University of Worcester and Herefordshire & Ludlow College.
Key Facts
Level: 4, 5 & 6
Attendance: Full-time
Duration: Three years
Location: University of Worcester, Holme Lacy Campus and various other venues
Application: UCAS course code XN92
Course Intro
This exciting course, based at the University of Worcester and run in partnership with HLC, will prepare you for an exciting career in the outdoor industry. We offer a diverse range of modules, so you’ll be able to tailor your degree and explore your interests. You will also develop your professional portfolio of practical skills by applying your learning to sessions in the field.
The programme is taught by our highly experienced team of staff, drawn from a range of outdoor adventure backgrounds. Our graduates have worked around the world as wilderness guides, outdoor educators, leaders in adventure travel companies and schools.
Course Content
Year 1
Mandatory
- Foundations of Outdoor Leadership
- Water Based Personal Skills
- Land Based Personal Skills
Optional
- Foundations of Adventure Sport Coaching
- Understanding Adventurous Environments
- Optional Language modules
Year 2
Mandatory
- The Research Process
- Applied Adventure Sports Coaching
- Psychological Approaches to Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching
- Pedagogy in Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching
- Environmental Practice in Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching
- Physiology of Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching
- Water Based Coaching
- Land Based Coaching
Year 3
Mandatory
- Dissertation
- Expedition Leadership
- Professional Placement (OLAC)
- Contemporary Issues (OLAC)
- Critical Learnng & Teaching (OLAC)
- Environmental Ethics in Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching
- Developing Professional Practice in Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching
Assessment
The assessment strategy for Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching is designed to assess the students’ knowledge and skills across practical, theoretical and work-based learning. The strategy at all levels includes written assessments to assess subject knowledge and the exploration of ideas; reflective assignments to enable students to engage with and lead their own learning and personal development; and presentations to support student development in terms of delivery skills and sharing of knowledge. In addition there are practical assessments throughout the programme of study that assess personal ability, leadership and coaching across a range of outdoor adventure activities. Final year students undertake a work-based placement, where students are assessed on their ability to apply knowledge and skills developed through the programme of study to reflect on professional practice.
In the first year, the assessment is weighted towards practical assessment of personal skill, individual written assignments, reflective writing with a focus on academic skills development, and group presentations. In the second year, the practical assessments are focused on the delivery, coaching and leadership of outdoor adventure activities, written assignments that require application of a wider range of knowledge, individual presentations and reflective writing related to professional practice. In the final year, there are a wide variety of assessment options with a strong focus on research-based written work and individual presentations.
Entry Requirements
96 UCAS Tariff points (for example, CCC at A Level), and GCSE English Language and Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above. A Disclosure and Barring Service may be required.
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to interview.
Employability
Our Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Sports Coaching degree will prepare you for a range of careers in the outdoor industry. Previous graduates have secured work in a range of settings, including:
- Outdoor centres
- Commercial activity centres
- Trek leaders at holiday companies
- Development training organisations
- Higher Education
- Self-employment
- Military careers
- Teaching
Course Fees
£9,250 per year; University of Worcester fees policy applies. All fees are subject to change; please check with the relevant provider.
Students will need to provide their own hill walking and backpacking equipment including tents and sleeping bags. Trips away as part of mandatory modules incur no extra cost.
Some of the outdoor qualifications on offer will incur additional costs, but these are offered at a greatly reduced rate.
Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.
A Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this course and will incur an additional cost (£44 plus a yearly update service of £13 per year).
