M.S. EOE Snapshot
Program Overview
Online or Hybrid, Main Campus
Two-Years to Complete
20 Person Cohort
App Deadline: June 15 for Fall Cohort
36 Total Credit Hours
Ideal for non-formal educators
Graduate School Open House
Saturday, March 21st 10-Noon
Learn more about the program, ask questions of faculty and explore next steps at the
next Graduate School Open House on our WCU Main Campus in Cullowhee, NC.
Register Here
About the Program
The M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education* is a two-year hybrid program. The degree utilizes the philosophy of experiential education combined with the modality
of outdoor education to provide students with necessary training to serve in a variety
of educational contexts.
This degree works well for a wide range of professionals who work in outdoor and educational
programs including: expeditionary learning schools, charter schools, independent schools with an experiential education program, community colleges, residential and day camps, environmental education programs, therapeutic experiential agencies and camps, university outdoor programs, and wilderness
leadership programs.
Application Requirements
The MSEOE student application will be posted soon, please check back shortly.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Dr. Andrew Bobilya at ajbobilya@wcu.edu.
*Pending SACSCOC approval
Overview
The M.S. in Experiential and Outdoor Education is a two-year hybrid program.
In the first year, face-to-face coursework will include a one-week intensive course
on campus followed by four weekends each in the fall and spring semesters. Students
will be engaged in online coursework throughout the semester(s).
During the second-year, students will complete additional required and elective coursework
(individual choice of face-to-face, online and/or hybrid course formats) including
a thesis or project.
This format allows for students to remain employed full-time and/or pursue field-based
coursework (e.g. internships) at regional agencies.
Fall 2020 Dates
Class sessions are 8 am – 5 pm with an occasional extended evening session
- August 17-21 (with at least one evening session)
- September 18/19
- October 23/24
- November 20/21
- December 4/5
Spring 2021 Dates
- January 22/23
- February 19/20
- March 19/20
- April 9/10
Spring 2021 Thesis/Project Proposals
April 28th-April 30th (students must attend at least the one day that they are proposing their thesis or
project)
Educational objectives
Students will:
- Develop a theoretical and philosophical foundation for experiential and outdoor education.
- Understand research methods as they apply to experiential and outdoor education scholarship.
- Design learning experiences for diverse populations that integrate theory into practice.
- Demonstrate an ability to identify a need in the literature, propose and complete
a graduate level thesis or
project to meet that need.
The Association of Experiential Education defines Experiential Education as: “… a philosophy that informs many methodologies in which educators purposefully
engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase
knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people's capacity to contribute
to their communities.”
Curriculum
Total credits: 36
Required core credits: 27
Electives credits: 9
Transfer credits are limited to 6 from an accredited university. Additional electives
may be taken from the list below and other WCU Gradute programs.
| YEAR 1 FALL SEMESTER |
YEAR 1 SPRING SEMESTER |
EOE 500: Foundations of EOE (3)
EOE 501: Philosophy & Theory of Experiential and Outdoor Education (3)
EOE 502: Diversity and Social Justice (3)
EOE 503: Research Methods in Experiential and Outdoor Education (3)
|
EOE 600: Advanced Research Methods and Evaluation Techniques (3)
EOE 601: Current Trends and Issues in Experiential and Outdoor Education (3)
EOE 602: Group Facilitation and Teaching Methods in EOE (3)
|
| YEAR 2 FALL SEMESTER |
YEAR 2 SPRING SEMESTER |
EOE 698: Thesis I/Project (3)
Elective 1: (3)
Elective 2: (3)
|
EOE 699: Thesis II/Project II (3)
Elective 3: (3)
Elective 4: (3) (optional)
|
EOE ELECTIVES
|
SAMPLE OF COUNSELING ELECTIVES
|
EOE 680: Independent Study in EOE (3, R6)
EOE 683: Internship in EOE (3, R6)
EOE 627: Wilderness Education (3-6)
EOE 621: Interpretation and Environmental Education (3)
EOE 623: Youth Development (3)
EOE 624: Social Media, Technology and EOE (3)
EOE 635: Sites, Facilities and Programs in EOE (3)
EOE 799: Continuing Reserach, Thesis (1)
EOE 693: Topics in EOE (3)
EOE 625: Experiential and Outdoor Education Expedition (3-6)
|
COUN 600: Individual and Group Helping Skills (3)
COUN 612: Sexuality Counseling (3)
COUN 619: Nature as a Metaphor (3)
COUN 620: Counseling Children and Adolescents (3)
COUN 637: Creative and Expressive Arts in Counseling (3)
COUN 672: Positive Psychotherapy in Integrated Care (3)
COUN 677: Spirituality in Counseling (3)
|
EOE Faculty
