Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management

SEE YOURSELF...

leading inner-city kids on a wilderness backpacking trip explaining the importance of wildlife habitats
assisting in resource management at Yellowstone National Park
educating visitors about dolphins at the Indianapolis Zoo
participating in research on how human and wilderness interaction affects healthy lifestyles
aiding in a trail-use program for the Hoosier National Forest
directing the outdoor education program for a YMCA camp

If you can picture yourself turning any one of these adventures into a rewarding professional career, then choose the Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management specialization in Recreation, Park and Tourism studies at Indiana University.

You Can Get There from Here

You will be managing resources and developing programs to help people of all ages enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our natural world, while creating and managing systems for its conservation and protection.

Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies* at Indiana University provides opportunities for students to learn in professional settings comparable to those where they will seek employment after graduation.

Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management

The Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management specialization 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.

Students pursue a course of study leading to a Bachelor of Science in Recreation deg ere, with a specialization in Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management. The curriculum includes a general education core, specialization courses, electives, 320 hours of field experience, and an internship. Each student meets regularly with a faculty advisor for ongoing academic and career planning.

In addition to the general education core courses, students take 40 credits in outdoor recreation subjects. The emphases of this curriculum are:

understanding basic concepts of our outdoor resources
understanding the relationships and interactions of people and outdoor resources
understanding and acquiring skills to manage the interactions between people and outdoor resources
acquiring skills and in-depth knowledge to pursue specific outdoor recreation and resource management careers

A number of skill certificates are available to students through various academic courses.

Continuing Academic Opportunities

Master of Science (M.S.) in Recreation with a specialization in Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management
Coming soon: Master of Science (M.S.) Online in Parks and Public Lands Management
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Leisure Behavior

Follow in These Footsteps

The Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management specialization provides a foundation for a wide variety of careers in an array of settings, including:

marine sanctuaries/underwater parks
municipal parks and recreation
nature preserves
nonprofit organizations
state and federal agencies

Because people are spending more time and money on leisure and fitness services, the job outlook for recreation, park and tourism graduates is good. In 2000, Newsweek predicted that 50 percent of American jobs will be in leisure and tourism by 2050.

We prepare and make available to all students a monthly nationwide listing of recreation-related jobs totaling more than 1,500 annually.

Hands-On Experience

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. Indiana University offers the following management opportunities and living laboratories that will give you firsthand experience:

C.O.R.E. (Conservation & Outdoor Recreation/Education): Students can earn up to 19 credits in this semester-long program designed to develop outdoor leadership and environmental stewardship skills. Options include working at nearby facilities, or in such locales as Boulder Canyon, Colorado and the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah.
Great Lakes Park Training Institute: Training recreation professionals for more than half a century, this off-campus service program has more than 300 participants each year.
Bradford Woods Outdoor Education Center: The 2,500-acre leadership and development center offers adventure recreation and leadership programs, challenge-based therapeutic programs, and environmental education programs.
IU Outdoor Adventures: Each year IUOA offers over 80 1-2 credit experiential education courses through the Department of RPTS. Students also have the opportunity to gain unique leadership development through serving as a trip leader with IUOA, assisting in the instruction of trips in Indiana and across the country.

Additional nearby facilities include:

Brown County State Park
City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department
The Hoosier National Forest (including Charles C. Deam Wilderness)
McCormick's Creek State Park
Monroe County Parks
Yellowwood State Forest

Join Our Learning Team

Be a part of the exciting learning and living opportunities available through Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies at Indiana University

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 must declare this major while in the University Division. When the student has passed 26 credits and has a cumulative GPA of 2.3, this student will be automatically certified into this School of HPER major program. A student, who is already in an upper division school must visit the School of HPER Records Office in HPER 115 to request to change from the current major to the Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management major program.

Contact Us Today

To learn more about the faculty, programs, facilities, scholarship, and admission and academic requirements for the Outdoor Recreation and Resource Management specialization, please contact:

Coordinator: Dr. Doug Knapp
E-Mail: dknapp@indiana.edu
Phone: 812-855-4711