COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership at Victoria University is a 288-credit-point degree designed to prepare students for professional careers in outdoor education, adventure leadership, and environmental recreation. The course is structured into 96 credit points of First Year Core units, 96 credit points of Professional Core units, and a final 96 credit points completed through either an industry internship major, a second major, or a minor, depending on the student’s chosen pathway. In the first year, students study foundational subjects such as Aboriginal Traditions and Policy, Introduction to Adventure Environments, Natural Environments 1, Safety in Natural Environments, Adventure-Based Learning, Preparing to Lead in Natural Environments, Interpretation of Natural Environments, and Operational Safety. These units build essential knowledge in leadership, safety, and environmental understanding. In the second and third years, students progress to advanced topics including river, bush, and mountain environments, natural environments 2, risk management, outdoor and environmental philosophy, and sustainability. A strong focus is placed on leadership, facilitation, and interpreting natural environments for groups. Students also study environmental inquiry and community engagement. The final stage of the degree allows students to specialise through an industry internship or selected major/minor, such as ecology, sport and active communities, or adventure sports. Overall, the program combines theory, practical outdoor training, and industry experience to prepare graduates for careers in outdoor leadership, eco-tourism, recreation management, and environmental education.