Parks and Recreation
This program prepares the student to become a professional in the public, private, commercial, and volunteer parks and recreation settings. The student's educational experiences are structured so that the emerging professional will be a well-rounded generalist, capable of functioning in a variety of employment settings. Course work includes a core program plus electives that support this course work in the areas of natural resources, lifetime sports, and health and safety. All core courses are designed to address practical application of the knowledge and information given. In addition to the major course work, students are required to select a minor from an approved area outside the field of Parks and Recreation. The core and minor are crystallized through an internship field experience during the junior or senior year of study. The program is accredited by the National Parks and Recreation/American Association of Leisure and Recreation Council on Accreditation.
Mission Statement and Objectives
The purpose of the degree program in Parks and Recreation is to prepare individuals to become professionals in the public, private, commercial, and voluntary settings of recreation, who are capable of leading, programming, planning, designing, and administrating these programs. The philosophy of the Parks and Recreation Program is centered on the belief that to develop professionals who have the capacity, insight, drive, and desire to function with vision, authority, and confidence requires a broad and extensive background in both academic and practical experience. It is our mission to provide these kinds of experiences.
The objectives of Parks and Recreation are as follows:
- To prepare majors to become professionals in both the public and private sector of the field of recreation and leisure services.
- To provide skill development in preparing the student: (a) to administer a parks and recreation program including budgeting, personnel management, and program development; (b) in special skill areas such as grantsmanship and feasibility study process; (c) to administer specific recreation programs such as camps and aquatic facilities; (d) to evaluate, design, and manage parks and recreation facilities, areas, and recourses; (e) to perform basic research such as community surveys; (f) to develop a personal/professional philosophy regarding parks and recreation; (g) with an understanding of diverse populations; (h) to direct and administer an intramural sports program; (i) to organize and lead a variety of social recreation programs.
- To provide majors with an opportunity to develop their skills through practical application during internships and cooperative work experience.
- To provide students throughout the university with a basic understanding of the importance of leisure and recreation as an integral part of their lives.
- To provide service to municipalities through training and education in the area of survey development, feasibility studies and program development.
For more indepth information for admission and curriculum requirements for the major:
Download Requirement Sheet
Parks & Recreation Internship
Internships are considered a critical piece of higher education. For example, internships are designed to assist students in connecting and applying academic and conceptual knowledge to the real world. To optimize the learning experience, students should possess an in-depth knowledge of the subject matter. Therefore, most students consider internships during their junior and senior years following the completion of related Parks & Recreation core and options courses. From a practical perspective, internships are invaluable in helping students focus on career options, gain experience, establish professional contacts and, perhaps most importantly, deciding whether a particular field is truly a good fit both professionally and personally.
To participate in an internship, students must determine what type of facility or program they would like to intern at, select a site and supervisor, either through an advisor's guidance or self-selection. Please use the links below to see internship sites in Parks & Recreation Management plus access the Internship guidelines.
Internship links in Parks & Recreation Management
Parks & Recreation Internship Handbook
