Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management

The Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management program focuses on educating students about outdoor recreation resources and their use. Topics include outdoor recreation, environmental education, interpretive techniques, outdoor adventure education, nature study, recreation resource management, and organized camping. To learn more about Outdoor Recreation please visit the Outdoor Recreation Web site.

Careers

Competencies are developed for career positions such as park naturalist, outdoor education coordinator, outdoor program developer, outdoor resource manager, outdoor instructor, group facilitator, camp program planner, and adventure leader. Federal natural resource agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service have recently expanded their professional positions to include more outdoor recreation and administration majors. Other governmental agencies such as state departments of natural resources also offer positions to outdoor recreation and resource management graduates. In addition, organizations in the private sector are recognizing the importance of recreation as a major economic contributor to their business income.

Special Opportunities

Through class practica, projects, internship opportunities, and field experiences, the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies helps you apply what you learn when - and where - you learn it. And Indiana University offers the following recreational management opportunities and living laboratories that will give you firsthand experience:

C.O.R.E. (Conservation & Outdoor Recreation/Education): An intensive semester-long program for undergraduate and graduate students committed to developing their outdoor leadership and environmental stewardship skills. It is an exciting alternative to a semester studying on campus. Options include working at nearby facilities, such as those listed here or in such locales as Bolder Canyon, Colorado and the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah. Due to the intensive nature of the program, students may earn up to 19 credits during their C.O.R.E. semester.
Indiana University’s 2,300 acre Bradford Woods Outdoor Leadership Development Center is nationally acclaimed for residential outdoor/environmental education, challenge education, and executive development programs.
Other institutes and specialized training include the Institute for Outdoor Leadership Education, the Therapeutic Outdoor Programs certificate program, the Eppley Institute for Public Lands Management, and the Great Lakes Park Training Institute.
The Hilltop Garden and Nature Center provides academic courses, youth and family gardening programs, and leadership experiences for students. Hilltop is one of the oldest children’s gardens in the United States.
Additional nearby facilities include:
- Brown County State Park
- City of Bloomington Parks
- The Hoosier National Forest
- McCormick's Creek State Park
- Monroe County Parks
- Monroe Reservoir
- Yellowwood State Forest

Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Recreation
Major in Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management
124 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA required for graduation

Admissions

A student seeking admission to the Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management major within the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies is required to complete the online application and submit it to the department office in HPER 133. The application may also be pick-up in HPER 133.

Contact

Coordinator: Dr. Doug Knapp
E-Mail: dknapp@indiana.edu