Outdoor Recreation Studies (Minor)

Minor: Outdoor Recreation Studies
Program Code: M111

About This Minor. . .

The minor in Outdoor Recreation Studies is designed to equip students with the basic knowledge and skills needed to grow as a professional in the outdoor recreation industry.  Students will learn how outdoor recreation impacts economies, communities, tourism and the environment.  All of the course work is rooted in leadership.  The minor will encourage every student to pursue their own outdoor passion.

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

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Institutional Degree Requirements

The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU minors. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • A minor consists of 15-24 semester hours. There may be prerequisites required for the minor which will increase the total number of credit hours for a student who has not already taken those prerequisites.
  • Courses taken to satisfy Essential Learning, major requirements, or electives can be counted toward the minor if applicable.
  • At least 33 percent of the credit hours required for the minor must be in courses numbered 300 or above.
  • At least 25 percent of the classes must be taken at CMU.
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher for the courses used for the minor.
  • A minor is not a degree by itself and must be earned at the same time as a baccalaureate degree.
  • A minor must be outside the major field of study.
  • A student may earn up to five minors with any baccalaureate degree at CMU.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and degree requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements sheet you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Program Specific Minor Requirements

(23 hours required)

Required Courses:
BIOL 113Outdoor Survival3
OREC 100Leave No Trace1
OREC 104Orienteering1
OREC 105Backpacking1
OREC 205Foundations of Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies3
OREC 405Outdoor Recreation Leadership, Programming, Education, and Assessment3
Choose a total of 2 hours from the following list:2
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Kayaking
River Rafting
Rock Climbing II
Backcountry Winter Travel
Choose a total of 9 hours from the following list:9
Outdoor Industry Business
Avalanche Rescue Techniques and Theory
Swiftwater Rescue Techniques and Theory
Rock Climbing Instructor and Rope Rescue
Professional Outdoor Guide
Community Health and the Outdoor Recreation Industry
Total Credit Hours23

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a minor. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and developing a suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for her/his intended minor.

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a minor. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head for the minor. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

A minor cannot be awarded by itself.  It must be combined with a baccalaureate degree outside the major field of study. Students should follow the graduation process outlined for the baccalaureate degree and list their majors and minors on the “Intent to Graduate” form.

If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be her/his responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.