Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, B.S. (Abington)

Program Description

The program prepares students for supervisory and administrative positions with 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 program combines a broad educational foundation with specific courses designed to accommodate career interests in recreation, park, and tourism management. The program helps students gain the theoretical, managerial, technical, and experiential skills they need to become the next generation of leaders in the field. Additionally, students obtain real-world experience through our internship experiences.

Four (4) options are offered:

Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management Option

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Greater Allegheny, University Park, World Campus

This option focuses on management in the private/commercial, non-profit, and public sectors of recreation/leisure services. The private/commercial focus will be of interest to students seeking careers in a variety of commercial settings such as resorts; theme parks, convention centers; sports and fitness facilities, including arenas and stadiums; tourism promotion/planning agencies; and employee recreation departments within corporations. This focus will also appeal to students wishing to become entrepreneurs.

Community Recreation Management Option

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Greater Allegheny, University Park, World Campus

For those interested in the community, public, or non-profit sectors for positions within municipal, state, and federal government agencies; recreation divisions of the armed services; YMCA agencies; United Way agencies; scouting organizations; university-affiliated units such as student unions, intramural and alumni services; and other non-profit organizations.

Professional Golf Management Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

Accredited by the Professional Golfers' Association of America, the Professional Golf Management Option prepares students for careers in the golf industry. Students will be prepared to assess leadership and management principles including customer service, interpersonal skills, business communication, conflict resolution, time management, negotiating, project management, marketing, and community relations. In addition to the core curriculum, the program has a strong business focus and is drawn from several nationally recognized academic disciplines on campus.

Outdoor Recreation Management Option

Available at the following campuses: University Park

This option prepare students for careers in Park Management and Environmental Interpretation (PMEI), Adventure Recreation, or in both fields. The Adventure Recreation pathway emphasizes outdoor experiential leadership, including wilderness experiences and personal development. The PMEI pathway focuses on natural and cultural history environmental interpretation and education and the social science of conservation. The third pathway provides a flexible route for students to combine parts of the Adventure Recreation and PMEI pathways to create a meaningful personalized set of courses that could include study abroad experiences and prepare students for international contexts of recreation management. The Outdoor Recreation Management option is of interest to students seeking employment in a variety of outdoor recreation and park settings (local, state, and national from urban to wilderness) offering outdoor activities and personal development to the public.

What is Recreation, Park and Tourism Management?

Recreation, Park and Tourism Management students learn how to manage and lead in a variety of organizations to help humans derive benefits from leisure activities. Students learn about a disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives to better understand the natural, psychological, social, economic, political and cultural systems that influence human behavior in the context of recreation, park and tourism. Core business and management skills are applied to the types of organizations in the recreation, park and tourism sectors. This approach enables students to address issues of human well-being and sustainable development in leading and managing these organizations. Our mission is to transform human health and well-being through engaging people in recreation, park, tourism and leisure activities.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT

You Might Like This Program If...

• You like working with people in a hands-on learning environment that involves recreation, parks, sustainability and leisure.
• You enjoy business, management or entrepreneurship and a career setting focused on the outdoors, entertainment, sports, fitness, or events.
• You like building community through organizing recreation programs for young people, families, those in the military or older persons.
• You enjoy tourism, visiting new places, meeting new people, and helping others travel and learn about other cultures.

Entrance to Major

Students who have completed 29.1 credits with a 2.00 cumulative grade-point average are eligible for entrance into the major, except for the Professional Golf Management option.

First-year students are admitted directly into the Professional Golf Management option at the University Park campus only. In addition to the University's academic requirements, each student admitted to the Professional Golf Management option must have a playing proficiency represented by a minimum golf handicap of 12 or lower. This must be certified in writing by a Professional Golf Association member or golf coach.

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

3-4 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 0-3 credits of GS courses; 0-4 credits of GQ courses.

Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. RPTM requires students to complete 24 credits for the major through courses taken at University Park. Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for this major.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
RPTM 120	Leisure and Human Behavior	3
RPTM 220	Sustainability, Society, and Well-being	3
RPTM 236	Leadership and Group Dynamics in Recreation Services	3
RPTM 277	Inclusive Leisure Services	3
RPTM 390	Political and Legal Aspects of Recreation Services	3
RPTM 410	Marketing of Recreation Services	3
RPTM 433W	Program Evaluation and Research in Recreation Services	3
RPTM 456	Programming in Recreation Services	3
Requirements for the Option
Select an option		40-47

Requirements for the Option

Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management Option (46-47 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Greater Allegheny, University Park, World Campus

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
RPTM 101	Introduction to Recreation Services	3
RPTM 210	Introduction to Commercial Recreation and Tourism	3
RPTM 300Y	Tourism and Leisure Behavior	3
RPTM 394	Orientation to Internship	1
RPTM 415	Commercial Recreation Management	3
RPTM 495A	Internship in Recreation Services	12
Additional Courses
CAS 283	Communication and Information Technology I	3-4
or CMPSC 203	Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases
RPTM 370	Introduction to Arena Management	3
or RPTM 435	Recreation Facilities Planning and Management
Select 6 credits from the following:		6
ACCTG 211	Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making
BA 100	Introduction to Business
BA 242	Social and Ethical Environment of Business
BA 250	Small Business Management
BA 301	Finance
BA 303	Marketing
BA 304	Management and Organization
FIN 100	Introduction to Finance
HM 201	Introduction to Management in the Hospitality Industry
LHR 100	Exploring Work and Employment
LHR/AFAM/WMNST 136	Race, Gender, and Employment
MGMT 100	Survey of Management
MGMT 301	Basic Management Concepts
MKTG 221
MKTG 301	Principles of Marketing
RPTM 336	Accounting in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Consult with an adviser to review course recommendations, Minors, and Certificate Programs.		9

Community Recreation Management Option (43-44 credits)

Available at the following campuses: Abington, Greater Allegheny, University Park, World Campus

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
RPTM 101	Introduction to Recreation Services	3
RPTM 201	Introduction to Community Recreation	3
RPTM 334	Non-profit Recreation Agency Operations	3
RPTM 394	Orientation to Internship	1
RPTM 495A	Internship in Recreation Services	12
Additional Courses
CAS 283	Communication and Information Technology I	3-4
or CMPSC 203	Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases
RPTM 370	Introduction to Arena Management	3
or RPTM 435	Recreation Facilities Planning and Management
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Consult with an adviser to review course recommendations, Minors, and Certificate Programs.		15

Outdoor Recreation Management Option (40-41 credits)

Available at the following campuses: University Park

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
RPTM 101	Introduction to Recreation Services	3
RPTM 320	Recreation Resource Planning and Management	3
RPTM 394	Orientation to Internship	1
RPTM 435	Recreation Facilities Planning and Management	3
RPTM 495A	Internship in Recreation Services	12
Additional Courses
CAS 283	Communication and Information Technology I	3-4
or CMPSC 203	Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Select 15 credits in an Outdoor Recreation Management Pathway. Consult with an adviser to review course recommendations, Minors and Certificate Programs.		15

Professional Golf Management Option (47 credits)

Available at the following campuses: University Park

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
• Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

• Arts (GA): 3 credits
• Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
• Humanities (GH): 3 credits
• Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

• Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

• GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
• GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

• United States Cultures: 3 credits
• International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

Abington

Jacob Benfield, Ph.D.
Professor
Woodland Bldg 236g
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7528
jab908@psu.edu

Greater Allegheny

Maumbe Kudzayi
Assistant Teaching Professor
Main Building, 104B
4000 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132
412-675-9052
kkm6102@psu.edu

University Park

Laura Hennessey
Academic Adviser
701 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8989
lah197@psu.edu

Skylar Peters
Academic Adviser, Shaver's Creek Environmental Center
0001 Main Building
Shaver's Creek
Petersburg, PA 16669
814-863-2000
sbp5081@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
100 Innovation Blvd
Suite 225
University Park, PA 16803
814-863-3283
advising@worldcampus.psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.

Commercial Recreation and Tourism Option: Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, B.S. at Abington Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

 Supporting Course List

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Advising Notes:

Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must take 6 credits of Integrative Studies courses (Inter-domain or Linked courses). If you need additional clarification, consult with your academic adviser.

Community Recreation Management Option: Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management, B.S. at Abington Campus

*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

‡

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

†

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

¹

 Supporting Course List

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

Advising Notes:

Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must take 6 credits of Integrative Studies courses (Inter-domain or Linked courses). If you need additional clarification, consult with your academic adviser.

Career Paths

Careers in Recreation, Park and Tourism Management (RPTM) include management positions in commercial resorts, event management businesses, golf courses and golf industry businesses, national and local park systems, environmental centers, outdoor adventure businesses and sports, fitness and recreation facilities in communities, universities, workplaces, military settings, and other locations. Graduate programs in RPTM educate students about research, theory and practice related to leisure and recreation of individuals and groups, including societal and cross-cultural dimensions. RPTM students can also use their degree to prepare for additional graduate training in public health, public administration, public policy, health administration, business or law.

Careers

Careers for RPTM graduates typically fit with the options within the degree program, including positions in:

• Commercial Recreation, Event and Tourism Management positions such as resort and cruise recreation director, travel and tourism management, corporate recreation and events planning, and sport and fitness venue management, including our Professional Golf Management option.
• Community and Nonprofit Recreation Management positions, including roles in community recreation centers, military recreation leadership, youth camp or senior center management and related positions.
• Outdoor Adventure and Natural Resource Management positions, such as park ranger, environmental or outdoor educator, wilderness program supervisor and outdoor recreation planner, among others.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Whether you are looking for a master's degree or your doctorate in RPTM, our multi-disciplinary graduate program is designed to educate students about research, theory and practice related to recreation, parks, tourism and leisure. Both the master of science (M.S.) and the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) programs help you develop an understanding of the social, environmental, psychological and economic aspects of human behavior in relation to the experience and delivery of recreation, park, tourism and leisure activities.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES

Professional Resources

• Professional Golfers' Association of America
• Kurt Hahn Consortium for Values and Experiential Learning
• Denali National Park and Preserve
• Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
• National Park and Recreation Association
• Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society
• Equity in Parks and Recreation
• PGA of America Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Contact

Abington

DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
1600 Woodland Road
Abington, PA 19001
215-881-7528
jab908@psu.edu

https://www.abington.psu.edu/academics/majors-at-abington/recreation-park-and-tourism-management

Greater Allegheny

RECREATION PARK & TOURISM MANAGEMENT
Main Building, 104B
4000 University Drive
McKeesport, PA 15132
412-675-9052
kkm6102@psu.edu

https://greaterallegheny.psu.edu/academics/recreation-park-tourism-management

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT/PGA PROFESSIONAL GOLF MANAGEMENT
801 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7034
kmp39@psu.edu

https://hhd.psu.edu/rptm/contact/faculty-staff

World Campus

DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION, PARK, AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT
801 Ford Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7034
kmp39@psu.edu

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-recreation-park-and-tourism-management-bachelor-of-science-degree