Graduate Course Requirements
Master of Science Degree (Thesis Option)
All students are required to take 6 credits between 601, 602 and 606.
RPTS 601, Interrelationships of Recreation and Leisure Concepts.
RPTS 602, Social Science Foundations of Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
RPTS 606, Overview of Tourism.
RPTS 615, Analytical Techniques in RPTS
(If a student has passed a previous graduate overview research methods course, the student’s advisory committee may approve another research methods course as a substitute for RPTS 615.)
At least 6 additional hours of RPTS courses (excluding RPTS 685, Directed Studies, but can include RENR 662, Environmental Law and Policy).
STAT 651, Statistics in Research I
(An equivalent graduate-level statistics courses may be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Statistics courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.)
One additional statistics or outside research methods course approved by the student’s advisory committee. (This is a below-the-line course on the degree plan, and is in addition to RPTS 615 or its approved substitute.)
Additional 6 hours of courses in a supporting field (may include applicable RPTS courses).
Maximum of 8 hours of RPTS 691, Research.
*All students must pass a final comprehensive examination administered by their advisory committee.
Master of Science Degree (Non-Thesis Option)
All students are required to take 6 credits between 601, 602 and 606.
RPTS 601, Interrelationships of Recreation and Leisure Concepts.
RPTS 602, Social Science Foundations of Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
RPTS 606, Overview of Tourism.
RPTS 615, Analytical Techniques in RPTS.
(If a student has passed a previous graduate overview research methods course, the student’s advisory committee may approve another research methods course as a substitute for RPTS 615.)
At least 9 additional hours of RPTS courses (excluding RPTS 685 and 693, but can include RENR 662, Environmental Law and Policy and can include RPTS 684, Professional Internship).
STAT 651, Statistics in Research I.
(An equivalent graduate-level statistics course may be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Statistics courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.)
Additional 12 hours of courses in a supporting field (may include applicable RPTS courses with the approval of the student’s advisory committee).
RPTS 693, Professional Study. 3 credit hours. Approved professional paper.
*All students must pass a final comprehensive examination administered by their advisory committee.
Master of Recreation Resource Development (MRRD)
(36 hours minimum)
All students are required to take 6 credits between 601, 602 and 606.
RPTS 615, Analytical Techniques in RPTS
(If a student has passed a previous graduate overview research methods course, the student’s advisory committee may approve another research methods course as a substitute for RPTS 615.)
At least 9 additional hours of RPTS courses (excluding RPTS 685, Directed Studies, but can include RENR 662, Environmental Law and Policy).
RPTS 684, Professional Internship (4 credit hours).
RPTS 693, Professional Paper (3 credit hours).
STAT 651, Statistics in Research I.
(An equivalent graduate-level statistics course may be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Statistics courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.)
Additional 14 hours of courses in a supporting field (may include applicable RPTS/RENR courses).
*All students must pass a final comprehensive examination administered by their advisory committee.
Master of Natural Resource Development (MNRD)
(36 hours minimum)
All students are required to take 6 credits between 601, 602 and 606.
RPTS 615, Analytical Techniques in RPTS
(If a student has passed a previous graduate overview research methods course, the student’s advisory committee may approve another research methods course as a substitute for RPTS 615.)
At least 9 additional hours of RPTS courses (excluding RPTS 685, Directed Studies, but can include RENR 662, Environmental Law and Policy).
RPTS 684, Professional Internship (4 credit hours).
RPTS 693, Professional Paper (3 credit hours).
STAT 651, Statistics in Research I.
(An equivalent graduate-level statistics course may be approved by the student’s advisory committee. Statistics courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.)
Additional 14 hours of courses in a supporting field (may include applicable RPTS/RENR courses).
*All students must pass a final comprehensive examination administered by their advisory committee.
Doctor of Philosophy in Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
(64 hours minimum, plus other courses assigned by the student’s advisory committee and Stats 651 and 652 or equivalent if requirement not met as part of master’s degree)
All students are required to take 6 credits between 601, 602 and 606.
RPTS 601, Interrelationships of Recreation and Leisure Concepts.
(The RPTS Graduate Committee may waive this requirement with evidence of previous graduate course work in RPTS. In this case, another RPTS course must be substituted for RPTS 601.)
RPTS 602, Social Science Foundations of Recreation, Parks and Tourism.
RPTS 606, Overview of Tourism.
RPTS 615, Analytical Techniques in RPTS.
(If a student has passed a previous graduate overview research methods course, the student’s advisory committee may approve an outside research methods course as a substitute for RPTS 615.)
At least 9 additional hours of RPTS courses (excluding RPTS 685, Directed Studies, but can include RENR 662, Environmental Law and Policy.)
PHIL 645, Philosophy of Science (or equivalent graduate-level philosophy of science course approved by the student’s advisory committee.)
A qualitative research methods course approved by the student’s advisory committee.
One additional outside research methods course approved by the student’s advisory committee (in addition to RPTS 615 or its approved substitute).
Additional 13 hours of courses in a minor or two supporting fields (may include applicable RPTS courses).
Minimum of 24 hours of RPTS 691, Research.
In addition, students must (a) have taken STAT 651 and STAT 652, Statistics in Research I and II or their equivalent as part of their master’s program or (b) pass these courses with a grade of C or better at TAMU. Equivalent graduate-level statistics courses may be taken at TAMU to meet the STAT 651/652 requirement if approved by the student’s TAMU doctoral advisory committee.
*All students must pass a final comprehensive examination administered by their advisory committee
