Academic credit for your expedition

Earn high school or college credit for the leadership, wilderness medicine, risk management, and conservation skills you build in the field.

You can earn high school or college academic credit for your NOLS course. Though we are different from a traditional academic program, NOLS is recognized for teaching outdoor education, leadership, wilderness medicine, risk management, and conservation. More than 400 colleges and universities nationwide have accepted University of Utah credit earned on a NOLS course.

College credit through the University of Utah

NOLS partners with the University of Utah to grant college credit for expedition courses. Because every school evaluates transfer credit differently, connect with your academic advisor and your university registrar to confirm how the credit will apply to your program.

To earn University of Utah credit, you must be either a high school graduate or a rising high school senior with a 3.2 GPA or higher. You do not need to be currently enrolled in college to qualify.

Request credit before your course begins. You must request academic credit before the start date of your course. Credit cannot be added after the course has started, so confirm your plan with your advisor and registrar ahead of time.

AmeriCorps and 529 College Savings Plan participants

If you plan to use an AmeriCorps education award or a 529 College Savings Plan for your course, you apply for academic credit through Western State Colorado University rather than the University of Utah. Western State Colorado University credit is available to participants who are age 15 or older.

Graduate credit

Graduate-level credit is available through the University of Utah for five courses, PRT 6050 through 6054. Graduate courses are two credits each. Your grade is based 80 percent on your expedition evaluation and 20 percent on a post-course paper of roughly 10 pages in APA format.

High school credit

High school students can earn credit for a NOLS course as well. The requirements and the request process differ from college credit. Review the High School Credit page for the full details, then coordinate with your school before your course begins.

How to request academic credit

  1. Confirm your eligibility: University of Utah credit for high school graduates or rising seniors with a 3.2 GPA or higher, or Western State Colorado University credit if you are using AmeriCorps or a 529 plan.
  2. Talk with your academic advisor and registrar to confirm how the credit will transfer to your program.
  3. Request academic credit before your course start date. Credit cannot be granted after the course.
  4. Browse expedition courses and confirm the credit details for the course you choose.

Keep exploring

Plan your credit

Confirm the details and find a course that fits your goals.

Planning

High school credit

Requirements and the request process for high school students earning credit on course.

Resources

College credit details

How University of Utah credit works and why more than 400 schools accept it.

Expeditions

Find your course

Browse expedition courses that can carry high school, college, or graduate credit.

Ready to earn credit in the field?

Find an expedition that fits your schedule and goals, then request academic credit before your course begins.