AEO Minor | St. Scholastica

Our Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership (AEO) minor blends adventure education with leadership training. Adventure education is an active, hands-on learning process that challenges you both physically and mentally. You’ll practice technical skills in climbing, backpacking and canoeing while also learning to manage risk, facilitate outdoor experiences, and promote environmental and social responsibility.

You will learn to facilitate team development and leadership through strategically sequenced icebreakers, communication, problem-solving, trust, empathy and low-element activities. Additionally, you will learn how to apply these concepts from the backcountry to the boardroom. Overall, this program strengthens your skills in leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving and emergency preparedness, while inviting you to stand out in any industry.

Encouraging Adventure and Building Leaders

Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership with kayaks on Lake Superior St. Scholastica’s Duluth campus offers a unique opportunity to enhance your learning beyond the classroom through its unmatched access to nature. Duluth is the gateway to Lake Superior, Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Boundary Waters.

For those who love the outdoors and want to integrate it into their education, this minor offers a balance of professional development and personal fulfillment. The AEO program turns adventure into a pathway for success in a variety of degrees and career paths!

AEO Minor Fast Facts

Integrated practicum and field experience
Location advantage — easy access to Lake Superior and multiple parks
Opportunities for safety, emergency preparedness and wilderness medicine credentials
Hands-on coursework and leadership training
Tracks to align with career goals:
- Pre-Health Care/Medical
- Education, Psychology and Development
- Global Sustainability and Justice
- Biology, Wilderness and the Natural Environment
- Outdoor Adventure Education
- Self-designed Track (requires approval)

Receive Program Info and Financial Aid Options

Detailed program overview
Personalized financial aid
Individual admissions support

Highest Level of Education *

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

State *

Zip Code *

By requesting information, I authorize The College of St. Scholastica to contact me by email, phone or text message at the phone number provided. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Unsubscribe at anytime by replying STOP.

Privacy Policy

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Benedictine Scholarship

All new first-year applicants to St. Scholastica will be awarded either the Benedictine Scholarship or the Access Award, upon admission to the College.

View Scholarship Information

Financial Aid

100% of traditional incoming undergraduates receive some type of scholarships. The average for scholarships, grants and/or loans is $31,841.

Visit Financial Aid

Degree Details

Tuition

Are You Looking for a Face-to-Face (on-campus) Experience?

St. Scholastica’s longstanding commitment to inclusivity and generous financial aid packages make our world-class educational programs accessible to students from any background.

View Tuition and Fees

Curriculum

Required Courses

AEO 2210 — Foundations of Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership — 4 credits
AEO 3210 — Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership Methods — 4 credits
AEO 4210 — Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership Practicum — 2, 4 or 6 credits

Elective Courses

To acquire the required 19-22 credits, Select 6-10 additional credits from this list or follow one of the recommended tracks.

AEO 2110/NSC 2110 — Wilderness First Responder — 4 credits
AEO 2777/2010 — Technical Rock Climbing — 2 credits
BIO 1103 — Current Environmental Topics
BIO 1115 — Global Problems, Scientific Solutions
BIO 2777 — Biology of the Northwoods
BIO 3210 — Field Biology
BIO 4170 — Ecology
BIO 3220 — Plant Systematics
ECN 2410 — Environmental Economics
EDU 1540 — Introduction to Teaching — 3 credits
EDU 2210 — Educational Psychology Needs of Learners
ENG 4415 — Writing Nature
GSJ 1101 — Intro to Global Sustainability and Justice
GSJ 2250 — Environmental History of the Americas
GSJ 3601 — Music as Environmental Activism
GSJ 4001 — Globalization of Food and Agriculture
GSJ 4402 — Water and Politics (POL 4402)
HIS 2250 — Environmental History of the Americas
HHU 2301 — Health, Happiness and Well-being (PHL 2301)
NAS 2201 — American Indian History I
PSY 2208 — Lifespan Developmental Psychology
SOC 2125 — Sociology of Health
SWK 3350 — Understanding Systems of Privilege and Oppression

Tracks

Outdoor Adventure Education (10 credits)

AEO 2110 — Wilderness First Responder — 4 credits
AEO XXXX (2777) — Technical Rock Climbing — 2 credits

Complete one additional 2-4 credit class from the elective list

Pre-Health Care/Medical (8 credits)

AEO 2110 — Wilderness First Responder — 4 credits
PSY 2208 — Lifespan Development or SOC 2125 — Sociology of Health — 4 credits

Education and Psychology (7 credits)

EDU 1540 — Introduction to Teaching — 3 credits
EDU 2210 — Educational Psychology/Needs of Learners — 4 credits

Global Sustainability and Justice (8 credits)

Choose 2 of these courses for a total of 8 credits.

GSJ 2250 — Environmental History of the Americas — 4 credits
GSJ 3601 — Music as Environmental Activism — 4 credits
GSJ 4001 — Globalization of Food and Agriculture — 4 credits
GSJ 4402 — Water and Politics — 4 credits

Biology and the Natural Environment (8 credits)

BIO 1115 — Global Problems, Scientific Solutions — 4 credits
BIO 2777 — Biology of the Northwoods — 4 credits

Career Outlook

The Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership minor complements a variety of majors, helping you to stand out in your chosen career path. This minor equips you with leadership skills, confidence, critical thinking abilities and hands-on experience, making you a strong candidate for supervisory and management-level positions after graduation.

Graduates with this training and experience are well-prepared for careers in:

Outdoor education
Experiential learning
Emergency medical services – First Responder, EMT, Search and Rescue
Parks and recreation management
Adventure and eco-tourism
Youth development
Higher education
Leadership development
Upper-level management in non-outdoor career

Admission Information

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions, financing and the Center for Equal Access.

Related Programs

Discover other related programs that expand your career opportunities and blend well with your interest in leadership and the environment.

A young leader speaking to a group of corporate professionals.

Bachelor of Arts Educational Studies

Biology students working on the roof near the St. Scholastica Greenhouse.

Bachelor of Science Biology

St. Scholastica students hiking in the woods

Minor Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership