Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, MS

Program Description

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The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree (thesis and online non-thesis). Flexibility permits individual development in professional interest areas such as park and conservation area management; recreational therapy; and travel and tourism. Each student’s program is tailored to suit personal and professional goals. Applicants from other disciplines may be required to develop background knowledge of parks, recreation and tourism through undergraduate coursework. Applicants for the MS (thesis) must submit GRE scores.

The Master of Science (thesis) degree is designed for individuals seeking employment in a research-related position or planning to undertake doctoral study. The Master of Science (non-thesis) is for practitioners desiring an advanced degree or those looking for a career change, but are unable to earn a degree in residence. The non-thesis option is delivered online with students required to participate in weekly synchronous class periods.

Summary of Degree Requirements

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Thesis Option

The MS (thesis) degree is designed for individuals seeking employment in a research-related position or planning to undertake doctoral study. This master’s thesis option degree program includes a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit and a minimum of six hours of master’s thesis research (PRTM 8910 ).

Non-Thesis Option

The MS (non-thesis) is for practitioners desiring an advanced degree or those looking for a career change but are unable to earn a degree in residence. The non-thesis option is delivered online with students required to participate in weekly synchronous class periods. This master’s non-thesis option degree program includes a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit, none of which may be master’s thesis research.

Coursework

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Thesis Option

PRTM Core Courses (17 credits)

• PRTM 8010 - Philosophical Foundations of Recreation and Park Administration 3 Credits  
• PRTM 8080 - Behavioral Aspects of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits  
• PRTM 8110 - Research Methods in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits  
• PRTM 8910 - Master’s Thesis Research 1-12 Credits  
• PRTM 9100 - Research Seminar 1 Credit  

Collateral Area (19 credits)

• Statistics (3-4 credits)
• Research methods in addition to PRTM 8110  (3 credits)
• 12-13 hours additional classes to be selected by student with advisor’s approval

Non-Thesis Option

Courses

• PRTM 8010 - Philosophical Foundations of Recreation and Park Administration 3 Credits ¹
• PRTM 8030 - Seminar in Recreation and Park Administration 3 Credits ¹
• PRTM 8080 - Behavioral Aspects of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits ^2*
• PRTM 8110 - Research Methods in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits ²or PRTM 8260 - Data Use for Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Professionals 3 Credits ² 
• PRTM 8210 - Innovative and Creative Funding Strategies in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits ³
• PRTM 8220 - Strategic Planning in PRTM Organizations 3 Credits ^4*
• PRTM 8230 - Operating in Political Environments in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors 3 Credits ^3*
• PRTM 8060 - Special Problems 1-3 Credits ⁵ (Master’s Research Project with a faculty advisor’s consent) or  PRTM 8880 - Capstone: Applying Learning Outcomes to PRTM Issues and Organizations 3 Credits  or PRTM 9000 - Selected Topics 1-3 Credits ⁵

Specialization/Focus Area (select one) - 6 credits (15 credits for RT)

Parks and Conservation Area Management:

• PRTM 8070 - Human Dimension of Outdoor Recreation and Public Land Visitation 3 Credits ⁴
• PRTM (CRP) 8440 - Outdoor Recreation Resource Management and Planning 3 Credits ⁵

Travel and Tourism Management:

• PRTM 8400 - Tourism Planning 3 Credits ⁴ 
• PRTM 8420 - Understanding the Discipline of Tourism 3 Credits ⁵ 

Community Recreation Management:

• PRTM (PADM) 8240 - Enterprise Development in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors 3 Credits ⁴
• PRTM 8250 - Understanding Populations in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits ⁵ 

Recreational Therapy (RT):

• PRTM 8710 - Applied Research in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management 3 Credits ¹
• PRTM 8720 - Advanced Facilitation Techniques in Recreational Therapy 3 Credits ⁴
• PRTM 8730 - Advanced Theory and Application in Recreational Therapy 3 Credits ²
• PRTM 8740 - Management of the Clinical Process in Recreational Therapy 3 Credits ⁵ 
• PRTM 8750 - Program Planning and Consulting in Recreational Therapy 3 Credits ⁴

*Course not required for RT because of RT substitution. See RT focus area courses.

^1-5Course sequence: ¹ = First Fall, ² = First Spring, ³ = Summer, ⁴ = Second Fall, ⁵ = Second Spring. This means for students who start in the fall semester, courses are taken in numerical order, 1 through 5. For students who start in the Spring semester, courses would be taken in the following order: 2, 3, 1, 5, 4.

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

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Thesis Option

The traditional, in person MS is a research degree with a thesis requirement. This degree is designed for people planning to undertake doctoral study or research related positions in their chosen profession. The goal of this degree is to produce a skilled professional capable of research with minimal supervision.

Non-Thesis Option

Those students choosing the online MS (non-thesis) are typically already working in the field or plan to do so upon completion of the degree requirements. This degree does not require a thesis and instead utilizes a capstone course with associated project to evaluate cumulative knowledge and skill acquisition. The goal of this degree is to develop student competencies in the applications of advanced service delivery skills.