Incorporating Competencies into Degree Programs
SORP · July 22, 2026
As the outdoor recreation profession grows, so does the need for academic programs that prepare students with the skills and knowledge employers expect. This session examines how the Outdoor Recreation Professional Competency Framework can be integrated into university and college curricula to better align academic preparation with professional practice. Faculty, program directors, and academic advisors will gain practical tools for mapping competencies to course learning outcomes, program assessments, and experiential learning opportunities. This session also explores how the framework can strengthen partnerships between academic institutions and employers, creating clearer pathways from the classroom to the field.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how the framework's competencies align with common outdoor recreation and natural resource management degree program outcomes
- Describe how academic programs can use the framework to communicate graduate readiness to employers
- Develop approaches for using the framework to guide curriculum review and program improvement
- Explain how academic-employer partnerships can be strengthened through a shared competency language
Presenters:
- Monika Derrien, PhD - University of Vermont
- Ingrid Schneider, PhD - University of Minnesota
- Maria Taggart, PhD - Oregon State University
STEPS TO RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FOR LEARNING CREDITS:
This course offers the following credits: AICP CM, LA CES (most HSW), SAF CE, and Equivalency Petition (CEU, PDH, etc.). American Trails is a certified provider and is excited to partner with SORP to offer free learning credits to attendees. If you passed the quiz with a 75% or higher, a certificate will automatically be emailed to you. If you did not pass, you can retake the quiz to obtain a passing score and certificate.