Outdoor Education Major - Bachelor of Sport and Recreation
A qualification in outdoor education gives you the skillset to work in the outdoor and adventure industry, teaching and leading others.
AUT outdoor education graduates work in many fields. They teach in schools, work in outdoor pursuit centres, operate adventure tourism ventures and often progress into management.
Encounter New Zealand’s unique environment and learn from some of the country’s most experienced staff in outdoor education. AUT staff have worked and adventured in some of the world’s most exciting places including Antarctica, Nepal, North and South America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the Alps of France, Austria and Switzerland.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation.
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Year 1
Semester 1 courses
- HEAL506 Knowledge, Enquiry and Communication
- SPOR504 Leadership in Sport and the Outdoors
- SPOR511 Skill Learning in Sport and Recreation
- SPSC501 Sport and Exercise Science Fundamentals
Semester 2 courses
- SPOR501 Sport and Recreation in Aotearoa/New Zealand
- SPOR502 Innovative Planning in Sport and Recreation
- SPOR503 Contemporary Issues in Sport and Recreation
You also need to complete one of these courses
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- HEAL504 Lifespan Development and Communication
Year 2
- SPOR610 Law and Ethics in Sport and Recreation
- SPOR624 Group and Individual Behaviour
- SPOR608 Evidence Based Practice
- SPOR602 Roto-Awa: Lakes and Rivers
- SPOR603 Motu-Moana: Islands and Sea
- SPOR619 Maunga-Ngahere: Mountains and Bush
- SPOR618 Contemporary Approaches to Outdoor Education
- SPOR609 Teaching, Leading and Coaching
Plus one optional/elective course.
This year also includes two work placements of 30-40 hours, designed to introduce you to the workplace and help you identify where you want to complete your third-year workplace experience.
Year 3
Courses you study this year
- SPOR709 Sport and Recreation Co-operative I
- SPOR710 Sport and Recreation Co-operative II
- SPOR707 Pedagogy and Performance
- SPOR708 Outdoor Education
Workplace experience in the Outdoor Education major
In your third year you complete 350 to 400 hours in an organisation, which includes working on a project related to your major through the Cooperative Education courses. This takes approximately two days per week.
Recent placements included:
- Bigfoot Adventures
- Camp Adair
- Dilworth School Rural Campus
- Howick College
- Kahunui Campus, St Cuthbert’s College
- Mt Albert Grammar School
- Sir Peter Blake Marine Education Recreation Centre (MERC)
- St Cuthbert’s College
Want more info about work integrated learning at AUT?
Read more about workplace experience in AUT programmes, how it works and why it’s so beneficial when you start your career.
- Adventure consultant or educator
- Corporate development trainer
- Commercial guide
- Instructing outdoor pursuits – white water kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling and bush survival
- Outdoor education instructor or teacher*
- Youth worker
*After completing the one-year Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation
- Coaching
- Exercise Science and Nutrition
- Health and Physical Education
- Management
- Sport and Exercise Science
- Standard pathway
Postgraduate study
- Workplace experience in outdoor education camps, adventure tourism centres or schools
- Passionate staff with first-hand experience in outdoor education and adventure
- An outdoors person
- Having a high level of fitness
- Having a sense of adventure
- Organised and a good planner
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.