College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Curriculum in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences
The undergraduate curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences provides students with an education in recreation, park and tourism sciences, with an emphasis on problem-solving skills, development of an international perspective, and the application of scientific principles to managerial problems. The first two years of studies build a foundation that spans a wide range of disciplines and bodies of knowledge in the arts and sciences, and provide the student with an introduction to the history and concepts of recreation, park and tourism sciences. The second two years prepare students with the knowledge and skills for both entry-level positions and for future professional growth in the field.
Through the curriculum, students develop the depth and breadth of knowledge needed to scientifically investigate and select among alternatives as well as the intellectual skills to organize and integrate their knowledge in new and more effective patterns. An education in recreation, park and tourism sciences prepares students to become professionals with the capacity to learn from life and throughout life.
The department maintains links with other resource-management programs within the University as well as exchange programs with other academic entities. Supporting programs at Texas A&M include the resource management programs in the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources (Forest Science, Rangeland Ecology and Management, and Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences), the Turfgrass Management Program in Soil and Crop Sciences, and the Sports Management Specialization in the Department of Health and Kinesiology.
Building upon faculty expertise, students may select from the following options.
Park and Natural Resources Management. This option focuses on management of natural and cultural resources associated with park and amenity development. Land managers and related professionals operate within a variety of forums that require the integration of concepts in the environmental sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and policy and administrative decision-making. Necessary skills include computer applications for natural resource management, geographic information systems, impact assessment methodology, and heritage and natural resources planning techniques. Students with an option in this field look forward to careers with both public and private employers in the recreation, park and tourism fields, including state and federal agencies and private enterprises, non-profit organizations, youth camps, and environmental education programs.
Recreation and Park Administration. Management of recreation, park and leisure-service agencies requires expertise in problem-solving, decision-making, assessment of social and environmental impacts, personnel, public relations, volunteer management, financing and fund-raising, marketing of services, and needs assessments. Skills in working with people in the legal and political environment are necessary, as well as the ability to assess and work with other organizations for cooperative developments in recreation and tourism. Utilizing computer based decision-aids, students in this emphasis prepare for managerial careers with public recreation and park agencies, youth agencies, not-for-profit recreation agencies, and commercial recreation enterprises.
Tourism Resources Management. Tourism is one of the world’s largest and most diverse industries. To help students prepare for tourism careers, this option area introduces issues pertaining to the management, development, and promotion of places and events as tourism attractions. Courses in tourism are designed to collectively build understanding about the links that exist between local places, host populations, and various public, private and special interest groups. Students also develop competencies in assessing economic, environmental, social and political impacts of tourism, as well as in tourism marketing. Students in this option can pursue careers in private sector enterprises, government agencies, convention and visitor bureaus, and other tourism-related service organizations.
UNIVERSITY CORE CURRICULUM
| U.S. History and Political Science (12 hours) | (Th-Pr) | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 105 History of the United States | (3-0) | 3 |
| HIST 106 History of the United States | (3-0) | 3 |
| POLS 206 American National Government | (3-0) | 3 |
| POLS 207 State and Local Government | (3-0) | 3 |
| Humanities (6 hours) | ||
| Humanities elective 1 | 3 | |
| Visual and performing arts elective 1 | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours) | ||
| Social science elective | 3 | |
| Kinesiology (2 hours) | ||
| * KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity | (0-2) | 1 |
| * KINE 199 Required Physical Activity | (0-2) | 1 |
| Communication (6 hours) | ||
| COMM 203 Public Speaking | (3-0) | 3 |
| ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric | (3-0) | 3 |
| Mathematics (6 hours) 1 | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (8 hours) | ||
| RENR 205 Fundamentals of Ecology | (3-0) | 3 |
| RENR 215 Fundamentals of Ecology Lab. | (0-3) | 1 |
| Biological elective | 4 |
RECREATION, PARK AND TOURISM SCIENCES
| Courses | (Th-Pr) | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| RPTS 201 Foundations of Recreation and Parks | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 202 Foundations of Tourism | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 209 Park and Tourism Operations | (2-2) | 3 |
| RPTS 304 Administration of Recreation Resource Agencies 3 (W Course) | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 307 Methods of Environmental Interpretation | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 311 Recreation and Tourism Programs | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 336 Recreation Research and Analysis | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 340 Recreation, Parks and Diverse Populations | (3-0) | 3 |
| RPTS 402 Park Planning and Design | (3-2) | 4 |
| RPTS 403 Funding and Allocating Recreation, Park and Tourism Resources | (3-2) | 4 |
| RPTS 481 Seminar | (1-0) | 1 |
| RPTS 484 Internship | 6 | |
| Required Technical Support Courses (10 hours) 2 | ||
| AGLS 101 Modern Agricultural Systems or RPTS 101 Intro. to Rec. and Parks |
(1-0) | 1 |
| ENGL 210 Scientific and Technical Writing or ENGL 301 Technical Writing |
(3-0) | 3 |
| RENR 201 Computer Applications in Agriculture | (2-2) | 3 |
| RENR 375 Conservation of Natural Resources or RPTS 316 Rec. Mgmt. of Wildlands or RENR/RPTS 460 Development and Management of Protected Areas |
(3-0) | 3 |
| Directed electives (12 hours) 2 | ||
| AGEC 105 or economics elective | (3-0) | 3 |
| Accounting/economics elective | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Social science elective | 3 | |
| Electives (25 hours) | ||
| Department electives 2 | 6 | |
| Emphasis/Special electives 2 | 9 | |
| Free electives | 10 | |
total hours |
129 | |
NOTES:
- To be selected from the University Core Curriculum.
- Selections for directed, department and special elective courses require approval of the academic advisor.
- Designated writing-intensive course in department.
The University Core Curriculum includes a requirement for 6 hours of international and cultural diversity courses. Refer to International and Cultural Diversity, item 6, for a list of acceptable courses. A course satisfying another Core category, a college/department requirement or used as a free elective can be used to satisfy these requirements.
* See University Core Curriculum, item 7.