Undergraduate Program: Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
The Penn State Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management offers a bachelor of science degree in recreation, park and tourism management to students interested in supervisory and administrative positions in park systems, environmental centers, commercial recreation and tourism agencies, golf courses, hospitals and assisted living facilities, private voluntary agencies, schools and colleges and other commercial, nonprofit and public organizations that provide recreation and leisure services. The major offers four options to accommodate students’ individual career interests.
In order to enhance their classroom experiences, all students (except those pursuing the golf management option) must complete a two-tiered internship requirement. First, students work a minimum of 300 hours with professionals in the field in order to choose their area of interest and select their courses appropriately. Upon completing the 300-hour requirement, students then spend 12 weeks working with professionals in settings of the students’ choice so they can apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings. These internships frequently lead to full-time employment after graduation.
Students pursuing the golf management option must complete 16 months of co-op education under the supervision of a Class A member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Students are expected to complete at least five separate co-op experiences in order to meet the 16-month requirement. Detailed information about the Golf Management option is also available at www.hhdev.psu.edu/rptm/PGM.
Options
Students pursuing their B.S. in recreation, park and tourism management can choose from the following four options:
- Commercial and Community Recreation Management option
- Professional Golf Management (PGM) option
- Outdoor Recreation option
- Therapeutic Recreation option
Additional Information
For more information on the B.S. degree in recreation, park and tourism management and its options, go to www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/$hhmenu.htm on the Web and click on Majors and Minors (College of Health and Human Development). You may also contact Angela Rothrock at 801 Ford Building, University Park, PA 16802; by phone at (814) 863-9776; or by e-mail at rptm@psu.edu.
Curriculum
- Recommended Academic Plan(s)
RPTM COCRC Recommended Academic Plan (UP)- RPTM COCRC Recommended Academic Plan (Other Campuses)
- RPTM OUTRC Adventure Based Emphasis Recommended Academic Plan (UP)
- RPTM OUTRC Adventure Based Emphasis Recommended Academic Plan (Other Campuses)
- RPTM OUTRC Environmental Interpretation Emphasis Recommended Academic Plan (UP)
- RPTM OUTRC Environmental Interpretation Emphasis Recommended Academic Plan (Other Campuses)
- RPTM OUTRC Management Emphasis Recommended Academic Plan (UP)
- RPTM OUTRC Management Emphasis Recommended Academic Plan (Other Campuses)
- RPTM P G M Recommended Academic Plan (UP)
- RPTM TH RC Recommended Academic Plan (UP)
- RPTM TH RC Recommended Academic Plan (Other Campuses)
Scheduling Recommendation
Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)
GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(3-7 of these 45 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin.)
FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES or GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)
INTERCULTURAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETENCE:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)
ELECTIVES: 8-13 credits
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 65-70 credits
(This includes 3-7 credits of General Education courses: 3-4 credits of GQ courses; 0-3 credits of GN courses.)
COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR (ALL OPTIONS): (26 –27 credits)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (23 credits)[1]
RPTM 101(2), RPTM 120(3), RPTM 236(3) (Sem: 1-4)
RPTM 277 GI(3), RPTM 356(3) (Sem: 3-6)
RPTM 410(3), RPTM 460(3) (Sem: 5-8)
RPTM 433W(3) (Sem: 7-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES
Select 3-4 credits from EDPSY 101 GQ(3), STAT 100 GQ(3), or STAT 200 GQ(4) (Sem: 3-6)
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPTION: 39-43 credits
COMMERCIAL AND COMMUNITY RECREATION MANAGEMENT OPTION: (39 – 40 credits)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (21 credits)[1]
RPTM 210(2), RPTM 300Y(3), RPTM 394(1) (Sem: 3-6)
RPTM 415(3), RPTM 495A(12) (Sem: 5-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (6-7 credits)
Select 6-7 credits from ACCTG 211(4) or HRIM 335(3),B A 250(3), FIN 100(3), HRIM 201(3), MGMT 100(3), MKTG 150(3), MKTG 221(3) (Sem: 3-8)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (12 credits)
Select 12 credits from department list in consultation with faculty adviser (Sem: 3-8) See Commercial & Community Recreation Management department list.
PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT OPTION: (42-43 credits)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (25 credits)
B LAW 243(3), MGMT 100 (3), RPTM 210(2)[1], (Sem: 3-6)
HRIM 336(3), RPTM 360(3)[1], (Sem: 5-6)
HRIM 318(2), TURF 100(3) (Sem: 5-10)
HRIM 466(3), RPTM 415(3)[1] (Sem: 9-10)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (17-18 credits)
Select 3-4 credits from ACCTG 211(4) or HRIM 335(3) (Sem: 3-6)
Select 14 credits from RPTM 295A(1-4)[1],RPTM 395B(1-4)[1], RPTM 495B(1-4)[1],RPTM 495C(1-4)[1],RPTM 495D(1-4)[1]
See www.hhdev.psu.edu/rptm/PGM for additional information regarding the Golf Management Option.
OUTDOOR RECREATION OPTION: 41-42 credits
PRESCRIBED COURSES (20 credits)[1]
RPTM 320(3), RPTM 394(1) (Sem: 3-4)
RPTM 470(3), RPTM 480(1), RPTM 495A(12) (Sem: 5-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (21-22 credits)
Select 6 credits from courses with the following abbreviations: E R M, FOR, GEOSC, W F S (Sem: 3-6)
Select among: a, b, or c (15-16)
a. Environmental Interpretation emphasis: Select 12 credits from RPTM 325(3)[1], RPTM 326(3)[1], RPTM 327(3)[1], RPTM 425(3)[1], RPTM 430(3)[1] (Sem: 3-8)
Select 3 credits from department list in consultation with faculty adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Outdoor Recreation department list
b. Adventure-Based Programming emphasis: Select 6-9 credits from RPTM 230(3)[1],RPTM 330(3)[1],RPTM 440(3)[1],Sem: 3-8)
Select 0-3 credits from RPTM 325(3)[1],RPTM 334(3)[1],RPTM 430(3)[1](Sem: 3-8)
Select 6 credits from department list in consultation with faculty adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Outdoor Recreation department list
c. Park Management emphasis: take RPTM 334(3) [1] and RPTM 435(3)[1] (Sem: 6-8)
Select 6-7 credits from ACCTG 211(4) or HRIM 335(3), HRIM 201(3),MGMT 100(3), MGMT 341(3), MKTG 221(3), (Sem: 3-6)
Select 3 credits from department list, in consultation with faculty adviser (Sem: 3-8) See Outdoor Recreation department list.
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION OPTION: (43 credits)
PRESCRIBED COURSES (34 credits)
BI SC 004 GN(3), RPTM 376(3)[1], RPTM 394(1)[1] (Sem: 5-6)
RPTM 386(3)[1], RPTM 476(3)[1], RPTM 486(3)[1], R P T M 490(3) [1], PSY 412(3) (Sem: 6-8)
RPTM 495A(12)[1] (Sem: 7-8)
ADDITIONAL COURSES (3 credits)
Select 3 credits from HD FS 129 GS(3) or PSY 213 GS(3)(Sem: 3-4)
SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (6 credits)
Select 6 credits from department list, in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8) Therapeutic Recreation department list
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[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.