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BS Outdoor Emergency Services

Why This Degree at Southern?
A Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Emergency Services, which includes an Associate of Science degree in Nursing, prepares students to respond effectively in wilderness and disaster settings by combining emergency medical training with leadership and outdoor skills. Graduates are equipped for careers in search and rescue, emergency management, disaster relief, park services, and wilderness medicine. This degree blends classroom instruction with hands-on experience, emphasizing risk assessment, crisis response, survival skills, and service-oriented leadership. It’s an ideal path for those passionate about serving others in high-stakes, outdoor environments.

BS Outdoor Emergency Services

BS Outdoor Emergency Services 

The degree has two parts.  First, the student takes and successfully completes the AS Nursing degree.  The student then completes the coursework required for the Outdoor Emergency Service degree.

The student will be trained and receive certifications in search and rescue and care for people injured in the wilderness.

The degree focuses primarily on assessing and treating immediate life threats to the patients' airway, breathing and circulation; stabilizing the patient; and transporting them (if necessary) to rendezvous with equal or higher levels of medical care, especially an ambulance.  Based on severity, the student will often manage secondary concerns either before transporting, or while waiting for rendezvous.  These typically include fractures, sprains, bleeding, head injuries, and medical concerns including anaphylaxis, acute myocardial infarction, and diabetes.

What can I do with an Outdoor Emergency Services Degree?»

Please check with the Catalog to verify that all class requirements have been met.