Recreation, Park and Tourism Management Kent State University

Overview

The Recreation, Park and Tourism Management degree from Kent State University provides students with an academic foundation and field experiences in preparation for the recreation, park and tourism professions. The program is comprised of three concentrations:

• The Park Management concentration focuses on providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and protecting the natural, cultural and historic resources on which those opportunities depend. Complementary minors include Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Biology for Environmental Management and Conservation.

• The Recreation Management concentration focuses on providing opportunities for individuals and community health and wellbeing through recreation and parks in public, nonprofit and commercial settings. Complementary minors include: Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Nonprofit Studies, Event Planning,

• The Tourism Management concentration focuses on providing entrepreneurial services for tourism industries as well as sustainable tourism destination management. Complementary minors include: Disability Studies and Community Inclusion, Event Planning, Business Management.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Articulate the impact of inclusive policies and practices targeted toward underrepresented individuals and groups including, but not limited to disability, race and/or ethnicity, age, social class, gender and sexual orientation.

• Identify principles of inclusion, modification and laws related to equal opportunity; and select strategies to mitigate barriers influencing recreation participation for people with disabilities.

• Outline the historical, scientific and philosophical foundations of the field.

• Differentiate the nature and scope of the industry, including critical aspects of program development, service development, management and the components of leisure service delivery systems and various providers and levels of recreation.

• Analyze and apply common management roles, responsibilities and approaches applicable to the field and the leadership styles and practices related to personnel management.

• Investigate public relations and marketing strategies, planning and development issues, and fiscal/budgetary management.

• Illustrate site specific attributes in relation to the field and the components of professional practice for successful engagement with the site.

• Model ethical, professional, appropriate behavior and the ability to communicate effectively in oral, visual and written forms.

• Apply basic principles of the program development cycle for recreation services and modifications for inclusivity.

• Engage in academic research, writing and evaluation of literature and data for evidence-based improvement of services in leisure science.

Careers

• Managers and leaders with public/community park and recreation services 

• Managers and leaders with non-profit recreation agencies 

• Managers and leaders providing recreation, outdoor recreation, or tourism services to specialized groups such as youth, senior/older adults, people with disabilities, immigrant communities, marginalized populations 

• Managers and leaders with health and wellness organization and services 

• Managers and leaders who plan special events/community-wide events 

• Managers and leaders with tourism services and agencies 

• Interpreters, guides, managers, leaders with historic, cultural, nature-based organizations 

• Park rangers, interpreters, guides, naturalists with regional, state, and national parks 

• Leaders and organizers with outdoor recreation agencies