Program Overview

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Recreation, Park and Tourism Management - B.S.

Overview

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 Information

• Mary Parr | |
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

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 (). Students interested in Tourism Management should contact Philip Wang ()

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

Accreditation

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

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 (). Students interested in Tourism Management should contact Philip Wang ()

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 proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international 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.

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.

Transfer students visit the admissions website for transfer students for more information.

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

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• RPTM 16000: Foundations of Recreation and Leisure (3)
• RPTM 16001: Career Exploration in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (1)
• RPTM 26010: Community Development in Recreation (3)
• RPTM 26030: Leadership in Recreation, Parks and Tourism (3)
• RPTM 26060: Introduction to Global Tourism (DIVG) (3)
• RPTM 26081: Principles of Outdoor Recreation (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 36082: Interpretation of Natural and Cultural Resources (3)
• RPTM 36085: Leisure and Culture (DIVD) (3)
• RPTM 46000: Tourism Development and Recreational Travel (3)
• RPTM 46030: Dynamics of Leisure Behavior (WIC) (3)
• RPTM 46060: Administration of Leisure Services (3)
• RPTM 46070: Park Planning (3)
• RPTM 46091: Seminar for Internship Preparation (1)
• RPTM 46092: Internship in Recreation (ELR) (9)
• SPAD 46080: Legal Issues in Sport and Recreation (3)
• ECON 22060: Principles of Microeconomics (KSS) (3)
• ECON 22061: Principles of Macroeconomics (KSS) (3)
• PSYC 11762: General Psychology (DIVD) (KSS) (3)
• UC 10001: Flashes 101 (1)
• Kent Core Composition (6)
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (3)
• Kent Core Humanities (9)
• Kent Core Additional (3)

Park Management Concentration Requirements

• BSCI 10110: Biological Diversity (ELR) (KBS) (KLAB) (4)
• BSCI 30360: General Ecology (4)
• GEOG 49070: Geographic Information Science (4)
• HDF 44032: Nonprofit Fundraising and Grantwriting (3)
• RPTM 36083: Environmental Education and Conservation (3)
• Natural Resources Electives (13)

Recreation Management Concentration Requirements

• ACCT 23020: Introduction to Financial Accounting (3)
• COMM 20001: Interpersonal Communication (3)
• HDF 44032: Nonprofit Fundraising and Grantwriting (3)
• HEM 20040: The Business of Event Management (3)
• MKTG 25010: Principles of Marketing (3)
• POL 30301: Introduction to Public Administration (3)
• Concentration Electives (9)

Tourism Management Concentration Requirements

• RPTM 45047: Global Issues of Tourism Trade (3)
• Geography Electives (6)
• Business Elective (3)
• ACCT 23020: Introduction to Financial Accounting (3)
• FIN 36053: Business Finance (3)
• MDJ 28001: Principles of Public Relations (3)
• MGMT 24163: Principles of Management (3)
• MKTG 25010: Principles of Marketing (3)
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (6-7)

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 2.250
• Minimum Overall GPA: 2.000

Roadmaps

Park Management Concentration

• Semester One:
  • 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)
• 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)
• Semester Three:
  • BSCI 30360: General Ecology (4)
  • ECON 22060: Principles of Microeconomics (KSS) (3)
  • RPTM 26060: Introduction to Global Tourism (DIVG) (3)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3)
• Semester Four:
  • ECON 22061: Principles of Macroeconomics (KSS) (3)
  • RPTM 26081: Principles of Outdoor Recreation (3)
  • Concentration Elective (3)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Semester Eight:
  • RPTM 46092: Internship in Recreation (ELR) (9)
  • Concentration Elective (3)

Recreation Management Concentration

• Semester One:
  • 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Semester Four:
  • COMM 20001: Interpersonal Communication (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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Semester Eight:
  • RPTM 46092: Internship in Recreation (ELR) (9)
  • Concentration Elective (3)

Tourism Management Concentration

• Semester One:
  • 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• Semester Eight:
  • RPTM 46092: Internship in Recreation (ELR) (9)
  • Concentration Elective (3)

University Requirements

• Flashes 101 (UC 10001) (1 credit hour)
• Diversity Domestic/Global (DIVD/DIVG) (2 courses)
• Experiential Learning Requirement (ELR) (varies)
• Kent Core (36-37 credit hours)
• Writing-Intensive Course (WIC) (1 course)
• Upper-Division Requirement (39 credit hours)
• Total Credit Hour Requirement (120 credit hours)

Kent Core Requirements

• Kent Core Composition (KCMP) (6)
• Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (KMCR) (3)
• Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (KHUM/KFA) (min one course each) (9)
• Kent Core Social Sciences (KSS) (must be from two disciplines) (6)
• Kent Core Basic Sciences (KBS/KLAB) (must include one laboratory) (6-7)
• Kent Core Additional (KADL) (6)
• Total Credit Hours: 36-37

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.

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