Image
A photo of a man looking out at a riverbank with binoculars

Recreation, Park and Tourism Management - B.S.

The Recreation, Park and Tourism Management B.S. program is perfect for students interested in sharing their passions and making a difference in people’s lives. From outdoor recreation, travel and sports, to camping, performing/visual arts and health and fitness.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit

About This Program

Students electing to major in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management can choose from three concentrations: Recreation Management, Park Management and Tourism Management.

Recreation Management

Students in this concentration prepare for careers in community recreation departments, youth development centers, inclusive recreation, campus recreation and wellness centers, adventure centers, corporate recreation and fitness programs, correctional and therapeutic recreation, military recreation, senior centers, youth sports, camps and non-profit organizations such as the YMCA and the YWCA. The program provides students with knowledge, skills, and abilities through course work and "hands on" field-based experiences. All students complete a capstone semester long internship prior to graduation. Internships are available locally, across the country and internationally. Upon successful completion of this program, students are eligible to become Certified Park and Recreation Professionals through the National Recreation and Park Association.

Complementary minors for Recreation Management majors include:

Park Management

Students in this concentration prepare for careers in the great outdoors. The emphasis of this concentration is on parks and other natural environments for human enjoyment, environmental education and ecological diversity. Careers are available with a variety of public agencies and non-profits such as the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, state and local park agencies, the Nature Conservancy, as well as private outfitters, guiding services and outdoor leadership programs such as NOLS and Outward Bound. The program provides students with knowledge, skills, and abilities through course work and "hands on" field-based experiences. All students complete a capstone semester long internship prior to graduation. Internships are available locally, across the country and internationally.

Complementary minor for Park Management majors include:

Tourism Management

Students in this concentration prepare for careers in tourism service management and sustainable destination development. A business administration minor is built into this concentration providing students with the necessary skills for entrepreneurial success within the tourism industry. Exciting career opportunities exist in resorts, theme parks, special events, convention and visitor's bureaus, regional planning, urban renewal, ecotourism, outdoor adventures, sport tourism and cultural tourism. The program provides students with knowledge, skills, and abilities through course work and "hands on" field-based experiences. All students complete a capstone semester long internship prior to graduation. Internships are available locally, across the country and internationally.

Complementary minors for Tourism Management majors include:

Program Information for Recreation, Park and Tourism Management - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management provides students with an academic foundation and field experiences in preparation for the recreation, park and tourism professions. The program is comprised of three concentrations:

  • The Park Management concentration focuses on providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and protecting the natural, cultural and historic resources on which those opportunities depend. Complementary minors include Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation.
  • The Recreation Management concentration focuses on providing opportunities for individuals and community health and wellbeing through recreation and parks in public, nonprofit and commercial settings. Complementary minors include: Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Nonprofit Studies, Event Planning,
  • The Tourism Management concentration focuses on providing entrepreneurial services for tourism industries as well as sustainable tourism destination management. Complementary minors include: Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Event Planning, Business Management.
Admissions for Recreation, Park and Tourism Management - B.S.

Admission Requirements

Applications to the B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management are not being accepted at this time. Students interested in Park Management should contact Andrew Lepp (alepp1@kent.edu). Students interested in Tourism Management should contact Philip Wang (pwang@kent.edu)

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Current Kent State and Transfer Students: Active Kent State students who wish to change their major must have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at Kent State and earned a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State GPA to be admitted. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at Kent State will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at Kent State and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Articulate the impact of inclusive policies and practices targeted toward underrepresented individuals and groups including, but not limited to disability, race and/or ethnicity, age, social class, gender and sexual orientation.
  2. Identify principles of inclusion, modification and laws related to equal opportunity; and select strategies to mitigate barriers influencing recreation participation for people with disabilities.
  3. Outline the historical, scientific and philosophical foundations of the field.
  4. Differentiate the nature and scope of the industry, including critical aspects of program development, service development, management and the components of leisure service delivery systems and various providers and levels of recreation.
  5. Analyze and apply common management roles, responsibilities and approaches applicable to the field and the leadership styles and practices related to personnel management.
  6. Investigate public relations and marketing strategies, planning and development issues, and fiscal/budgetary management.
  7. Illustrate site specific attributes in relation to the field and the components of professional practice for successful engagement with the site.
  8. Model ethical, professional, appropriate behavior and the ability to communicate effectively in oral, visual and written forms.
  9. Apply basic principles of the program development cycle for recreation services and modifications for inclusivity.
  10. Engage in academic research, writing and evaluation of literature and data for evidence-based improvement of services in leisure science.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
RPTM 16000FOUNDATIONS OF RECREATION AND LEISURE 3
RPTM 16001CAREER EXPLORATION IN RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT 1
RPTM 26010COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION 3
RPTM 26030LEADERSHIP IN RECREATION, PARKS AND TOURISM 3
RPTM 26060INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) 3
RPTM 26081PRINCIPLES OF OUTDOOR RECREATION 3
RPTM 36040INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LEISURE SERVICES (DIVD) 3
RPTM 36060ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACHES TO LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES 3
RPTM 36075EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN RECREATION, PARK AND TOURISM SETTINGS 3
RPTM 36082INTERPRETATION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 3
RPTM 36085LEISURE AND CULTURE (DIVD) 3
RPTM 46000TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATIONAL TRAVEL 3
RPTM 46030DYNAMICS OF LEISURE BEHAVIOR (WIC) 13
RPTM 46060ADMINISTRATION OF LEISURE SERVICES 3
RPTM 46070PARK PLANNING 3
RPTM 46091SEMINAR FOR INTERNSHIP PREPARATION 1
RPTM 46092INTERNSHIP IN RECREATION (ELR) 9
SPAD 46080LEGAL ISSUES IN SPORT AND RECREATION 3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ECON 22060PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
ECON 22061PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
PSYC 11762GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities9
Kent Core Additional3
Concentrations
Choose from the following:33
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Park Management Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
BSCI 10110BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
BSCI 30360GENERAL ECOLOGY 4
GEOG 49070GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE 4
HDF 44032NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING AND GRANTWRITING 3
RPTM 36083ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION 3
Natural Resources Electives, choose from the following:13
BSCI 30275
LOCAL FLORA (ELR)
BSCI 40374
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (ELR)
GEOG 31070
POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
GEOG 41073
CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
ESCI 33025
WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ESCI 41077
GEOLOGY OF THE NATIONAL PARKS
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
Kent Core Basic Sciences2
Minimum Total Credit Hours:33

Recreation Management Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
ACCT 23020INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
COMM 20001INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION 3
or COMM 35852 INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG)
HDF 44032NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING AND GRANTWRITING 3
HEM 20040THE BUSINESS OF EVENT MANAGEMENT 13
MKTG 25010PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
POL 30301INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 3
Concentration Electives, choose from the following: (courses are grouped by interest, but any combination may be selected)9
Human Development and Community Unity
HDF 44033
COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT (ELR)
HDF 44034
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT
HDF 44037
POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
MDJ 28001
PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
RPTM 36010
RECREATION, LEISURE AND AGING
Community Health
EXSC 40612
EXERCISE LEADERSHIP FOR THE OLDER ADULT
HED 11590
COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION
HED 42041
HEALTH COACHING
PH 10001
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
Environment
ENGR 27210
INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY
GEOG 32023
FOOD AND PLACE (ELR)
RPTM 36083
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION
Other Elective
SPAD 45034
ESPORT MANAGEMENT
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Minimum Total Credit Hours:33
1

With permission, students who complete RPTM 16000 and RPTM 16001 may register for HEM 20040.

Tourism Management Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
RPTM 45047GLOBAL ISSUES OF TOURISM TRADE 3
Geography Electives, choose from the following6
GEOG 41800
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
GEOG 42053
GEOGRAPHIES OF MEMORY AND HERITAGE
GEOG 46070
URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING
Business Elective, choose from the following:3
CIS 34054
USING INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR SOLVING BUSINESS PROBLEMS
ENTR 27056
INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MGMT 34165
DYNAMICS OF LEADERSHIP
MKTG 35035
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
MKTG 45045
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION MANAGEMENT
MKTG 45060
INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
MKTG 45082
SERVICES MARKETING
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
ACCT 23020INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
FIN 36053BUSINESS FINANCE 3
MDJ 28001PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS 3
MGMT 24163PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
MKTG 25010PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Minimum Total Credit Hours:33

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.250 2.000
Roadmaps

Roadmaps

Park Management Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!RPTM 16000 FOUNDATIONS OF RECREATION AND LEISURE 3
RPTM 16001 CAREER EXPLORATION IN RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
!BSCI 10110 BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) 4
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
RPTM 26010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION 3
!RPTM 26030 LEADERSHIP IN RECREATION, PARKS AND TOURISM 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Three
BSCI 30360 GENERAL ECOLOGY 4
!ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
!RPTM 26060 INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) 3
RPTM 36060 ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACHES TO LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Four
ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
!RPTM 26081 PRINCIPLES OF OUTDOOR RECREATION 3
!RPTM 36075 EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN RECREATION, PARK AND TOURISM SETTINGS 3
Concentration Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
HDF 44032 NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING AND GRANTWRITING 3
!RPTM 36040 INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LEISURE SERVICES (DIVD) 3
!RPTM 36083 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION 3
RPTM 36085 LEISURE AND CULTURE (DIVD) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
!RPTM 36082 INTERPRETATION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 3
!RPTM 46030 DYNAMICS OF LEISURE BEHAVIOR (WIC) 3
!RPTM 46060 ADMINISTRATION OF LEISURE SERVICES 3
!RPTM 46091 SEMINAR FOR INTERNSHIP PREPARATION 1
Concentration Elective 4
Kent Core Requirements 2
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
GEOG 49070 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE 4
RPTM 46000 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATIONAL TRAVEL 3
!RPTM 46070 PARK PLANNING 3
!SPAD 46080 LEGAL ISSUES IN SPORT AND RECREATION 3
Concentration Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Eight
!RPTM 46092 INTERNSHIP IN RECREATION (ELR) 9
Concentration Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Recreation Management Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!RPTM 16000 FOUNDATIONS OF RECREATION AND LEISURE 3
RPTM 16001 CAREER EXPLORATION IN RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
RPTM 26010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION 3
!RPTM 26030 LEADERSHIP IN RECREATION, PARKS AND TOURISM 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
ACCT 23020 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
!RPTM 26060 INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
COMM 20001
or COMM 35852
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
or INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION (DIVG)
3
ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
!MKTG 25010 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
RPTM 26081 PRINCIPLES OF OUTDOOR RECREATION 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
HEM 20040 THE BUSINESS OF EVENT MANAGEMENT 3
!RPTM 36040 INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LEISURE SERVICES (DIVD) 3
RPTM 36060 ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACHES TO LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES 3
!RPTM 36075 EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN RECREATION, PARK AND TOURISM SETTINGS 3
!RPTM 36085 LEISURE AND CULTURE (DIVD) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours18
Semester Six
POL 30301 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 3
RPTM 36082 INTERPRETATION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 3
!RPTM 46030 DYNAMICS OF LEISURE BEHAVIOR (WIC) 3
!RPTM 46060 ADMINISTRATION OF LEISURE SERVICES 3
!RPTM 46091 SEMINAR FOR INTERNSHIP PREPARATION 1
Concentration Elective 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
HDF 44032 NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING AND GRANTWRITING 3
RPTM 46000 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATIONAL TRAVEL 3
!RPTM 46070 PARK PLANNING 3
!SPAD 46080 LEGAL ISSUES IN SPORT AND RECREATION 3
Concentration Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
!RPTM 46092 INTERNSHIP IN RECREATION (ELR) 9
Concentration Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Tourism Management Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!RPTM 16000 FOUNDATIONS OF RECREATION AND LEISURE 3
!RPTM 16001 CAREER EXPLORATION IN RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT 1
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
RPTM 26010 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN RECREATION 3
!RPTM 26030 LEADERSHIP IN RECREATION, PARKS AND TOURISM 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours18
Semester Three
!ECON 22060 PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MDJ 28001 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC RELATIONS 3
!RPTM 26060 INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL TOURISM (DIVG) 3
Concentration Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
ACCT 23020 INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 3
ECON 22061 PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS (KSS) 3
MKTG 25010 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING 3
!RPTM 26081 PRINCIPLES OF OUTDOOR RECREATION 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
!RPTM 36040 INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN LEISURE SERVICES (DIVD) 3
RPTM 36060 ENTREPRENEURIAL APPROACHES TO LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY SERVICES 3
!RPTM 36075 EXPERIENCE DESIGN IN RECREATION, PARK AND TOURISM SETTINGS 3
RPTM 36085 LEISURE AND CULTURE (DIVD) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
MGMT 24163 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 3
RPTM 36082 INTERPRETATION OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES 3
!RPTM 46030 DYNAMICS OF LEISURE BEHAVIOR (WIC) 3
!RPTM 46060 ADMINISTRATION OF LEISURE SERVICES 3
!RPTM 46091 SEMINAR FOR INTERNSHIP PREPARATION 1
!SPAD 46080 LEGAL ISSUES IN SPORT AND RECREATION 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
FIN 36053 BUSINESS FINANCE 3
RPTM 45047 GLOBAL ISSUES OF TOURISM TRADE 3
!RPTM 46000 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATIONAL TRAVEL 3
!RPTM 46070 PARK PLANNING 3
Concentration Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
!RPTM 46092 INTERNSHIP IN RECREATION (ELR) 9
Concentration Elective 3
 Credit Hours12
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Applications to the B.S. in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management are not being accepted at this time. Students interested in Park Management should contact Andrew Lepp (alepp1@kent.edu). Students interested in Tourism Management should contact Philip Wang (pwang@kent.edu)

Accreditation for Recreation, Park and Tourism Management - B.S.

Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT)

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Recreation, Park and Tourism Management - B.S.

Examples of Possible Careers
  • Managers and leaders with public/community park and recreation services 
  • Managers and leaders with non-profit recreation agencies 
  • Managers and leaders providing recreation, outdoor recreation, or tourism services to specialized groups such as youth, senior/older adults, people with disabilities, immigrant communities, marginalized populations 
  • Managers and leaders with health and wellness organization and services 
  • Managers and leaders who plan special events/community-wide events 
  • Managers and leaders with tourism services and agencies 
  • Interpreters, guides, managers, leaders with historic, cultural, nature-based organizations 
  • Park rangers, interpreters, guides, naturalists with regional, state, and national parks 
  • Leaders and organizers with outdoor recreation agencies