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SCC, WCU partnership helps students transform outdoors passion into careers

2015-03-06






Photo of Dustin Wilson
Dustin Wilson, a graduate of SCC’s outdoor leadership program as well as WCU’s Parks & Recreation Management program, is currently working toward a Ph.D. in the field at Clemson.
 
Photo of Paul Wolf
Paul Wolf oversees the outdoor leadership program at SCC.


Dustin Wilson’s love of the outdoors led him to Southwestern Community College’s outdoor leadership program to transform his interest into a rewarding career.


Southwestern offers the only outdoor leadership associate degree program in the southeast, and the strong relationship the program has with Western Carolina University’s Parks & Recreation Management program eased his transfer to WCU after graduating in 2003. The Madison, Ala., native enjoyed the diversity of courses offered in the outdoor leadership program, which included team-building, kayaking, climbing and history of land management.


“The outdoor leadership degree is an excellent foundation for transferring to the parks and recreation program,” Wilson said. “The advisors at SCC and WCU simplified the transfer process and developed curriculums that build on one another. This prepared me to succeed in my career, the public affairs master’s program at Western, and subsequently the Ph.D. program I am currently enrolled in at Clemson.”


A recently updated agreement builds on the strong partnership between the programs, which capitalize on the plentiful outdoor adventure opportunities in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many graduates work in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Nantahala River and numerous outdoor oriented businesses - destinations that attract millions of visitors annually. Graduates are employed across the country from North Carolina to Alaska as park rangers, wilderness guides, whitewater and canopy tour guides and wilderness therapy field instructors. They work for city, county and state outdoor programs.


A thriving outdoor adventure economy in North Carolina has ignited interest in both programs. According to Advantage Green (www.advantagewest.com/green-economy/target-green-industries/outdoor-industry), the outdoor industry in North Carolina annually contributes more than $19.2 billion to the economy, supports 199,000 direct jobs, generates $1.3 billion in sales taxes, and provides $5.6 billion in wages and salaries in the state. Job opportunities in outdoor recreation are projected to grow 14% through 2022.


The agreement between SCC & WCU includes 80 semester hours of transferable credit from SCC to WCU including all but one liberal studies course and 12 courses required for the Parks & Recreation degree. SCC students also have the opportunity to enroll in a PRM 250 (Foundations of Parks and Recreation Management) at WCU that will satisfy a degree requirement at SCC, and can use their financial aid to cover the cost of enrollment. Students completing the courses in the agreement can graduate from both programs in eight semesters (four years).


 “SCC's outdoor leadership program offers three certificates and an associate degree to prepare individuals for varying levels of employment in the outdoor field, said Paul Wolf, SCC’s outdoor leadership program coordinator. “The PRM program at Western offers tremendous opportunities for our graduates to build upon that training to advance their credentials at the bachelor's level and graduate school too.”


To learn more about the new agreement visit www.southwesterncc.edu/transfer. SCC and WCU both accept new students in the fall and spring semesters. Contact the SCC Admissions Office at 828.339.4352 or the WCU Admissions Office at 828.227.7317.


To learn more about SCC's outdoor leadership program, visit: http://www.southwesterncc.edu/health-sciences/outdoor-leadership/outdoor-leadership or https://www.facebook.com/SCCOutdoorLeadership.


 

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