.
Massachusetts
For those who want to lead outdoor-adventure programs, like those offered through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound, Greenfield Community College鈥檚 might provide the perfect training. The program focuses on the development of critical, philosophical, and technical skills in adventure education. Backcountry travel, rock climbing, paddle sports, and Nordic skiing are all areas of focus, and the program鈥檚 certification competencies comply with national standards in the adventure industry.
Michigan
Go pro in the snow sports industry at Gogebic Community College鈥檚 , where classwork and practical experience at the school鈥檚 own Mt. Zion ski area prepare students for technical and administrative positions. Local training is followed by internships at ski resorts across the country. Courses include Ski Area Layout, Fundamentals of Ski Instruction, and Ski Area Operation/Cost Analysis.
If you鈥檙e interested in working in public land management鈥攚hether at the municipal, state, or federal level鈥攖he at Northern Michigan University in Marquette is worth a look. The baccalaureate degree program teaches students professional skills in a variety of outdoor-recreation specialties. The program also makes sure students meet the entry-level requirements of the (NRPA).
Montana
Want to become a professional snow goat? Montana State University鈥檚 in the school鈥檚 acclaimed Department of Earth Sciences teaches all things snow safety for undergrads听seeking careers in the ski industry, search and rescue, guiding, and other fields. The intensive coursework involves several disciplines, including physics, engineering, hydrology, and statistics, calculus, chemistry, and geomorphology. For graduate students, the combines study and research to help learners better understand and predict snow events.
North Carolina
The 听补迟 Brevard College is a bachelor of arts degree concentrating on marketable skills in professional guiding, rock-climbing instruction, and other adventure careers. From keeping customers happy to balancing company budgets, courses prepare students for both the business and adventure aspects of making a living in the outdoor industry.
The at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, is designed for students who want to work as teachers听补迟 expeditionary learning schools, charter schools, community colleges, camps, and beyond. The two-year program involves both online classwork during the week and in-person weekend classes, making it easier for working students to earn their degree.
Oregon
In Corvallis, Oregon State University鈥檚 has a range of certificate and degree programs focused on all aspects of the industry, from learning how to operate a ski lift to designing environmentally responsible products. For those curious about entering the outdoor space, the is a $400 single course, open to anyone,听that gives an overview of the economic, environmental, and societal impacts of outdoor business. Check out the school鈥檚 free for an overview of what to expect.
For those already working in outdoor rec, the听 at the University of Oregon听Lundquist College of Business teaches students how to bring gear to market, from concept to promotion. Onsite and online programs are available to accommodate full-time and working students.
Utah
For many, the ultimate outdoor career dream is bringing product ideas to life and getting paid for it. The at Utah State University in Logan is a bachelor of science degree that prepares students for entering the world of gear design and manufacturing. Students can choose to specialize in design, development, or product-line management after two years of foundational courses.
Washington
Want to work with the public in the outdoors? Bellingham鈥檚 Western Washington University offers a听鈥攁 bachelor of arts degree applicable to careers in sustainable tourism and community recreation. Guiding, camp counseling, wilderness therapy, and park management are just a few of the paths students pursue after graduating.
West Virginia
West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley undergraduate prepares students for careers in outdoor enterprises. Guide and instructor certifications in at least one discipline such as rock climbing or paddlesports are included, and coursework centers on the fundamentals of operating a business. Internships and a final project ensure students get plenty of real-world experience under their belts before they graduate.