Experiential Education - MS
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Department of Recreation, Parks & Leisure Services




The MS in Experiential Education program prepares professionals and educators for effectively and ethically leading, teaching, and facilitating experiential learning for all learners - all ages, all abilities, all cultures, all identities. Experiential Education is a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning, teaching, and leading that integrates direct experience with focused reflection for developing new knowledge, relevant life skills, and socially-conscious dispositions. The curriculum offers theory courses on philosophies and instructional modalities that are integrated with independent learning courses to provide opportunities for direct experiences and to apply experiential learning principles and strategies. The experiential education faculty embrace active learning, peer-to-peer interactive seminar approaches, small group collaboration, and project-based learning.
The MS in Experiential Education program is for working professionals or fulltime graduate students who are interested in exploring their passions for leading/teaching/facilitating experiential learning in formal or non-formal education-related settings. Many of our students come from outdoor adventure academic or professional backgrounds, but our program is equally appropriate for educators and leaders who are not focused on the outdoors or adventure. Our graduates are working in the United States and around the globe in PK-12 schools, higher education, alternative education settings, non-profit agencies, and private sector businesses.
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