B.S. Parks & Recreation Management (extended major)

NAU’s Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation educates recreation resource professionals in our parks and recreation management plan. Through this plan, we help you prepare for diverse careers in the field of parks and recreation. We focus on small class size, high student-teacher interaction, on-site field experiences, and experiential learning opportunities, and we are dedicated to expanding the scholarly knowledge base of people and organizations to enhance the quality of leisure experiences and places.

 

Our B.S. in parks and recreation management is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association and the American Association of Leisure and Recreation.

 

To earn this degree, you must complete at least 120 units of coursework, which we describe in the sections that follow:

Be aware that some courses required for your degree may have prerequisites that you must also take. Check the courses in the appropriate subject. (You may be able to count these prerequisites toward your liberal studies or general elective credit.)

 

Please note that you must complete NAU’s diversity requirements by taking two 3-unit courses, one in ethnic diversity and one in global awareness. These courses may be used to meet other requirements within your academic plan if you choose them carefully. Click here for a list of the available diversity courses.

 

Also be aware that NAU requires that at least 30 units of the courses you take for your degree must be upper-division courses (those numbered 300 and above).

 

Also note that you must maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average in the lower-division core to move into upper-division core courses. In addition, you must have a C or better in all lower- and upper-division core courses, including repeated courses, in order to graduate.

 

Finally, please note that you may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement; however, you must still meet the total of at least 120 units to graduate. Contact your advisor for details.

Major Requirements

You must complete the following 56 units, with at least 27 units taken at NAU.

(Please note that you can only take PRM 408 after completing all PRM core requirements.)

Emphasis Requirements

You must complete 18-24 units in one of the following emphases or in an individualized plan of study:

Community and Commercial Recreation Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 18 units:

Individualized Study Emphasis

You take 18-24 units, which must be approved by the PRM faculty and may include an existing approved university minor. You must work with your advisor to determine the courses you will use for this student-individualized plan as early as possible to ensure that you graduate in a timely fashion. Please be aware that your advisor must approve these 18-24 units of coursework.

 

Interpretation Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 21 units:

Outdoor Education Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 18 units:

Outdoor Leader Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 18 units:

We also strongly recommend that you obtain first-aid and/or EMS certification as part of your plan.

 

Outdoor Recreation Planner Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 20 units:

Park Protection Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 19-20 units:

Tourism Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 18 units:

Wildland Recreation Management Emphasis

For this emphasis, you take the following 22 units:

FOR 203, 204, 205, 212, 220, 240, and 250; PRM 300; GGR 457; and BIO 326 or all of FOR 313, 314, 315, and 316

ANT 250 and 306 and FOR 230

PL 201 and 302; GGR 370W; POS 344, 345, and 359; PHI 331; HUM 373; and FOR 445

Please note that if you take FOR 313-316, you need only take one course in cultural resource management and one course in environmental policy, planning, and management to complete the 22 units required for this emphasis.

General Electives  

Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.  

 

You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren’t used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)  

 

Click here for more information regarding Geography undergraduate courses, Parks & Recreation undergraduate courses, Planning undergraduate courses, and Faculty.