Ray Winter, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor in Wilderness Studies, Program Coordinator
Overview
The Wilderness Studies Minor integrates an environmental focus on humanities, philosophy, and ethics, with immersion experiences and hard skills related to outdoor experiences and industries.
Through flexible course offerings, students can choose to focus on philosophy, ecology, theology, literature, ethics, or environmental public policy, in combination with outdoor education and wilderness experiences.
Program Highlights
- Small class sizes
- Form bonds with classmates and professors outside the traditional four walls of the classroom
- 3 national parks in close proximity help enhance your studies
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Faculty
Catalog
Program Director: Raymond Winter, Ph.D.
Overview
The Wilderness Studies Minor unites interdisciplinary study, experiential learning, and Christian faith in the holistic exploration of creation. In so doing, students engage the humanities (such as history, literature, philosophy, and cultural perspectives), theological perspectives, and the natural sciences (such as ecology, biology, and environmental science) in broader conversations related to sustainability and stewardship. Learning extends beyond the classroom through wilderness immersion, where students engage higher learning in the literal ecosystems they study. These experiences invite reflection and action in humanity's relationship to the land and shape the ways culture and story define our understanding and treatment of nature. Rooted in community, faith, and academia, this program prepares students for vocations in public lands management, field research, education, and ministries that connect people to God, each other, and the natural world.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Interdisciplinary Understanding: Students will be able to integrate knowledge from the humanities, environmental science, and social policy to analyze human relationships with wilderness and creation.
- Experiential Competence: Students will demonstrate proficiency in practical outdoor skills such as navigation, backcountry safety, and leadership in wilderness settings.
- Humanities and Cultural Insight: Students will interpret and reflect on cultural, historical, philosophical, and literary perspectives of wilderness to understand how human stories and traditions shape our relationship to the natural world.
- Faith and Stewardship Integration: Students will articulate a Christian understanding of environmental stewardship and humanity's responsibility for creation care, connecting faith with practice.
- Vocational Application ("Internship"/Certification): Students will acquire and apply learning toward potential career and ministry contexts such as outdoor education, public land management, or community and church-based programs as evidenced by certification in three areas.
Locations Offered
Main Campus Fresno
Core Courses (10 Units)- ENV 152 - Natural History Credits 3 or
- ENV 160 - Introduction to Environmental Science Credits 3
- ENV 161L - Environmental Field Study Lab Credits 1
- PHIL 430 - American Wilderness Literature and Philosophy Credits 3
- WILD 100 - Introduction to Wilderness Studies Credits 3
Electives (7 Units)
Choose 2 courses; select 1 from each category
-
Natural Sciences (4 units)
- BIOL 100 - Principles of Biology Credits 3 and
- BIOL 100L - Principles of Biology Lab Credits 1
- BIOL 121 - General Biology: Diversity and Ecology Credits 3 and
- BIOL 121L - General Biology: Diversity and Ecology Lab Credits 1
-
Theology and Biblical Studies (3 units)
- THEO 425 - Theological Ethics and the Environment Credits 3
- BLIT 201 - Bible and the Environment Credits 3
- BLIT 210 - Biblical Literature: Genesis Credits 3
Skills/Experiential Courses (3 units)
Complete 3 units from the following courses:
- PE 146 - Backpacking Credits 1
- WILD 201 - Wilderness First Responder Training and Certification Credits 2
- WILD 101 - Wilderness First Aid Certification Credits 1
- WILD 110 - Climbing Credits 1
- WILD 150 - Wilderness Navigation Credits 1
Your future starts here. Big goals start with simple steps.
At Fresno Pacific University, you’ll find an education that empowers you to grow—in faith, knowledge and purpose. Whether you’re a first-time college student or transferring in, our straightforward application process and personal support make it easy to get started. Discover how to apply and take your next step toward what’s possible at FPU.
First Steps to Admission
- Submit an application for admission (online or printable mail-in)
* Admission applications are free, no discount codes required. - Send official copies of your transcripts to FPU.
- Transcripts can be sent electronically by your institution to trans.evaluator@fresno.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope by your institution to: Fresno Pacific University
Office of the Registrar
1717 S. Chestnut Ave.
Fresno, CA 93702
- Transcripts can be sent electronically by your institution to trans.evaluator@fresno.edu or via mail in a sealed envelope by your institution to: Fresno Pacific University
- Complete the FAFSA. It can be completed starting October 1st.
- Add FPU to your FAFSA:
- FPU's FAFSA Code: 001253
or - Select FPU from the School Search function.
- FPU's FAFSA Code: 001253
- Add FPU to your FAFSA:
Non-traditional Admission
Four-Year Graduation Guarantee
Earn your degree in four years. Turn your goals into action sooner.
FPU guarantees graduation within four years in the traditional undergraduate areas of study.
We commit to providing the courses, advising, instruction and preparation. If you fulfill your responsibilities and are unable to graduate in four years, you will receive the needed courses the following semester at no cost in tuition or fees.
Incoming Requirements
This guarantee is limited to basic graduation requirements of 120 minimum units including general education, upper-level and elective courses sufficient for a single major with no minor.
- Where options between courses are available, students are not guaranteed their first choice.
- This guarantee does not apply to “fifth-year” programs (teacher education credential requirements) or minimum units beyond graduation requirements (CPA qualifications, etc.) beyond the basic four-year bachelor’s degree.
- The guarantee does not apply to transfer students or to FPU's degree completion programs.
- Students not able to register for the courses needed within four years must complete the free course(s) within two terms of the end of four years (e.g. a summer and fall for those completing four years in the spring; or spring and summer for those completing four years in the fall).
- The four-year period may be extended for students required to leave the university for up to one year (see the Leave of Absence section) for medical, military or personal reasons.
Student Responsibilities
To qualify for the guarantee students must:
- Meet with your mentor during the fall semester of the freshman year.
- Finalize a major and begin prerequisite or lower-division major courses by the second semester of the freshman year and keep that major until graduation.
- Complete at least 32 units per year (average 16 per semester) with passing grades in each course.
- Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA and remain in good standing behaviorally with the university.
- Meet with the mentor each semester for advising before registration opens and take the courses approved by the adviser/mentor that complete general-education and major requirements, in the appropriate sequence and as they become available.
- Register within the first week of registration every semester to gain a spot in the classes needed.
- Notify mentor if unable to register for an approved course so that an alternative plan can be made.
- Apply for financial aid and submit required documents by appropriate deadlines.
- Keep student account up-to-date. (Accounts not up-to-date may be placed on hold, preventing registration for courses.)
- Complete required courses successfully (see Academic Policies section for minimum acceptable grades) without dropping required or approved courses during a semester.
Cost & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
Room & Board Rates
Financial Aid
Freshman Scholarships
Based on a student’s academic GPA. Academic GPA’s are calculated by FPU on a weighted, 4.0 scaled and based on core academic classes in grades 10-12. Renewable if a minimum GPA is maintained.
| Name | GPA | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paragon | Full Tuition | |
| President's | 4.00 GPA and above | $18,000 |
| Dean's | 3.75-3.99 GPA | $15,000 |
| Heritage | 3.50-3.75 GPA | $14,000 |
| Faculty | 3.25-3.49 GPA | $12,000 |
| Founder's | Below a 3.0 GPA | $8,000 |
Transfer Scholarships
To be considered for a Transfer Academic Scholarship, you must have 12 or more transferable, post-high school units. GPA’s are based on transferable units and calculated by FPU.
| Name | GPA | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer Scholar | 3.50 GPA and above | $14,000 |
| Transfer Achievement | 3.0-3.49 GPA | $10,000 |
| Transfer Academic | 2.40-2.99 GPA | $7,500 |
| Transfer Partnership | Below a 2.4 GPA | $6,000 |
Performance-based Scholarships
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Athletic | $500 to Full Tuition |
| Music | $400 to $10,000 |
| Theatre Arts | $500 to $4,000 |
| Art/Design | $500 to $4,000 |
Other FPU Grants and Scholarships
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| FPU Possibilities Scholarship | Full Tuition |
| Church Match | $500 to $1,500 |
| International Scholarship | up to $6,000 |
| Mennonite Brethren Award | $4,000 |
| Out of State Student Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Other Awards | $100 to $10,000 |
Federal and State Grants
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cal Grant A | $9,358 |
| Cal Grant B | $1,648 |
| Pell Grants | $750 to $7,395 |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant | $1,000 |
Federal Loans and Work-Study
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal Direct | $3,500 to $7,500 |
| PLUS Loan | Up to remaining cost |
| Work-study | Contingent on employment |
Private Scholarships
Alumni, parents, friends, businesses and foundations have generously provided a special set of scholarships available to students attending Fresno Pacific.
Alexandra Green
Mathematics
The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.
Net Price Calculator
Now that you’ve seen the financial aid opportunities available to FPU students, we can estimate what your true cost may be to attend Fresno Pacific. Please keep in mind that this is just a computer generated, general estimate and may not capture all aid available, please work with your FPU Student Financial Services advisor to discover your true net price.
Career Opportunities
The Minor enhances students’ career readiness for vocations relevant to National Parks and Forests, outdoor leadership, education, recreation and church-related ministries that engage the outdoors.
Career Development Happens Here
The staff in our Career Development and Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare to enter the working world. Whether you're a freshman or an FPU alum, there are a number of resources and trainings offered to help you find the internship and job you’re looking for.
- Resume writing classes
- Career assessments, exploration & planning
- Job search and networking opportunities
- and much more