Program Overview

PhD Program Overview

The PhD program consists of a major in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, an area of concentration, and a research core that includes dissertation research. A PhD in PRT requires a minimum of 67 semester hours of study beyond the master's degree. The exact number of hours and the specific courses to be taken are based on the needs of individual students, taking into account such factors as interests, future aspirations, academic history, and degree of exposure to the study of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. The PhD program requires approximately three full years of study beyond the master's degree.

PhD Program Information

Graduates of our PhD program have gone on to work as:

• Research scientists and policy analysts for federal land agencies
• Faculty members in universities and colleges
• Consultants and decision-makers in the for-profit and non-profit sectors

Dissertation Options

Options for dissertation include the traditional format and a three-article format (TAD).

Applying to the PhD Program

To apply to the PhD program, the following requirements must be met:

1. Students must have an earned master's degree. Students with degrees not in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism are encouraged to apply. Those students without prior degrees in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism will enroll in content awareness classes.
2. Three letters of recommendation.
3. Resume indicating background and experience.
4. For international applicants, please make sure you meet the University’s English Proficiency requirements.
5. Entrance examination (written composition of approximately 10 pages).
6. Graduate school application, fee, and official transcripts.
7. We have moved to a test-optional application process. GRE scores are no longer required but will be considered for admission and funding if applicants choose to include them.
8. All materials can be submitted electronically.
9. Potential PhD students must have an earned Master's degree. Students with degrees not in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism are encouraged to apply.
10. We currently only consider doctoral applications once a year, in the late winter (January 15) for fall enrollment.

Additional Information

• Entrance Examination Information: Please prepare an original composition, not to exceed ten pages, on a specific topic related to parks, recreation, and tourism studies that is of special interest to you.
• Application Materials Due Date: All doctoral applications must be received by January 15th.

Graduate Assistantships

Each year, we offer traditional departmental research and teaching assistantships to incoming PhD students, as well as a changing assortment of special assistantships linked to specific focus areas and research projects.

• First-year teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs) generally begin mentored teaching in an integrated block of core undergraduate courses and are assigned to independent course instruction as they progress through the doctoral program.
• Examples of past and current research assistantship funding partners include the American Camp Association (ACA), the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), the Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, and the Global Change and Sustainability Center (GCSC).
• Each assistantship requires 20 hours of work a week for 9 months and includes a monthly stipend, tuition/fee waiver, and subsidized health insurance.

Western Regional Graduate Program

Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming are eligible to enroll in our program and pay resident tuition rates through WICHE (Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education).

Frequently Asked Questions

• When is the application deadline? We review doctoral applications once a year. The deadline for all doctoral applicants is January 15.
• Are there any teaching and research assistantships for graduate students? Yes. These typically involve 20 hours of work each week for nine months and include a monthly stipend, tuition remission, and health benefits.
• Can I be admitted if my previous degrees are not in Parks, Recreation, or Tourism? Yes. If admitted, you may be required to complete some content awareness classes before you can take core graduate classes.
• Do I need to take the GRE to be admitted to your graduate program? No. The GRE is no longer a required part of our graduate application.
• I’ve missed the application deadline, but would like to take a class to see what your program is about. Is this possible? If you are a current University of Utah student, or can become a current student, then we can help you select courses that might help you in the graduate program.
• Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation? While there are no explicit requirements, previous university instructors are often better able to answer the specific questions regarding your ability to succeed in a graduate program.
• Where do I send my application materials? All materials can be submitted via The Graduate School's Application Portal.
• Do I need a faculty sponsor to be admitted? The availability of faculty advisors does influence admissions. We match applicants to faculty interests, talents, and available time during the admissions process.
• Where can I find additional information on courses and requirements? Please see the Graduate Student Resource Links for more detailed information about our graduate degrees.