Parks and Recreation Management (PARK)

The Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management (PARK) degree prepares students with training in the design, management, and administration of programs for federal, state, or community parks and recreation areas or to work with non-profit or private industries operating sports, tourism, and recreation facilities. Within the nature-based Park and Recreation Management path, students learn to manage national, state, or private parks and recreation areas suitable for outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, hunting, and mountain biking, to name a few. Or, depending on a student’s career goals, they can tailor their major for Community Parks and Recreation Management careers focused on administering facilities and leading programs in areas such as city trails and parks, community recreation centers, playgrounds, aquatic centers, and other sporting facilities.

Coursework for the major includes a two-week experiential field course where students gather as a cohort to focus on outdoor skills development where they can earn several micro-credentials, including Leave No Trace, Certified Interpretive Guide, and Wilderness First Aid, among others. Before their senior year, students are prepared for and complete supervised internships as part of their degree requirements.

The major is designed based on standards set forth by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). After one year of employment, students who have completed the degree meet the requirements to participate in the examination to become Certified Park and Recreation Professionals (CPRP) by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

The learning objectives of the program are to provide students with:

1. Entry-level knowledge about the nature and scope of park and recreation professions and their associated industries; the techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and the foundations of the profession in history, science, and philosophy.
2. Ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate human experiences in parks and recreation that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
3. Entry-level knowledge about operations, strategic management, and administration in parks and recreation.
4. Demonstrated potential for success as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in parks and recreation.

¹

Contact the College for a current list of Restricted Electives.

²

Students must take a sequence in either history or literature.

³

PARK 3910 is taught at the completion of the spring semester.