Do you love the great outdoors? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation is an exciting degree designed to meet the growing demand in Western Australia for qualified individuals to work in the recreation, education, adventure tourism and eco-tourism sectors. Over three years you will learn key outdoor skills while developing the ability to design, plan and implement safe outdoor programs. Take the next step today.

Why study this degree?

The Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation is designed to meet the growing demand in Australia for qualified individuals within the fields of recreation, adventure tourism and eco-tourism by providing essential knowledge, practical skills and leadership opportunities.

Practical competence and professional standards are at the core of this program, providing students with extensive practical experience in outdoor leadership in various natural environments. Pursuits include white water kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling, bushwalking and mountain biking.

15 required courses - Outdoor Recreation

• Introduction to Professional Practice in Outdoor Recreation
• Introduction to Teaching and Learning in an Experiential Context
• Basic Expedition Skills
• Introduction to Roping and Challenge Courses
• Expeditions on Land
• Expeditions on Water
• Expedition Planning and Implementation
• Health Communications
• Research Methods
• Developmental Psychology
• Physical Geography, Climates, Geology and Soils
• Health Issues and Preventive Approaches
• Physical Health and Activity
• Aboriginal People
• Adapted and Inclusive Practice in Physical Education

Six electives. Courses may include:

• Introduction to Behavioural Science
• Environmental Approaches to Public Health & Health Promotion
• Principles of Management
• Counselling Skills
• Coastal and Marine Systems
• Australian Ecology and Environmental Issues
• Environmental Ecology and History of South Coast
• Environmental Impact and Assessment Planning
• Events Management
• Population Approaches to Health Promotion
• Community Approaches to Health Promotion
• Health Science Research

Three industry practicum placements

• Industry Placement (50 hours)
• Industry Placement (150 hours)
• Industry Internship (150 hours)

Core Curriculum

• CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
• CORE II: Elective
  • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
  • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
  • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
  • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
  • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

Please Note: Students studying this program will be charged additional fees to cover transport and accommodation costs associated with field based expeditions and external certifications

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public sectors; Career opportunities range from Community program organiser, education & community programs officer, adventure tourism leader, teacher – health & physical education.

Applicants must meet High school qualifications (or equivalent) to apply for undergraduate program. Academic minimum entry requirements for international applicants vary from country to count

IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 overall, with no writing score lower than 6.5 and no other individual band score lower than 6.0

CAE/CPE - 176 overall, with no score lower than 176 in writing and no other band score lower than 169

PTE Academic - 58 overall, with no score lower than 58 in writing and no other band score lower than 50

TOEFL (iBT) - 84 overall, with no score lower than 22 in writing and no other band score lower than 17.