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.
Certificates
Check out these resource areas for information on each certificate:
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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Tournament Director | Oversee 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 Planner | Oversee 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 Coordinator | Plan, implement and evaluate events and programs that improve the quality of life for service members and their families | $60,000 |
| Theater Operations Manager | Recruit, 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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Park & Recreation Agency Director | Oversee the operations and finances of public parks and recreational spaces, typically under the supervision of the city manager | $95,000 |
| Athletics Supervisor | Administer and participate in the scheduling of athletic facilities for classes, recreation use, and use by outside groups | $52,000 |
| Park Planner | Develop short and long-range plans for the expansion and improvement of park lands, facilities, and programs | $56,000 |
| Military Recreation Specialist | Provide 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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Hotel/Resort Manager | Ensure traveling guests have a pleasant experience; ensure the business is run efficiently and profitably | $54,000 |
| Brewery/Taproom Manager | Ensure customers have a positive experience during their visit | $48,000 |
| Guest Experience Manager | Look after the needs of guests in a professional manner | $33,000 |
| Food & Beverage Manager | Plan, 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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Park Ranger | Ensure 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 Manager | Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and the environment | $99,000 |
| Environmental Educator | Plan events, activities, and programs to inform the next generation on environmental issues and how they can help | $51,000 |
| Outdoor Adventure Guide | Organize 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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director | Responsible for leading and directing the administrative, operational, sales, marketing and communications functions of a convention and visitors bureau | $79,000 |
| Cruise Ship Director | Ensure all guests’ welfare and comfort throughout their time aboard a cruise ship | $57,000 |
| Theme Park Manager | Oversee 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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Youth Program Coordinator | Develop youth-run programs in the community and serve as advisors by advocating and empowering youth | $49,000 |
| Youth Coach | Design 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 Director | Responsible 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 Minister | Coordinate 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 Title | Description | Average Salary |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director | Responsible for leading and directing the administrative, operational, sales, marketing and communications functions of the convention and visitors bureau | $79,000 |
| Cruise Ship Director | Ensure all guests’ welfare and comfort throughout their time aboard a cruise ship | $57,000 |
| Theme Park Manager | Oversee all aspects of what makes the park run and consider what can be done to improve operations | $62,000 |
| Youth Program Coordinator | Develop youth-run programs in the community and serve as advisors by advocating and empowering youth | $49,000 |
| Youth Coach | Design 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 Director | Responsible 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 Minister | Coordinate time with children and teens for the purpose of worship, education, volunteer work, and community outreach | $49,000 |
| Park & Recreation Agency Director | Oversee the operations and finances of public parks and recreational spaces, typically under the supervision of the city manager | $95,000 |
| Athletics Supervisor | Administer and participate in the scheduling of athletic facilities for classes, recreation use, and use by outside groups | $52,000 |
| Park Planner | Develop short and long-range plans for the expansion and improvement of park lands, facilities, and programs | $56,000 |
| Military Recreation Specialist | Provide 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 Ranger | Ensure 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 Manager | Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and the environment | $99,000 |
| Environmental Educator | Plan events, activities, and programs to inform the next generation on environmental issues and how they can help | $51,000 |
| Outdoor Adventure Guide | Organize 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 Director | Oversee 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 Planner | Oversee 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 Coordinator | Plan, implement and evaluate events and programs that improve the quality of life for service members and their families | $60,000 |
| Theater Operations Manager | Recruit, 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 Manager | Ensure that traveling guests have a pleasant experience; ensure the business is run efficiently and profitably. | $54,000 |
| Brewery/Taproom Manager | Ensure customers have a positive experience during their visit | $48,000 |
| Guest Experience Manager | Look after the needs of guests in a professional manner | $33,000 |
| Food & Beverage Manager | Plan, 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.