University of Utah College Credit Information Since 1980 NOLS and the University of Utah have partnered to offer college credit to NOLS students. This credit is administered by the University s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT), one of the few fully accredited programs of its type west of the Mississippi. Additionally, some NOLS courses offer credit through the University s Biology Department. Registration and payment is required before your NOLS course begins. If you d like to earn college credit please complete and return the attached Registration Form, with payment of $70.00 per credit hour, payable to NOLS at least 10 days prior to your course start date. The optional college credit fees are in addition to the course tuition. Registration forms submitted after the course will not be accepted. There is no exception to this guideline. Receiving Credit Complete the following steps at least ten days prior to your course start date: 1) Complete and return the University of Utah College Credit Registration Form to NOLS. (This registration is on pages 5 and 6 of this form, or may be found online under our academic credit link: www.nols.edu.) 2) Submit payment of $70.00 per credit hour payable to NOLS. (NOTE: The cost per credit is subject to change approximately every two years.) Abbreviated descriptions of University of Utah courses offered through NOLS can be found on page 3 of this form or < http://www.nols.edu/credit/uofu.shtml> on the University of Utah College Credit page on the NOLS website. Requesting your University of Utah Transcripts To receive an official transcript, or have one sent to your school, you must make a request directly to the University of Utah. Transcripts are not available until after the close of the term in which your course occurs. Please refer to the chart below. You ll find the instructions to request your transcript online here: http://www.nols.edu/alumni/contact/transcripts.shtml NOLS Course Start Date Transcript Availability Date December 29 March 31 July 1 April 1 August 15 September 30 August 16 December 28 February 10 Requests for early report of grades will only be accommodated if they are made in advance of your course start date. Please contact the NOLS registrar at registrar@nols.edu with any requests or questions. Schools Accepting Credit Many colleges and universities will accept the transfer of the University of Utah credit available for a NOLS course. A list of schools that NOLS has pre-arranged agreements with is available online at: www.nols.edu. Other schools make decisions regarding credit transfer on an individual basis. It is the student s responsibility to arrange for the transfer of credit. Students are encouraged to make these arrangements prior to taking a NOLS course; this can prevent disappointment later. 1
Eligibility High school graduates or the equivalent may register for University of Utah college credit. Current high school students must have completed their junior year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above, and must submit an official transcript with their registration form to verify their status. Graduate Credit Policy for Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT) graduate credit earned on National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) courses: (PRT 6050- Environmental Ethics, Leave No Trace, and Leadership, PRT 6051- Group Leadership Techniques, PRT 6052- Wilderness Skills Practicum and Leadership, and PRT 6043-Wilderness Risk Assessment and Management and Decisions-Making, PRT 6054 Outdoor Educator. The University of Utah grade will be composed of 80% of the grade based on the NOLS expedition student evaluation. The other 20% of the grade is based on a specific paper, written post-course, and graded by a professor at the University of Utah. Papers are generally APA format, 10 pages long, and are expected to meet entry-level graduate student writing standards. Indicate on page 5 of the registration form that you are pursuing graduate credit, include your e-mail address and detailed information will be sent to you. Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) Credit Please note that you will receive WFR (only certain semesters) or WEMT (Wilderness Medicine & Rescue Semester only) training as part of your semester regardless of whether you register and pay the additional fee for the credits. College Credit Refunds If you withdraw from college credit registration prior to the start of your NOLS course the registration fee will be refunded to you minus a $25 processing fee. Students who separate from their NOLS course while in progress may be awarded college credit based on the duration and quality of their participation. Credit for separated students is awarded at the discretion of the NOLS branch staff and instructors. The expense for any college credit not awarded to a separated student will be refunded, minus a $25 processing fee. University of Utah Information The University of Utah and the National Outdoor Leadership School are entirely separate entities, and no agency or employee relationship exists between them. The University s responsibility is to a prior review of course content and instructor qualification to insure appropriate academic relevance and competence and exercises no responsibility or authority over the conduct of the instructors or other employees or agent of NOLS. Questions? Contact: NOLS Registrar Phone: 800-710-6657 Ext. 2240 E-mail: registrar@nols.edu 2
University of Utah Course Descriptions Full course syllabi can be found online at: http://www.nols.edu/courses/credit/uofu.shtml BIO 1970-070: Concepts in Biology: Natural History of Regional Ecosystems Through immersion in a wilderness setting, class work, and guided "teachable moments" students develop knowledge of local biota. Field natural history and basic field ecology are key to our exploration and minimization of human effects on ecosystems. (2 or 3 credits) ENVST 3011: Environmental Studies, Leave No Trace, and Leadership This environmental studies course supports the mastery of "Leave No Trace" principles and development of the teaching and social skills necessary to effectively pass these ethics on to others. This is accomplished in an independent learning community immersed in a remote wilderness environment. (2 credits) PRT 3041: Natural Resources Learning: Group Leadership Techniques Students learn and practice advanced levels of outdoor leadership. Areas of emphasis include high accountability standards, communications, group organization, teamwork, and expedition ethics. (2, 3 or 4 credits) PRT 3042: Natural Resources Learning: Wilderness Skills Practicum and Leadership Teaches safety and environmental care within the context of thorough competence in wilderness travel fundamentals. Students learn the skills to travel through the backcountry safely. Practicum areas are mountaineering, caving, sailing, winter snow travel, sea kayaking, canoeing, river travel, climbing, horse packing, and backpacking. (2 credits for each skill covered) PRT 3043: Natural Resources Learning: Risk Assessment and Management, and Decision-Making on Land, Water or Snow Students learn and practice assessing and managing risks related to weather, climate, travel, and the human factor. Decisionmaking foundation, theory and communication are practiced. Risk assessment is evaluated on land, water and snow. (2, 3 or 4 credits for each landscape covered) PRT 3044: Natural Resources Learning: Outdoor Educator Uses a wilderness field setting to specifically emphasize the individual student s development as an outdoor leader and teacher through learning from and observing senior instructors and then applying these lessons as field instructors and leaders in turn. (2 credits) PRT 3045: Natural Resources Learning: Expedition Planning Students learn wilderness expedition planning emphasizing route and navigation planning, emergency planning, food rations and healthy living planning, and planning for small community living. (2 credits) PRT 3960-075: Cultural Studies: Immersion Practicum in International Cross Cultural Issues and Sustainable Tourism (2 credits) HEDU: Wilderness First Responder (WFR) This course will give you the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations and is the training required of NOLS instructors. WFR instructors will assign the course grade as follows: 20% based on skills demonstrated and 80% based on your score on a written exam. (3 credits) HEDU 5980-30: Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) The Wilderness EMT (WEMT) course is a nationally recognized program that trains participants to respond to emergencies in urban, rural, disaster, and wilderness environments. The 200-hour course integrates an urban EMT-Basic course and a Wilderness First Responder course into a single program. (9 credits) 3
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University of Utah College Credit Registration Form I hereby acknowledge that I have enrolled in the National Outdoor Leadership School and have registered for college credit to be granted by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. I understand that the only responsibility of the University of Utah is that of a credit granting body and that the University does not participate in the supervision, management or execution of NOLS, its employees, agents and/or participants. In consideration of the credit granted to me by the University of Utah, I herby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the University of Utah for any and all damage, injury or other loss to me or my property or to others and their property resulting from my participation in this course. I understand that my participation in this course does not entitle me to regular student benefits and privileges at the University of Utah. Student Signature Date Application ID # Student Name (Printed) NOLS Course Code Course Start Date PLEASE CHECK ALL THAT APPLY: I would like the full amount of college credit available for my course. Please don t complete the chart below. I want only partial credit for my NOLS course. Complete the chart below. I would like to register for college credit at the graduate level. Please include your e-mail address and detailed information will be sent to you Note that Biology, WFR, WEMT, Cultural Studies, and Expedition Planning are not available for graduate credit. Not All Credits Are Available On Every NOLS Course Please reference page three of U of UT College Credit Information from your enrollment packet to determine which credits are available for your NOLS course. (The same document is available online at: http://www.nols.edu/enrolled/admissionforms/uu_cc_info.pdf) U UT Course Title and Code I would like this credit. # Credit Hours *Concepts in Biology BIO 1970-070 Y N 2 3 *Environmental Studies ENVST 3011 Y N 2 *Leadership Techniques PRT 3041 Y N 2 3 4 (OVER) 5
U UT Course Title and Code I would like this credit. # Credit Hours *Skills Practicum PRT 3042 Y N 2 4 6 *Risk Assessment PRT 3043 Y N 2 3 4 *Outdoor Educator PRT 3044 Y N 2 *Expedition Planning PRT 3045 (Patagonia Year, Sonoran Year only) *Cultural Studies PRT 3046-001 *Wilderness First Responder (WFR) HEDU 3980-031 *Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) HEDU 5980-30 (Wilderness Medicine & Rescue Semester only) Y N 2 Y N 2 Y N 3 Y N 9 *The University of Utah syllabi for these courses can be found online at: http://www.nols.edu/courses/credit/uofu.shtml 6