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Locations: Queensbury | Saratoga County | Online Distance Learning

Adventure Sports: Leadership and ManagementAAS (ADVS)

Adventure Sports: Leadership and Management is an integrated program of liberal arts, general education, critical thinking, environmental stewardship, adventure education, professional preparation, and leadership training. The program utilizes the capabilities of the Adirondack region of New York state to educate and prepare students as adventure education leaders by providing a comprehensive and integrated curriculum that challenges individuals to fully develop their capabilities while respecting and preserving the environment and the natural resources of the region. Students engage in learning expeditions designed to develop leadership and management competencies in adventure education. Students completing the AAS requirements will be prepared to transfer to a four-year program at select SUNY and private institutions or work in one of the fastest growing segments of the service industries, adventure recreation. The curriculum integrates academic content with technical skills in a program of academic and professional preparation for outdoor leaders. The structure of the core curriculum introduces students to adventure disciplines, contextualizes them in theory, practice, and pedagogy, advances training within four variables of adventure (human, equipment, environment, and organization), and culminates with a capping course focused on adventure program management and an internship in adventure program operations.

Cr. Course TitleCourse Code
1-4 Freshman ExperienceHrd 100, Hrd 100A or Hrd 110
3 Writing I or Writing/Reading Workshop A&BEng 101
3 Writing IIEng 102, Eng 103, Eng 104, Eng 105, Eng 106, Eng 108, Eng 109 or Eng 110
3 SUNY GenEd Mathematics 
4 Lab ScienceChm 105 (Recommended)
2 Physical EducationPed 107 or Ped 108
3 Social ScienceAnt 103 or Psy 101
3 Social ScienceAnt 101 or His 102
6 Liberal Arts ElectivesPhi 201 or Phi 202; His 104
6 Free Electives 
3 Fundamentals of Backcountry LivingAvs 101
2 Basic River and Backcountry Canoeing (Coreq Req)Avs 102
2 Introduction to Eastern Mountaineering (Prereq Req)Avs 103
3 Foundations of Adventure Education (Prereq Req)Avs 140
3 Wilderness First Responder (Prereq Req)Hed 108
3 Adirondack Park Policies and Issues (Prereq Req)Avs 230
3 Adventure Program Management (Prereq Req)Avs 240
3 Adventure Program Operations Internship (Prereq Req)Avs 178
8 Choose 8 credits from at least ONE area of concentration 
  Challenge Course 
1 Challenge Course IPed 152
1 Challenge Course II (Prereq Req)Ped 162
3 Challenge Course Facilitation (Prereq Req)Avs 221
3 Challenge Course Management (Prereq Req)Avs 231
  Snowsports 
1 Skiing IPed 124 or Ped 144
1 Skiing II (Prereq Req)Ped 154 or Ped 174
3 Outdoor Emergency Care (Prereq Req)Avs 223
3 Core Concepts and Techincal Aspects of Snow Sport Instruction (Prereq Req)Avs 233
  OR 
3 Ski Patrol Operations (Prereq req)Avs 234
  White Water Paddle Sports 
1 Whitewater IPed 139
1 Whitewater II (Prereq Req)Ped 149
3 Safety and Swiftwater Rescue (Preqreq Req)Avs 222
3 Whitewater Leadership and Instruction (Prereq Req)Avs 232

64 minimum credits required for graduation
Recommended First Year
First Semester
1-4 Hrd 100, Hrd 100A or Hrd 110
3 Eng 101; Eng 100A & Eng 100B
3  Math
3  Social Science
3 Avs 101
2 Avs 102
1 Ped 152 *
Winter
2 Avs 103
1 Ped 124 or Ped 144 **
Second Semester
3 Eng 102, Eng 103, Eng 104 or Eng 110
2 Ped 107 or Ped 108
4  Lab Science
3 Hed 108
3 Avs 140
1 Ped 154 or Ped 174 **
1 Ped 162 *
Summer
1 Ped 149 ***
1 Ped 139 ***
3 Art 222 ***
Recommended Second Year
Third Semester
3  Social Science
3  Elective
3  Liberal Arts **&***
3 Avs 221 *
3 Avs 223 **
3 Avs 230
3 Avs 231 *
Fourth Semester
3  Liberal Arts
3  Liberal Arts*
3  Elective
3 Avs 178 **&***
3 Avs 232
3 Avs 233 or Avs 234 *
3 Avs 240
Summer
3 Avs 178 *

*Challenge Course Concentration
**Snowsports Concentration
***Whitewater Concentration