For students enrolled in Missouri Western's outdoor semester, the classroom extends beyond walls, desks and chalkboards to encompass mountains, plains, sunsets and buffalo herds. Missouri Western students who enroll in the outdoor semester travel throughout the United States and Canada while earning 15 credit hours in English, physical education and recreation courses.
Students evaluate interpretation centers and information presented by professionals at each site.
In addition, students keep journal entries of their entire trip while mastering various outdoor skills including rafting, canoeing, day hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing and fly fishing. These courses encourage students to consider the ethical use of the wilderness. The outdoor semester is made possible through MWSC Foundation and Access Plus funding.