Parks and Recreation Management Undergraduate Courses

Some courses may not be offered every year. Check with the college or department office for current information about when specific courses are offered.  

For course syllabi, see the departmental website.

PRM  199 SPECIAL TOPICS (1-3)

Foundations of intellectual inquiry.  In-depth study of a substantive problem.  Letter grade only.  May be repeated for up to 6 units of credit.

PRM  200 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (1)

Professional development through professional conference attendance.  Pass-fail only.  May be repeated for up to 3 units of credit.

PRM  202 INTRODUCTION TO CAVING (1)

This course is designed to expose students to unique subterranean environments.  This field-based course focuses on safety, equipment, basic caving techniques, cave conservation/geology, and Leave No Trace principles.  Letter grade only.

PRM  203 INTRODUCTION TO WHITERIVER RAFTING (1)

This course is experientially based, and will provide opportunities for skill, technique, and leadership development in whitewater rafting.  Emphasis will be placed on technical skill development and environmental ethics related to water based recreation activities.  Emphasis is on skill development.  Spring or Summer.  Letter grade only.

PRM  203H INTRO TO WHITEWATER RAFTING - HONORS (1)

This course is experientially based, and will provide opportunities for skill, technique, and leadership development in whitewater rafting.  Emphasis will be placed on technical skills development and environmental ethics related to water based recreation abilities.  Emphasis is on skill development.  Spring or Summer.  Letter grade only. Prerequisite: Honors Student Group 

PRM  204 WILDERNESS FIRST AID AND HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CPR (1)

The Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course is designed to train people to cope with basic wilderness hazards and medical emergencies and is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast who wants a more wilderness specific approach to first aid.  Letter grade only.

PRM  209 INTRODUCTION TO BACKPACKING (1)

Technical skills, equipment use and selection, trip planning, basics of navigation and current practices in backpacking.  Letter grade only.

PRM  210 INTRODUCTION TO KAYAKING (1)

Experientially based course providing basic skills and techniques for water sports (rafting, kayaking, or canoeing).  Emphasizes skill development.  6 hrs. lecture total; 30 hrs. outdoor application total.  Letter grade only.  May be repeated for up to 2 units of credit.

PRM  211 LEAVE NO TRACE (1)

Technical skills, appropriate curricula, and practices for minimum impact camping and exploration of wilderness ethics.  Letter grade only.

PRM  212 BASIC SAFETY SYSTEMS (1)

Technical skills related to setting protection for ascending and descending in canyon environments.  Focuses on knots, anchors, and ascending and descending techniques.  12 hrs. lecture total; 20 hrs. outdoor application total.  Letter grade only.

PRM  213 INTRODUCTION TO MOUNTAIN BIKING (1)

An experimentally-based course in the basic principles of mountain biking theory and practice including safety, technical skills, and trail etiquette and protection.  Emphasis will be placed on development of skills and proper application.  Letter grade only.

PRM  214 CHALLENGE COURSE FACILITATOR (2)

Provides the theory and experiential learning required to facilitate the processes used in adventure-based programs to enhance challenge, growth, and discovery.  Course may lead to Challenge Course Facilitator certificate.  20 hrs. lecture total; 20 hrs. outdoor application total.  Letter grade only.

PRM  215 PROFESSIONAL DEBRIEFING WORKSHOP (1)

Course will meet in the evening prior to the first day for the purpose of introductions to the material, and will be conducted the following day in an outdoor setting, one day on the NAU Challenge Course, and will be a combination of lecture, discussion, and activity/debrief experiences.  These experiences will provide students with the opportunity to apply material learned in lecture/discussion and to witness/experience the benefits of the practical application of this material in a group setting.  Letter grade only.

PRM  216 WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER (3)

Eighty-hour national curriculum leading to three-year certification as a wilderness first responder.  Specific skills and techniques for outdoor emergencies in backcountry and remote settings.  40 hrs. lecture total; 40 hrs. skill application total.  Letter grade only.

PRM  217 BASIC MOUNTAINEERING (1)

Technical skills, appropriate curricula, and practices in safe glacier and alpine travel.  Letter grade only.

PRM  218 OUTDOOR SURVIVAL SKILLS (1)

Technical skills, appropriate curricula, and practices in outdoor survival.  Letter grade only.

PRM  219 PRIMITIVE LIVING SKILLS (1)

Technical skills, appropriate curricula, and practices in primitive living skills.  Letter grade only.

PRM  220 INTRODUCTION TO PARKS AND RECREATION (3)

History, philosophy, scope, and value of park and recreation services; their organization and relationship to other social institutions.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  221 INTRODUCTION TO ORIENTEERING (1)

PRM 221 will teach map reading, map and compass skills, and practices in land navigation.  Letter grade only.

PRM  222 SEARCH AND RESCUE TECHNICIAN II & III (2)

Provides knowledge to challenge SARTECH II Certification and receive national certification.  Course includes general responsibilities, skills, abilities, and equipment needed to participate in search and rescue mission.  Letter grade only.

PRM  223 INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL RESCUE (1)

Provides basic introduction to technical rope rescue in low to high angle environment.  Students are instructed in rescue operations, incident management, safety factors and forces, rescue grammar and physics, systems analysis, and use of rescue equipment.  Letter grade only.

PRM  224 INTRODUCTION TO TRACKING (1)

Hands-on field course focused on both animal and people tracking for holistic understanding of the ancient art of tracking.  Combines lecture, fieldwork, and group activities.  Includes track identification, reading stories in tracks, aging and measuring methods, scat and field signs.  Letter grade only.

PRM  225 AVALANCHE SAFETY LEVEL I (2)

Focuses on developing ability to identify avalanche terrain, perform field tests to determine snow pack stability/instability, recognize weather and terrain factors contributing to instability, perform rescue through fast and efficient transceiver use, and apply safe-travel techniques.  Letter grade only.

PRM  230 INTRODUCTION TO PARK MANAGEMENT (3)

Introduces basic principles of park management, resource protection, and visitor management.  Emphasizes park management strategies to protect resources and to manage and educate visitors.  Letter grade only.

PRM  252 RECREATION LEADERSHIP AND SUPERVISION (3)

Principles and techniques for effective leadership in the organization and operation of recreational activities.  Fieldwork required.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  275 PROGRAM PLANNING WITH COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (3)

Introduces recreation program development, including computer applications.    Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  280 CAMP COUNSELING (3)

Purposes, standards, and trends in camping: counseling skills, problems of group outdoor living, program planning, and general camp management.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  300 ECOTOURISM (3)

Course will introduce students to the history, concepts, principles, marketing, planning and management of ecotourism activities and development which promote cultural and environmental awareness and local economic benefits with an emphasis on non-western cultures.  Letter graded only.  GLB

PRM  308 PRACTICUM IN PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT (3)

Practical application of classroom principles in a professional setting.  240 hours required.  Department consent required.  Letter grade only.

PRM  310 PARK PROTECTION I (4)

Detailed instruction in the fundamentals of park law enforcement.  3 hrs. lecture, 3 hrs. lab.  Instructor consent required.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required. Prerequisite: Junior Status 

PRM  311 PARK PROTECTION II (4)

Provides additional instruction in the fundamentals of park law enforcement.  3 hrs. lecture, 3 hrs. lab.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required. Corequisite: PRM 310 

PRM  325 SPECIAL EVENT PLANNING (3)

Introduces special event planning processes and techniques.  Emphasizes creating, organizing, identifying sponsors, marketing, and implementing large community events.  Spring.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  326 INCLUSIVE RECREATION (3)

Methods and techniques that promote the inclusion of people with disabilities into recreation programs and facilities.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  331 OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION I (3)

First of two courses required to train outdoor leaders who may then earn a Certificate of Outdoor Leadership through NAU.  Outdoor leadership theories, techniques, and outdoor pursuit administration.  Includes six days of fieldwork.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  346W WILDLAND RECREATION  MANAGEMENT (3)

Overview of wildland recreation management principles, practices, and current issues.  This course fulfills NAU's junior-level writing requirement.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required. Prerequisite: (ENG 105 or HON 190) or 6 hours of ENG-English coursework or International Exchange Student Group  JWRT

PRM  350 CULTURAL RECREATION (3)

This course will introduce information about cultural differences, values and expectations of human development, leadership, and organization, and cultural awareness in programming sports, language and aging in the United States.  Letter grade only.  CU

PRM  352 EXPERIENTIAL PROCESS IN OUTDOOR RECREATION (3)

Description of experiential processes, design for experiential recreational activities, process assessment, and field practices.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  360 INTERPRETATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION (3)

Theory, techniques, and applications of oral and written interpretation for parks and recreation management.  Spring.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  383 COMMUNITY AND COMMERCIAL RECREATION (3)

Overview of recreation service delivery systems in the local public and private sectors with emphasis on intersectoral differences.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  399 SPECIAL TOPICS (1-3)

In-depth study of an aspect, concept, or problem within a program of study.  Letter grade only.  May be repeated for up to 6 units of credit.

PRM  401 NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION (3)

This course introduces Federal regulations which provide protection of America's natural resources.  Evolution and applicability of environmental laws regulating consumptive and non-consumptive uses of plants, wildlife and fish are discussed.  Letter grade only. Corequisite:  PRM 310 and PRM 311 

PRM  408 INTERNSHIP IN PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT (1-12)

Directed, full-time, professional work experience in a qualified parks and recreation management agency.  You take this course during the last semester before graduation.  Department consent required.  Pass-fail only.  Course fee required.

PRM  411 LEAVE-NO-TRACE MASTER EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION (3)

Meets national standards for LNT Master Educator Certification.  Students learn to teach minimum impact outdoor ethics and lead Leave-No-Trace Trainer courses and Awareness Workshops.  Required four night backpacking trip.  Pass/fail only.  Course fee required.

PRM  423 RECREATION FACILITY AND AREA PLANNING (3)

Planning, design, and operation of recreation facilities and adjoining areas.  On-site visits supplement classroom principles.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  426 PARKS AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE (3)

Theories, concepts, and practices of administration as they relate to the delivery of leisure services.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required.

PRM  431 OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION II (3)

Second of a two-course series to train outdoor leaders who may then earn a Certificate of Outdoor Leadership through NAU.  Advanced outdoor "leadership theories," outdoor pursuit planning and administration.  Includes fourteen days of fieldwork.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required. Prerequisite: PRM 331 

PRM  432 INTRODUCTION TO MULTI-DAY RIVER EXPEDITION LEADERSHIP (3)

PRM 432 is designed to introduce the theories and techniques used in conducting a safe and professional multiple day river expedition on rivers typical of the Western U.S.  The course is also structured to expand the PRM students' knowledge in outdoor leadership through a river context.  The primary purpose of this course is to train students in boat handling skills, and the logistics, safety and leadership requirements encountered when conducting a multi-day river experience.  During both in class lecture and field experience, students will be introduced to concepts of trip planning and logistics, proper equipment selection and maintenance, safe travel while on the river, emergency planning and procedures, group dynamics, theories of outdoor leadership and appropriate group conduct.  Federal, state and local governing agency policies will be presented including licensing and relevant certifications.  Instructor consent required.  Letter grade only.

PRM  446 PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT (3)

This course explores protected area management of lands in the United States and internationally.  Focus of the course is on PLACE (the image), legal and legislative PROCESS, and resource PROTECTION.  Letter grade only.

PRM  447 RESEARCH AND EVALUATION IN PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGEMENT (3)

Empirical research methods used in recreation and leisure service programs.  Focuses on choosing and applying selective research methods and software packages; designing, collecting, analyzing, and evaluating data; interpreting research literature.  Letter grade only.  Course fee required. Prerequisite: STA 270 or Math Placement Test Results (ALEKS/MATHA 50+; MATHC 50+; PLACE 55+) 

PRM  452 OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION (3)

Management issues and techniques of outdoor programs.  Letter grade only.

PRM  460 ADVANCED INTERPRETATION STUDIO (3)

Individual application of planning and design method, to produce an interpretive product for a resource management agency.  Letter grade only. Prerequisite: PRM 360 and Junior Status or higher 

PRM  497 INDEPENDENT STUDY (1-6)

Individualized approach to selected topics by guided reading and critical evaluation.  Department consent required.  Pass-fail only.  May be repeated for credit.

PRM  498C SENIOR SEMINAR (1-3)

Integrates coursework through focus on contemporary issues and problems.  Letter grade only.  May be repeated for up to 6 units of credit.  Course fee required. Prerequisite: Senior Status or higher  CAP

PRM  499 CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS (1-3)

Examines recent trends and investigations in a selected area.  Letter grade only.  May be repeated for credit.