Share your love of outdoor recreation and nature with others.
Help people experience the joy of nature and promote active lifestyles.
Note: this program does not qualify you to teach in schools. If you want to qualify as a teacher, consider USC’s Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/Bachelor of Recreation and Outdoor Environmental Studies.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- Campus note: First year courses offered at Moreton Bay campus from 2020. Climate Change and Coastal Zone Studies, Tourism, Leisure and Event Management minors not available at Moreton Bay campus
- Campus note: First year courses offered at Moreton Bay campus from 2020. Climate Change and Coastal Zone Studies, Tourism, Leisure and Event Management minors not available at Moreton Bay campus
Help people experience the joy of nature and promote active lifestyles.
The first of its kind in Queensland, this program teaches you the skills to work with people, engaging them in more active lifestyles and helping them to connect with and appreciate nature. This program gives you a broad, versatile education in health and physical education, outdoor environmental studies, and sports coaching.
In this program you will:
- attend more than 25 outdoor environmental studies fieldwork days in the Sunshine Coast area, including Fraser Island.
- study an innovative four-course minor culminating with an expedition and leadership experiences.
- learn to coach a range of sports, recreational activities, adventure activities, and outdoor environmental education activities and develop your expertise in experiential, active learning and teaching strategies.
- become equipped with the skills, knowledge, and experience to journey safely with participants in a range of natural environments and to study the relationships that humans have with nature.
- tailor your studies to your personal interests and career ambitions by selecting from a wide range of elective courses in complementary areas such as tourism, leisure and event management, restoration and conservation, indigenous studies, marine science or sustainability.
Post-admission requirements
Students need to be aware of the physical components and location requirements of the program. If they have a disability, medical condition or any concerns that may affect their potential participation in some of the practical components of the program, they are invited to discuss their options with the program coordinator.
Career opportunities
As a graduate, you can pursue work with secondary schools, private colleges, outdoor/environmental education centres, universities or private companies/businesses.
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Outdoor leader
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Outdoor guide
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Sports coach
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Outdoor recreation officer
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Environmental interpretation guide
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Adventure tourism guide
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Ecotourism guide
Membership
Potential registration with the National Outdoor Recreation Leadership Scheme.
Program structure
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
EDU119 Mental Health Contexts of Care
OES100 Counselling Interventions: Experiential Practices
OES101 Counselling Children and Young People
SPX102 Counselling and Mental Health
Health and Physical Education major (8) 96 units
OES240 Counselling and Addictions
OES300 Research in Health Care
OES301 Independent Study
NUT203 Communication and Thought
NUT310 Introduction to Sociology: Society, Culture and Change
SPX101 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
SPX103 Social Research
SPX231 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
Minor courses (4) 48 units
Environmental Geography
Environmental Management
Human Geography
Indigenous Studies
Marine Science
Restoration and Conservation
Sustainability
Tourism, Leisure and Event Management
Elective courses (8) 96 units
Select 8 elective courses (96 units) from the undergraduate elective course options.
If you wish to use your electives to complete 4 courses in a discipline that links to a secondary school subject (e.g. English), you will need to choose only one 100-level course in your list of 4 courses to be eligible to use these as a teaching area.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in program structure
- Complete no more then 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses (120 units), including the core course
- Complete 25 days Outdoor Environmental Fieldwork on Fraser Island and other natural environments on the Sunshine Coast
In order to commence Supervised Professional Experience placement you must:
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- Travel to attend field education placements
- A Blue Card is required, refer to Requirements for placements
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Students will need to be aware of the physical components and location requirements of the program. If you have a disability, medical condition or any concerns that may affect your potential participation in some of the practical components of the program, you are invited to discuss your options with the program coordinator
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.