Program: Wilderness & Adventure Therapy Certificate - Fort Lewis College

Apr 06, 2025

2024-2025 Catalog of Courses

The Wilderness and Adventure Therapy (WAT) Certificate prepares degree and non-degree seeking students for work in clinical and non-clinical settings that use wilderness, nature, adventure, and experiential modalities for therapeutic or developmental ends. Settings in which WAT is used include therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness therapy programs, hospitals, community-based mental health programs, and K-12 schools.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WILDERNESS AND ADVENTURE THERAPY CERTIFICATE

A student majoring in any discipline may complete a Wilderness and Adventure Therapy certificate upon satisfactory fulfilling the core and elective requirements.

Note: A grade of C or better is required in all courses required for the certificate.

Core Courses:

AE 101 - Foundations of Adventure Education Credits: 3
AE 350 - Adventure Processing and Facilitation Credits: 3
AE 371 - Wilderness Therapy Credits: 3
PSYC 157 - Introduction to Psychology [LAC-SS] Credits: 3
PSYC 387 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3

Outdoor Skills & Management Course:

Complete one (1) of the following:
a) Any 3-credit 100, 200, or 300-level AE Outdoor Skills & Management course (see list below)
b) AE 230 (Wilderness First Responder)

AE 121 - Climbing Fundamentals Credits: 3
AE 131 - Paddling Fundamentals Credits: 3
AE 141 - Backcountry Skiing Credits: 3
AE 230 - Wilderness First Responder Credits: 3
AE 241 - Winter Expedition Skills Credits: 3
AE 321 - Advanced Rock Climbing Credits: 3
AE 325 - Mountaineering Credits: 3
AE 328 - Canyoneering Credits: 3
AE 331 - Advanced Paddling Credits: 3
AE 343 - Advanced Winter Backcountry Travel and Management Credits: 3

Clinical & Counseling Psychology Course:

Complete one (1) of the following:

PSYC 393 - Health Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 415 - Group Psychotherapy Credits: 3
PSYC 420 - Counseling Skills Credits: 3
PSYC 311 - Service Learning Topics Credits: 3
PSYC 342 - Psychological Testing Credits: 3

Elective:

Complete one (1) of the following:

AE 220 - Teaching Methods for Adventure Education Credits: 3
AE 230 - Wilderness First Responder Credits: 3
AE 310 - Philosophy and Theory of Adventure Education Credits: 3
AE 375 - Environmental and Place-Based Education Credits: 3
ES 375 - Sport and Exercise Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 233 - Personality Credits: 3
PSYC 254 - Lifespan Human Development Credits: 3
PSYC 272 - Psychology of Women and Gender Credits: 3
PSYC 288 - Positive Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 342 - Psychological Testing Credits: 3
PSYC 354 - Child Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 374 - Cross-Cultural Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 384 - Compassion Credits: 3
PSYC 393 - Health Psychology Credits: 3
PSYC 481 - Current Trends in Psychology Credits: 3

TOTAL REQUIRED FOR CERTIFICATE - CREDITS: 24

Prior to course registration, students should review all courses for prerequisites, minimum prerequisite grade requirements and minimum class standing.

Note: At least 50% of the coursework toward the certificate must be earned at Fort Lewis College.