Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Bouldering (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 1525-01

Course: ORPT 1525-01
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Kinesiology & Outdoor Rec
CRN: 30976

Course Description

This course will provide a foundational overview of the discipline of bouldering within the sport of rock climbing. It will focus on movement techniques and skill building while also providing insight into history, ethics, and issues that face the bouldering community. Students should anticipate and be prepared to climb up to a level of at least 12 feet while using padding and spotters for protection. This course includes outdoor trips to a local areas that will likely occur on a weekend. Essential Eligibility Criteria can be found on the ORPT program website. (Fall, Spring) [Graded Letter]

Required Texts

None - supplemental materials will be provided through Canvas

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the class, students will:

  • Be able to discuss the differences between bouldering/roped climbing
  • Be able to discuss bouldering techniques, types of climbing holds, and movement skills using correct terminology
  • Develop a repertoire of moves to use on both indoor and outdoor climbing
  • Be able to articulate the importance of ethics related to climbing access
  • Plan an outdoor bouldering trip
  • Work on a personal plan for improving their abilities through journaling activities
  • Be able to utilize appropriate equipment and spotting techniques used when bouldering

Course Requirements

Assessment/Evaluation/Grading:

Your success in this class will be assessed by quizzes, reading responses, movement assessments, discussion, active participation (including going on trips outside of class time), and a final exam to evaluate how well you have retained the information. The class is worth 200 points.
Knowledge Check Quizzes - 30 points
Reading Assignments - 30 points
Climbing journal assignments - 20 points
Trip Plan Assignment - 10 points
Discussion Assignments - 20 points
Recorded Climb Analysis - 10 points
Training Plan - 10 points
Class Participation Points (not just attendance) -  50 points
Final Exam - 20 points

Student Expectations
This class will be an in person, face to face class with an expectation that students will arrive ready to engage in the material for that day. Classes will be a combination of lectures, discussion, and experiential learning. Expect to be present, part of discussions, and having read all required material for the day based on the schedule. Climbing is part of the class, and the expectation is that you'll be trying hard. We'll talk about what that looks like, but sitting it out because you're not motivated to climb will be considered the same as being absent.

Classroom climate and full value contract: I am here to teach, but I am also here to learn. I expect all students to be willing collaborators in the learning process. We have much to learn from one another, and can only do so if we can freely share ideas without fear of judgment from your cohort or your instructor.

Acceptable and Unacceptable Use of AI: 
Use of generative AI as a means to complete assignments is Academic Misconduct under SUU Policy. 6.33. Any suspected use of AI to deceive or replace your own work will result in a zero on the assignment until we have a meeting to discuss the assignment and your learning. Egregious use of AI will result in a zero on the assignment as well as referral to academic integrity specialists on campus for academic misconduct violations, with all the possible consequences.
IN GENERAL
If the assignment does not explicitly list specific expectations for AI Use, these general restrictions apply.
Allowed: Brainstorming ideas, checking grammar, initial research, organizing concepts, asking for a skill to be explained a different way. This use still must be disclosed in the assignment.
Never Allowed: Generating text for discussions, copying and pasting directly from AI outputs, solving problems through prompts without critical analysis, fabricating citations, utilizing AI to replace your own work.
If you are anti-AI for ethical/environmental reasons, then you are certainly welcome to not utilize it at all, even when an assignment explicitly allows it.  
                                             
Statement of safety or risk assumption: 
By participating in this class, you are accepting certain inherent risks involved in outdoor recreation and bouldering. Signed waiver(s) and assumption of risk form(s) will be a requirement of this class. Given the inherent risks of climbing, the possibility of injury will occur with every class meeting. This class involves climbing without ropes, using only pads and spotters for protection. Injuries due to falling and impact are inherent in the course in addition to injuries that may result from improper training, overuse, or just plain accidents.

Trips for this class will involve riding in a van, bouldering (which carries with it the expectation of falling and hitting the ground/pads) and hiking over possibly rough terrain in an environment that has many inherent risks. These include but are not limited to falling, scrapes, weather events, floods, lightning strikes, cold/heat related injuries/illness, plant/animal dangers, rockfall, and equipment failures. Further, trips involve discomforts of traveling and climbing outdoors, away from advanced medical/psychological assistance in the event of an incident. If this isn't something you can accept, please find another class that might better suit your needs.
 
Off-Site Class Meetings: For this class, we'll have the opportunity to visit and utilize the local Iron Cliffs climbing gym twice throughout the semester. This will incur an additional cost of $10 per person per visit to the gym. If this $20 fee is problematic for you, you can either miss those class meetings OR just let me know and we can likely find a way to make sure you can attend.

Required Trips: This class includes mandatory trips that will likely occur on a weekend. This is probably one of the reasons you signed up for the course, and trips are required, despite not occurring during class time. It is your responsibility to get time off work or other commitments in order to attend this portion of the course. Since this course may be abbreviated in other ways (i.e. not a lot of homework/reading), the time spent on the outdoor trip(s) is essential for meeting the required hours for the class, which by SUU policy is about 45 hours of student work per credit hour. Failure to attend trips will likely result in being unsuccessful in the class. If, upon looking at the schedule (once we've chosen dates) you realize you can’t commit to the trip(s), then please meet with me to discuss your options, including potentially dropping the class.

At this time, tentative trip dates are:
Saturday, October 24
Saturday, November 5

Course Outline

Weeks 1-3: Climbing basics - we’ll cover the basics of bouldering movement and vocabulary as well as climbing wall rules, best practices, and risk management concerns of bouldering. We’ll also discuss the rich and varied history of climbing and bouldering in particular.

Weeks 4-7: Technique building - Focus on building foundational skills and techniques to use for bouldering, as well as discuss ethics and environmental issues related to the sport

Weeks 8 - 11: Training and Growth - Class during these weeks will focus on injury prevention, training programs for progression, and breaking down video for technique improvement and growth. 

Weeks 12- Finals: We will wrap up our time with work on putting all the pieces together, incorporating a trip plan that shows attention to all aspects of the course.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments will be given a due date and time to help me stay organized on providing quality feedback and grading on assignments. If you turn your assignment in over 72 hours of past the due date/time, do not expect full credit for the assignment. 

Attendance Policy

This class relies heavily on in person movement skill development. As such, attendance is required. 2 free absences will be allowed. These are intended to cover things like minor illnesses, travel, or other personal obligations—so I encourage you to use them wisely.  (exception: outdoor trips that occur outside of class, but are required, can not be your 2 free absences)

If you find yourself needing to miss more than 2 class sessions due to illness, family emergencies, or other significant circumstances, please reach out to me as soon as possible. I understand that life can be unpredictable, and I’m willing to work with students who communicate and show commitment to the course.

Please note that excessive absences (more than 2) without communication will affect your ability to keep up in class and will result in a lower grade or difficulty passing. Make-up work is not guaranteed but may be offered in certain situations depending on the nature of the absence and the coursework missed. 

Ultimately, I want you to succeed and stay healthy—physically and mentally—so please keep me in the loop if something comes up.

Course Fees

$7.50 per credit hour

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.