Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Outdoor & Community Recreation Education

The Bachelor of Science in Outdoor & Community Recreation Education is a degree program designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for a career in the thriving recreation industry. The program offers three emphases: Adventure Recreation & Tourism, Youth Sports Administration, and Outdoor Entrepreneurship.

Adventure Recreation & Tourism

The Adventure Recreation & Tourism emphasis focuses on operating outdoor recreation-based agencies, including outdoor education, guiding/outfitting, outdoor retail, equipment manufacture, and wilderness/adventure therapy. Coursework covers recreation in travel and tourism, fundamentals of outdoor education, equipment production/sales, and entrepreneurship.

Youth Sports Administration

The Youth Sports Administration emphasis concentrates on the administration and management of recreation programs in community-based settings, such as municipal recreation centers, parks, non-profit agencies, youth sports leagues, and camps. Coursework includes programming recreation for youth, planning and designing community parks, and grant writing for the recreation industry.

Outdoor Recreation Entrepreneurship

The Outdoor Recreation Entrepreneurship emphasis allows students to build on their outdoor skillset while preparing for a future career as an entrepreneur in the outdoor recreation industry. Coursework covers business fundamentals, accounting and finance, sales and marketing, and outdoor equipment production and retailing.

Degree Information

Grade Requirements

A GPA of 2.75 or higher is required in all courses for this major, with an overall GPA of 2.00 or better. No more than one "D" is acceptable.

Credit Hour Requirements

A total of 120 credit hours is required for graduation, with 63 credit hours specifically for this major. Nine to 10 credit hours of required support courses may be used as general education credit. A total of 40 upper-division credit hours is required for graduation, with 34-36 upper-division hours possible within the required courses for this major.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of this program can pursue a wide range of careers, including:

• Outdoor retail
• Outdoor/adventure education centers
• Wilderness therapy
• Guiding/outfitting companies
• Travel and tourism
• Non-profit and private camps
• Resorts
• Spas
• Wellness centers
• State and national parks
• Campus recreation
• Therapeutic programs
• Youth development programs
• Public and private education
• Traditional municipal recreation organizations

Graduates will also be prepared for graduate programs in recreation management, experiential education, and other allied fields.