Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management: Recreational Therapy Concentration, BS

Program Requirements

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management prepares students for a variety of careers in the public, private and non-profit sectors. The curriculum provides broad exposure to the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to create, manage, lead and operate in organizations, agencies and businesses that provide leisure and leisure-related experiences, services, environments and therapeutic interventions. Students choose from one of five concentration areas: Community Recreation, Sport, and Camp Management (CRSCM); Parks and Conservation Area Management (PCAM); PGA Golf Management (PGA GM); Recreational Therapy (RT); and Travel and Tourism(T&T). These concentration areas offer the flexibility to accommodate each student’s career objectives in positions in community recreation, community and campus-based sport/athletics management, event and experience planning and management, commercial recreation and tourism, park and conservation area management, interpretation and management of natural, historic, and cultural sites, rehabilitation services, recreational therapy, programs for people with disabilities, senior citizens or other special populations, camp administration, golf industry, travel industry, resort management, convention and visitor bureaus, conference and meeting planning, and community tourism development to name a few.

The Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). Therefore, our graduates are immediately eligible to apply to become National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) “Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP),” a valuable credential for professional development. Students choosing the Recreational Therapy option will also be qualified to sit for the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) certification; and PGA Golf Management students will be in a position to complete the requirements to become a Class A Professional with the PGA of America.

When space is available, a student may change majors to one of the degree concentrations in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average and approval of the department chair or his/her designee. Students are encouraged to speak with a PRTM advisor about changing their major prior to the start of their sophomore year to avoid a delay in graduation due to course sequencing and course prerequisite requirements.

Graduate degrees offered are Master of Science (Thesis option or Online/non-thesis option) and Doctor of Philosophy.

Concentration

The Recreational Therapy (RT) Concentration prepares students for exciting careers working with people with disabilities in a variety of settings, including community-based recreation agencies, camps, children’s hospitals, psychiatric and physical rehabilitation hospitals, and assisted-living facilities, to name a few. Recreational Therapy consists of the delivery of recreation services designed to enhance participants’ leisure experiences, quality of life, and functional capabilities. Students who complete these requirements will be eligible to sit for an examination to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Students take courses and preceptorships at the University Center and agencies in Greenville, SC and the surrounding area, during their junior year.

122 Total Semester Hours

¹ See General Education Requirements  and advisor. Clemson University requires a total of 33 credit hours of General Education, including two credits of Academic and Professional Development (satisfied by PRTM 2060  and PRTM 2070 ). Students must take at least 31 additional credits of General Education as outlined in the Undergraduate Announcements General Education section. See your advisor for choosing general education requirements that meet the prerequisites for the Recreational Therapy concentration specific classes.

² Ten credits selected from AGRB 3610 , AL 3490 , AL 3500 , AL 3520 , AL 3530 , AL 3760 , AL 4530 , ASL 1010 , ASL 1020 , COMM 3300 , COMM 3480 , COMM 3500 , COMM 3640 , COMM 4700 , COMM 4800 , ED 4050 , EDF 3020 , EDF 3340 , EDF 3350 , HLTH 3030 , HLTH 3050 , HLTH 3100 , HLTH 3400 , HLTH 4020 , HLTH 4100 , HLTH 4110 , HLTH 4150 , HLTH 4300 , HLTH 4400 , HLTH 4500 , HLTH 4800 , LS 1260 , LS 2350 , LS 2360 , LS 2370 , LS 2380 , LS 2420 , LS 2750 , LS 2780 , NPL 3000 , PHIL 3460 , PSYC 3060 , PSYC 3240 , PSYC 3250 , PSYC 3300 , PSYC 3330 , PSYC 3340 , PSYC 3440 , PSYC 3450 , PSYC 3520 , PSYC 3700 , PSYC 4150 , PSYC 4220 , PSYC 4230 , PSYC 4260 , PSYC 4430 , PSYC 4800 , PSYC 4820 , PSYC 4880 , SOC 3500 , SOC 3800 , SOC 3910 , SOC 3920 , SOC 3940 , SOC 3970 , SOC 4600 , SOC 4800 , SOC 4810 , SOC 4840 , or any 3000-4000-level course in ASL or PRTM