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Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences
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B.S. in Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences

Join our family of students, faculty and staff as we strive to make a positive impact on the world. You’ll find alumni from our nationally ranked program working at resorts and hotels, on cruise ships, in national and state parks and forests, at performing arts facilities and museums, in camps and youth-serving organizations, and countless other recreation businesses and parks.

We will prepare you for one of the many careers in recreation, parks and tourism as we teach you to think critically, lead with respect and serve the greater good.

What Courses Will I Take In This Major?

The RPTS degree plan builds upon the university core curriculum, incorporating both social and life sciences to help you learn how to manage and market organizations in the vast park, recreation and tourism industry. 

The curriculum provides a basis in the history and concepts of recreation, park and tourism sciences, followed by the knowledge and skills you’ll need for both entry-level positions and for future professional growth in the field. 

All RPTS students complete an internship where they apply classroom concepts and build important skills not available through traditional coursework. Internship experiences may also help you learn as much about where you don’t want to work as where you do. This “real world” experience is invaluable to the educational process and critical to making you career ready.

We also encourage you to participate in some of our other high impact opportunities including study abroad experience and field courses. In addition to core courses, you will select at least one transcripted certificate to complete and may earn additional certificates as well.

Prospective Student Packet
Degree Plan

Certificates

Check out these resource areas for information on each certificate:

Event Management
Recreation and Park Management
Hospitality Management
Tourism Management
Youth Development

Event Management

This certificate prepares you to design, plan, manage, implement, and evaluate experiences, meetings, and special events. You’ll take hands-on event management coursework that covers:

  • Planning
  • Media and promotion
  • Operational logistics
  • Evaluation
  • Contracting
  • Sponsorship and fundraising
  • Risk management
  • Vendor management.

You’ll also gain hands-on experience through implementing a number of community and campus events.

Possible Careers with a Certificate in Event Management

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Tournament DirectorOversee general tournament operations, such as: hiring staff, implementing policies and rules, interacting with people overseeing the facilities, instructing staff, and coordinating internal communication, finances, scheduling, statistics, marketing and participant recognition$40,000
Meeting PlannerOversee and facilitate all aspects of meeting planning: site selection, vendor negotiation, event registration, marketing, on-site staffing and post-event reporting$63,000
Military Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Special Events CoordinatorPlan, implement and evaluate events and programs that improve the quality of life for service members and their families$60,000
Theater Operations ManagerRecruit, train, motivate, develop and coordinate the activities of a location’s personnel to ensure an effective operation and excellent guest service$48,000

Community Recreation and Park Administration

This certificate prepares you for a managerial career with public recreation and park agencies, youth agencies, not-for-profit recreation agencies, and commercial recreation enterprises. This certificate also prepares those wanting to serve our military service members through Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs, both in the U.S. and abroad. You’ll be introduced to park and tour operations, management, principles of youth development, park planning and design, and public sources of funding.

Possible careers with a certificate in Community Recreation and Parks Administration

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Park & Recreation Agency DirectorOversee the operations and finances of public parks and recreational spaces, typically under the supervision of the city manager$95,000
Athletics SupervisorAdminister and participate in the scheduling of athletic facilities for classes, recreation use, and use by outside groups$52,000
Park PlannerDevelop short and long-range plans for the expansion and improvement of park lands, facilities, and programs$56,000
Military Recreation SpecialistProvide support services to military personnel and their families: community housing, food service, physical fitness facilities, youth and outdoor recreation activities, arts and crafts, ceremonies, and unit level sports$45,000

Hospitality Management

This certificate prepares you to understand the planning, analysis, and decision-making techniques needed for management positions in the hospitality industry. You’ll develop skills related to

  • Principles of management
  • Sustainability
  • Development
  • Cultural tolerance
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Service quality in the hospitality industry

Possible careers with a certificate in Hospitality Management

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Hotel/Resort ManagerEnsure traveling guests have a pleasant experience; ensure the business is run efficiently and profitably$54,000
Brewery/Taproom ManagerEnsure customers have a positive experience during their visit$48,000
Guest Experience ManagerLook after the needs of guests in a professional manner$33,000
Food & Beverage ManagerPlan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of restaurants, bars, cafeterias and other food and beverage businesses$47,000

Parks and Conservation

This certificate prepares you for the management and conservation of parks and other natural and cultural resources. Careers in this field exist in every state in the country as well as around the world. You’ll be introduced to:

  • Management
  • Environmental interpretation
  • Management of wild-land recreation
  • Public sources of funding
  • Protection of natural areas

Possible careers with a certificate in Parks and Conservation

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Park RangerEnsure campers, hikers, and other visitors follow the rules, enjoy their experience and take care of the natural environment; research, develop, and conduct educational programs$70,000
Conservation ManagerEnsure the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and the environment$99,000
Environmental EducatorPlan events, activities, and programs to inform the next generation on environmental issues and how they can help$51,000
Outdoor Adventure GuideOrganize and conduct expeditions for sports enthusiasts, adventurers, tourists or resort guests; work for adventure tourism companies, resorts, parks, lodges, campgrounds, or operate their own businesses$31,000

Tourism Management

This certificate prepares you for careers in the tourism, hospitality and events industries. You’ll learn how to sustainably plan, manage, develop, and promote places and events. You’ll also be introduced to:

  • Industry standards and practices
  • Human resource issues
  • Financing
  • Regulations and laws related to this industry

Another key aspect of this program is learning how to market tourism destinations and experiences.

Possible careers with a certificate in Tourism Management

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive DirectorResponsible for leading and directing the administrative, operational, sales, marketing and communications functions of a convention and visitors bureau$79,000
Cruise Ship DirectorEnsure all guests’ welfare and comfort throughout their time aboard a cruise ship$57,000
Theme Park ManagerOversee all aspects of what makes the park run and consider what can be done to improve operations$62,000

Youth Development

This certificate prepares you to contribute to the positive development of youth’s personal, physical, social, emotional and educational abilities. You’ll learn cutting-edge theories of youth development and learn how to apply them to youth programs. You’ll also learn practical skills for working with diverse youth and for promoting access to positive recreation and leisure opportunities for all youth.

Possible careers with a certificate in Youth Development:

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Youth Program CoordinatorDevelop youth-run programs in the community and serve as advisors by advocating and empowering youth$49,000
Youth CoachDesign and teach basic sports strategies to an assigned group of youth, preside over all team activities, and teach valuable sporting skills such as teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship$44,000
Camp DirectorResponsible for directing staff trainings, weekly staff planning meetings, managing camper information and groupings, maintaining fiscal records and working within a budget, maintaining camp resources and supplies, and interacting with parents, campers, staff and administration as needed$78,000
Youth MinisterCoordinate time with children and teens for the purpose of worship, education, volunteer work, and community outreach$49,000

What internships are available

Students in RPTS are required to complete a 6-credit, 400-hour internship working in the field of RPTS. In the past, students have interned with:

  • Paramount Pictures
  • The Dallas Cowboys
  • Walt Disney Co. 
  • Navy Recreation 
  • Yellowstone National Park
  • Vail Mountain Resort
  • Norwegian Cruise Lines
  • Busch Gardens 
  • Great Adventure Camp
  • Pathfinder Ranches
  • Lake Travis Zipline 
  • Houston Parks & Recreation
  • Carnival Cruise Line
  • Four Seasons Resort
  • San Luis Resort
  • Sky Ranch
  • Hilton
  • Colorado Parks & Wildlife
  • Houston Zoo
  • Camp for All

You can see some of the current internships available on our Internship Posting webpage.

Potential Careers and Employers

Possible jobs with a bachelors degree in RPTS include:

Job TitleDescriptionAverage Salary
Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive DirectorResponsible for leading and directing the administrative, operational, sales, marketing and communications functions of the convention and visitors bureau$79,000
Cruise Ship DirectorEnsure all guests’ welfare and comfort throughout their time aboard a cruise ship$57,000
Theme Park ManagerOversee all aspects of what makes the park run and consider what can be done to improve operations$62,000
Youth Program CoordinatorDevelop youth-run programs in the community and serve as advisors by advocating and empowering youth$49,000
Youth CoachDesign and teach basic sports strategies to an assigned group of youth, preside over all team activities, and teach valuable sporting skills such as teamwork, fair play and sportsmanship$44,000
Camp DirectorResponsible for directing staff trainings, weekly staff planning meetings, managing camper information and groupings, maintaining fiscal records and working within a budget, maintaining camp resources and supplies, and interacting with parents, campers, staff and administration as needed$78,000
Youth MinisterCoordinate time with children and teens for the purpose of worship, education, volunteer work, and community outreach$49,000
Park & Recreation Agency DirectorOversee the operations and finances of public parks and recreational spaces, typically under the supervision of the city manager$95,000
Athletics SupervisorAdminister and participate in the scheduling of athletic facilities for classes, recreation use, and use by outside groups$52,000
Park PlannerDevelop short and long-range plans for the expansion and improvement of park lands, facilities, and programs$56,000
Military Recreation SpecialistProvide support services to military personnel and their families: community housing, food service, physical fitness facilities, youth and outdoor recreation activities, arts and crafts, ceremonies, and unit level sports$45,000
Park RangerEnsure campers, hikers, and other visitors follow the rules, enjoy their experience and take care of the natural environment. They also research, develop, and conduct educational programs$70,000
Conservation ManagerEnsure the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and the environment$99,000
Environmental EducatorPlan events, activities, and programs to inform the next generation on environmental issues and how they can help$51,000
Outdoor Adventure GuideOrganize and conduct expeditions for sports enthusiasts, adventurers, tourists or resort guests; work for adventure tourism companies, resorts, parks, lodges, campgrounds, or operate their own businesses$31,000
Tournament DirectorOversee general tournament operations, such as: hiring staff, implementing policies and rules, interacting with people overseeing the facilities, instructing staff and coordinating internal communication, finances, scheduling, statistics, marketing and participant recognition$40,000
Meeting PlannerOversee and facilitate all aspects of meeting planning: site selection, vendor negotiation, event registration, marketing, on-site staffing and post-event reporting$63,000
Military Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Special Events CoordinatorPlan, implement and evaluate events and programs that improve the quality of life for service members and their families$60,000
Theater Operations ManagerRecruit, train, motivate, develop and coordinate the activities of their location’s personnel to ensure an effective operation and excellent guest service$48,000
Hotel/Resort ManagerEnsure that traveling guests have a pleasant experience; ensure the business is run efficiently and profitably.$54,000
Brewery/Taproom ManagerEnsure customers have a positive experience during their visit$48,000
Guest Experience ManagerLook after the needs of guests in a professional manner$33,000
Food & Beverage ManagerPlan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of restaurants, bars, cafeterias and other food and beverage businesses$47,000

You can see the careers our RPTS graduates entered on the Texas A&M University Career Center website.

More Information

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