Recreation Parks and Tourism Resources
Accredited by the National Recreation and Parks Association, the Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources program is a recognized international leader in training future managers of recreation resources like parks, public forests, resorts, adventure education programs, and recreation businesses. This is a natural resource management-oriented curriculum focused on the social, economic and ecological dimensions of managing natural resources. Outdoor recreation courses provide insight into planning and managing natural resources for recreation users, tourists and visitors.
Program Admission and Curriculum
Students who meet University admission requirements may be accepted directly into the Davis College as Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources majors. To earn a bachelor’s degree, students must complete 128 credit hours including the General Education Curriculum required by the University.
The required core of natural resources-based recreation and tourism management courses is complemented by forestry and natural resource management courses. Students are encouraged to develop areas of emphasis in specialties such as communications, entrepreneurship, and sustainable tourism through careful selection of their electives.
Core courses within the major include, but are not limited to, recreation resource management, environmental and cultural interpretation, planning and design of recreation places, human dimensions of natural resource management, and sustainable tourism development. Complete course requirements and descriptions can be found in the current WVU Undergraduate Catalog.
The program is capped with a professional internship usually during the summer following the junior year. Students will spend no less than eight weeks with a recreation, parks or tourism agency.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates from the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Resources program are typically employed by city, state and national parks, tourism and natural resources agencies, and a wide range of non-profit and business organizations. Average entry-level salaries range from $30,000 to $40,000.
