Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management (BS): Tourism and Event Management Concentration
The curriculum in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is a professional program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions. The curriculum provides students with a broad education in natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, and fosters the professional, technical, and communication skills needed to plan and implement recreation programs and tourism events, manage parks and facilities, and design tourism services.
The curriculum is designed to prepare students for a variety of positions in a dynamic, people-centered profession that includes some of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. The curriculum provides 42 hours of core coursework that includes foundations of tourism and event management, geospatial problem solving, outdoor recreation management, organizational leadership, fiscal management, and recreation programming.
In addition to the general education requirements and the core professional requirements, students can attain specialized training by choosing a concentration - either Recreation and Park Management (RPM) or Tourism and Event Management (TEM) - and selecting 15 hours of coursework related to their professional interests.
Academic studies on campus are supplemented by service learning opportunities, practical experiences in the Triangle area, and a 10-week internship with a park, recreation, event, or tourism organization. Other optional and encouraged opportunities include a weeklong experience at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, faculty-supervised research projects, and study abroad opportunities.
Tourism & Event Management (15 hours)
Tourism and Event Management students seek opportunities to work with people; think strategically and enjoy the process of planning; are inspired by the world鈥檚 unique natural and cultural resources; and want to use travel and events to bring people closer together. Examples of concentration courses include: Sustainable Tourism; Destination Planning and Management; Services, Facilities, and Event Marketing; Tourism, Poverty, and Health; and Special Event Planning.
Dr. Kyle Bunds
Director of Undergraduate Programs
prtm-undergraduate-affairs@ncsu.edu听
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PRT Major | ||
| PRT听150 | Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management Orientation | 1 |
| PRT听152 | Introduction to Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management (CP) | 3 |
| PRT听220 | Foundations of Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| PRT听230 | Foundations of Outdoor Recreation Management | 3 |
| PRT听240 | Geospatial Applications for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| PRT听358 | Recreation Program Planning | 4 |
| PRT听359 | Organizational Leadership in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management (CP) | 3 |
| PRT听371 | Risk Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management | 3 |
| PRT听375 | Professional Development and Internship Orientation | 2 |
| PRT听380 | Evidence-based decision making in Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management (CP) | 3 |
| PRT听454 | Finance and Economics of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management | 3 |
| PRT听475 | Recreation and Park Internship | 8 |
| Math | ||
| MA听105 | Mathematics of Finance | 3 |
| or听MA听107 | Precalculus I | |
| or听MA听111 | Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry | |
| or听MA听114 | Introduction to Finite Mathematics with Applications | |
| or听MA听121 | Elements of Calculus | |
| ST听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| or听ST听350 | Economics and Business Statistics | |
| or听BUS听350 | Economics and Business Statistics | |
| Other Major | ||
| COM听110 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| or听COM听112 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| ARE听201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| or听ARE听201A | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |
| or听EC听201 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| or听EC听205 | Fundamentals of Economics | |
| Concentration Electives | 15 | |
| Free Electives (12 Hr S/U Lmt) | 24 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Natural Sciences | 7 | |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 5 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Acad Writing Research | ||
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| FLE听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Transfer Sequence | ||
| ENG听1GEP | 3 | |
| ENG听202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 |
Concentration Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PRT听250 | Facilities Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| PRT听307 | Services, Facilities and Event Marketing | 3 |
| PRT听319 | Sustainable Tourism | 3 |
| PRT听410 | Food and Beverage Management | 3 |
| PRT听420 | Destination Planning and Management | 3 |
| PRT听430 | Tourism, Poverty, and Health | 3 |
| PRT听458 | Special Events Planning | 3 |
| PRT听452 | Field Experience in Nature-Based Recreation & Tourism Management | 3 |
| PRT听325 | Mega-Events, Sport, and Tourism | 3 |
| HI听375 | Global History of Travel and Tourism | 3 |
| LPS听202 | Essentials of Fundraising for Leaders in Public and Non-Profit Institutions | 3 |
| GIS听280 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Critical Path Courses 鈥� Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| PRT听150 | Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management Orientation | 1 |
| PRT听152 | Introduction to Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management (CP) 1 | 3 |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| Mathematics Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 4 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT听220 | Foundations of Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| PRT听238 | Principles of Community Engagement 1 | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT听230 | Foundations of Outdoor Recreation Management | 3 |
| PRT听240 | Geospatial Applications for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| COM听110 or COM听112 | Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Concentration | 3 | |
| Select one of the following | 3 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT听359 | Organizational Leadership in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management (CP) 1 | 3 |
| PRT听371 | Risk Management in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management | 3 |
| ST听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| PRT听375 | Professional Development and Internship Orientation | 2 |
| Concentration | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PRT听358 | Recreation Program Planning | 4 |
| PRT听380 | Evidence-based decision making in Recreation, Sport, Tourism, and Event Management (CP) 1 | 3 |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2-3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Summer | ||
| PRT听475 | Recreation and Park Internship | 8 |
| 听 | Hours | 8 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PRT听454 | Finance and Economics of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management | 3 |
| Concentration | 6 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 12 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Concentration | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| 听 | Hours | 9 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
A grade of C- or greater required.
Career Opportunities
Tourism is one of the world's largest industries. The growth of the industry is expected to increase as people have more discretionary time. Communities around the world need leaders who can help sustainably grow the tourism industry through leisure and business travel as well as events. The goals of tourism and event management professionals are to promote the planning, development, marketing, and provision of tourism and event opportunities that enhance economies while also promoting community well-being and the conservation of natural and cultural resources. Students within the Tourism and Event Management concentration are prepared to accomplish these goals and are equipped to plan and promote sustainable tourism and event opportunities that are inclusive of, and accessible to, a diverse population of visitors in a variety of settings.
Career opportunities include employment by tourism development agencies or organizations, such as convention and conference centers; visitor bureaus and centers; tourism development authorities; hotels and hospitality operators; resorts, private clubs, theme parks, and event management companies. Other career opportunities include tourism business or event management entrepreneurship.听
Career Titles
- Camp Director
- Fish and Game Warden
- Golf Course Manager
- Outdoor Education Teacher
- Park Naturalist
- Recreation Worker
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