Master's in Parks, Recreation, Hospitality, and Tourism

Program Overview

The Master in Parks, Recreation, Hospitality, and Tourism program prepares graduates for professional and research roles in these fields. The 30-hour program emphasizes practical experience through immersive learning opportunities, including outdoor expeditions, international ecotourism, and internships. Students can specialize in Hospitality Management, Recreation Management, or Outdoor Recreation & Education, with flexibility to tailor their education to their interests. Graduates have strong career opportunities in parks, tourism, hospitality, and environmental organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master in Parks, Recreation, Hospitality, and Tourism (PRHT) is designed to prepare graduates for roles as professionals and researchers within their fields of interest. This 30-hour program can typically be completed in 2–3 semesters and emphasizes practical experience through immersive learning opportunities such as outdoor expeditions, international ecotourism, research, internships, and other outreach projects. Its focus lies on the enrichment of communities and advancing knowledge in the realm of policy development. The program provides opportunities to specialize across various concentrations, consisting of:

• Hospitality Management
• Recreation Management
• Outdoor Recreation & Education
Many graduates combine these areas with complementary interests such as environmental sustainability, event planning & management, and others. Furthermore, students benefit from a cohort–like experience and individualized mentorship, allowing for the cultivation of strong connections with faculty mentors.

Outline:

Curriculum Overview

• Core Courses (10 hours) covering foundational principles in the fields of parks & natural resource management, outdoor leadership & adventure education
• Specialization courses (18 hours), focusing on a chosen track of interest from either hospitality & tourism administration, outdoor recreation management and leadership (with options for adventure education and wilderness therapy or tourism and natural areas management).
Students are required to complete at least six (6) hours from a single track of interest to achieve their specialization and have flexibility in choosing the remaining six hours of elective coursework from any specialization area, further expanding their expertise or tailoring their education toward personal goals and interests

Course Schedule

The course schedule for a typical semester can consist of 2–3 courses with each meeting once weekly. The specific schedule and course combination vary each term and are subject to the student's chosen specialization area and elective course choices for a given term.

Immersive Learning Opportunities

-Outdoor Leadership

This hands–on course includes extended expeditionary trips to locations like the Pisgah National Forest, Cape Lookout National Seashore for sea kayaking expeditions, bikepacking adventures within Allegheny Highlands (West Virginia)

• Costa Rica: Ecotourism Destination
. Students embark upon this educational adventure abroad where they engage firsthand with diverse principles of sustainable practices in a renowned and diverse country rich with biodiversity while developing skills to effectively lead eco-friendly initiatives upon completion.

Individual Modules with Module Descriptions:

- Hospitality & Tourism Administration:

• Principles in Hospitality and Tourism:
Introduction, concepts foundational principles, industry overview and practices
• Tourism Destination Planning
Principles of planning tourism destinations and attractions.
• Tourism Operations and Management
• Event Management and Leadership
Tourism Marketing Strategies
Hospitality & Lodging Operations Management
• Outdoor Education & Leadership:

- Recreation & Natural Resources Leadership:

Leadership in recreation, outdoor, natural resources; management principles, legal responsibilities within public land agencies

• Outdoor Recreation Management
• Wilderness Therapy and Adventure Education

Assessment:

The program's assessment of learning is embedded across various components:

• Discussion Boards
• -Written assignments and reports

Teaching:

The PRHT faculty are a dedicated and experienced group of educators committed to student growth. They utilize various teaching methods to cater to diverse learners and foster critical thinking and analytical capabilities.

• Experiential Learning:
Emphasized throughout, students engage through field experiences, internships with various community partners and organizations
• Mentorship Program
• Small Class Size:
Promotes personalized attention from the instructors, fostering strong connections between faculty and students Careers: Graduates from this program possess strong career opportunities across a variety of settings including parks and outdoor recreation management; tourism agencies, resorts & hospitality businesses, environmental organizations advocating stewardship for our environment in addition to consulting firms specializing primarily on topics surrounding sustainability initiatives Potential job titles consist mainly of:

• -Tourism Directors and Operators
• Event Coordinators
• Recreation Managers