Parks and Recreation Management, BS

The Parks and Recreation Management Program promotes resourcefulness, independent thinking, the ability to cope with change, and service to society, by preparing leaders in the parks, recreation and leisure services fields. The program prepares professionals to design, plan, promote, and deliver the physical and social components of the leisure service industry. This includes skills in administration, management, research and evaluation, leadership, and instruction. Graduates will be prepared to manage resources, facilities and programs, and to lead and instruct for programs in commercial, public, and non-profit settings. Because students may work with minors during their time in the PRM program, all students are required to complete at least one background check. Total number of hours for the program: 120.

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Major Requirements

The major requires 38-41 hours, including all of the following:

PRM 250 - Foundations of Parks and Recreation Management Credits: 3
PRM 260 - Professional Planning in PRM Credits: 1
PRM 270 - Leadership and Group Dynamics in Recreation Credits: 3
PRM 275 - Diversity and Inclusion in PRM Credits: 3
PRM 361 - Program Planning and Evaluation in PRM Credits: 4
PRM 370 - Capstone Internship Orientation Credits: 1
PRM 383 - Mini-Internship I in PRM Credits: 1
PRM 384 - Mini-Internship II in PRM Credits: 1
PRM 385 - Mini-Internship III in PRM Credits: 1
PRM 430 - Entrepreneurship and Commercial Recreation Credits: 3
PRM 461 - Management and Administration of PRM Services Credits: 3
PRM 483 - Capstone Internship in PRM I Credits: 3
PRM 484 - Capstone Internship in PRM II Credits: 3
PRM 495 - Senior Seminar in Parks and Recreation Management Credits: 3

Students should choose one course from the following list:

HEAL 250 - First Aid and Safety Education Credits: 2
PRM 252 - Wilderness First Aid Credits: 2
PRM 356 - Outdoor First Aid Credits: 4
PRM 357 - Wilderness First Responder Credits: 4

Students should choose one course from the following list:

PRM 254 - Introduction to Outdoor Pursuits Education Credits: 4
PRM 255 - Active Recreation and Leisure Credits: 3

General Electives

Students should choose 37-40 hours of major and general electives approved by their advisor.

Admission criteria:

All requirements for admission to Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) must be met by the beginning of the semester after students apply for admission. The following are requirements for admission:

Declare the major and submit the major declaration essay

To declare PRM as their major, students should write the major declaration essay. Instructions are in the PRM Student Handbook found on the PRM website. This essay allows faculty to get to know candidates and their interests. It also gives them a feel for students’ writing and communication skills and allows faculty to link each student with an advisor best matched with their interests.
Advisor Meeting

Students will be assigned an advisor after completing the essay. In the initial advising meeting, they will work with their advisor to create a degree completion plan.
GPA Requirement

Students must earn and maintain a 2.5 GPA for all courses taken at WCU.

Visit the department’s website at: https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/ceap/humanserv/prm/ to view the 8 semester curriculum guide.