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Our Coursework
Our department provides students with many opportunities for learning:
- Students receive a broad-based education in management skills plus skills related to their selected options. All students learn the foundations of recreation, working with diverse populations, customer service management, financial management, and leadership skills. Then, they specialize in their specific area of interest.
- Students learn about a variety of industries and careers, including private, public, and non-profit settings, and are provided with tools to help them get jobs and succeed in the workplace.
- Students may participate in a variety of field experiences such as National Public Lands Day, working at large and small events, and touring hotels, parks, and venues.
- Students complete a required internship before graduation, providing them valuable experience in their career. Students serve full-time internships in public recreation agencies, private or commercial recreation businesses, hotels and resorts, event and convention management, restaurants and foodservice, therapeutic programs, or parks and natural resource-related agencies.
Event Management Option
(Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Hospitality, & Parks Management, Option in: Event Management)
The Event Management (EM) option is designed to prepare students to work in the event industry, either as event planners or with suppliers (such as hotels and convention centers).
Students learn about event planning, coordination, and management in many environments. Graduates may work with many different types of events such as conferences, conventions, exhibitions, and festivals, as well as fundraising, political, religious, social, music and sporting events. They are also prepared to work at event facilities such as hotels, convention centers, and stadiums.
Coursework includes classes on programming and event planning, as well as a capstone course where students design, plan, and/or implement a special event. Students may also learn through experience by working at and volunteering for special events in the local area.
Major Associations Serving the Field:
Course Catalog: Option in Event Management
Parks & Recreation Management Option
(Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Hospitality, & Parks Management, Option in: Parks & Recreation Management)
Students in Parks & Natural Resources Management (PNR) focus on learning to plan, program, manage, interpret, and maintain natural and cultural resources. Graduates work in agencies that manage public lands and cultural resources and provide recreation opportunities. These include national parks, national forests, state parks/forests and other public lands, wildlife refuges, cultural heritage sites, and regional and local recreation departments.
Coursework provides a foundation in Park and Recreation, in addition to great opportunities for students to participate in immersive educational experiences in public lands and natural resources, and Field School programs. Students select elective courses that support their individual study and career goals.
Major Associations Serving the Field:
Course Catalog: Option in Parks and Recreation Management
Resort & Lodging Management Option
(Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Hospitality, & Parks Management, Option in: Resort & Lodging Management)
The resort & lodging management (RLM) option prepares students for careers in hospitality management. Students learn general management skills, from customer service to leadership, in addition to a focus on hospitality, hotel & resort operations and food and beverage management.
Our graduates work in management positions at hotels, resorts, restaurants, conference facilities, convention centers and stadiums, country clubs, and wineries. They also work as convention and meeting planners and for concessionaires such as Aramark, Compass Group, and Delaware North, at national parks and stadiums. Many graduates work for hotel chains such as Hyatt, Marriott International, Marriott Vacations Club, Omni Hotels, Hilton, and Fairmont, along with many independent and boutique hotels and resorts.
Major Associations Serving the Field:
Course Catalog: Option in Resort and Lodging Management
