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Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) Program

PRM Kayaking

 

WCU's Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) Program prepares students for professions in the leisure service, recreation, outdoor, and tourism industries, as well as with land agencies such as the National Parks and U.S. Forest Service. Students in the program earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Parks and Recreation Management. A PRM minor is also available.

While there are no formal requirements for admission to the PRM program, students must earn a 2.5 GPA in order to graduate with the PRM degree. As a major in the PRM program, students will work with a PRM faculty advisor to outline courses, certifications, and professional development options to help them achieve their academic and career goals.

PRM & COAPRT Student Learning Objectives

7.01 Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy. 

7.02 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity. 

7.03 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about operations and strategic management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions. 

7.04 Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate, through a comprehensive internship of not less than 400 clock hours and no fewer than 10 weeks, the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in park, recreation, tourism, or related organizations. 

The B.S. in Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) gives students the broad knowledge that parks and recreation professionals need wherever they choose to work in the profession. This includes employment in outdoor leadership, city and county recreation, military recreation, resorts, tourist attractions, camps, leisure services, or the land agencies (Parks, Forest Service, Army Corps, etc.) among many others.  Students will also focus their course work on an area that fits the field of specialization of most interest to them, Community Recreation, Outdoor Leadership and Instruction, Commercial and Resort Recreation, or Recreation Resource Management (for the Parks, Forest Service, Army Corps etc.).

PRM Curriculum Overview:

Download the Eight Semester Plan for B.S. in Parks and Recreation Management

As a PRM major, you will earn certifications, complete meaningful projects, present research, obtain experiences, and participate in conferences. It is important to save and document each of these items to be used as you begin your career search. In PRM 370: Professional Planning in PRM, students will begin the process of developing their professional portfolio utilizing the online platform, Linked In. The final opportunity to update the portfolio and Linked In profile will be in PRM 483/484 Capstone Internship.

The portfolio may contain the following items depending upon your focus area in PRM:

  • Resume (professional)
  • Outdoor Resume (skills, expeditions, experiences)
  • Program proposal
  • Trip planning documents
  • Research prospectus
  • Business plan
  • Risk management plan and/or analysis
  • Leadership self-analysis
  • Activity Log/Journal
  • Lesson plan or activity proposal
  • Tent Peg article
  • Newspaper articles, blog posts, press releases
  • Service learning or volunteer work
  • Photographs of interpretive work or programs
  • Certifications related to your career path
  • Awards

The minor in Parks and Recreation Management requires 18 hours consisting of two core courses and any 12 hours of electives. The two core courses are PRM 250 and PRM 270. Please contact Dr. Paul Stonehouse at pstonehouse@wcu.edu with any questions.

We encourage you to gain experience in your chosen area through coursework, internships, and summer employment. You’ll gain leadership and participatory experience through volunteer work at Base Camp Cullowhee, where a range of activities are planned for the on- and off-campus community.

Excellent internship opportunities, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Navitat, Nantahala Outdoor Center, Project SOAR, and several camps, surround the WCU campus. The strongest industry in the region is tourism, so our students enjoy internships at attractions and resorts in Western North Carolina and in the coastal areas of both North and South Carolina at places like Wilmington, Hilton Head Island, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston. Community parks and recreation agencies also abound in the region.

You may be able to study abroad for around the same cost as studying at Western. We have a special agreement with the Atlantic Technological University in Ireland and have had international exchanges for a few years now. Studying in Ireland would require a year commitment and is best done early. Study abroad is a great experience! Ask for further details.

The PRM Club is part of SGA at WCU and receives funding to help with club expenses. Being a member of the club enables you to get to know other PRM students who, besides helping you to make friends on campus, broaden your network of professional contacts for when you have graduated.
Networking can help you in future job searches whenever you need peer advice on whatever project you may be given. The club participates in service projects throughout the region including being part of the Adopt-a-Trail and Campsite Program for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Events and Programs organized by the PRM Club include:

  • Adventure Education Conference
  • Annual Chili Cookoff
  • Cullowhee Canoe Slalom
  • Club BBQs
  • Outdoor activities such as hikes, stand up paddling, skiing/snowboarding, and whitewater paddling
  • Ropes course experiences
  • Tournaments
  • Trail maintenance

Regional Adventure Education Conference
Over 20 years ago the PRM Program started a regional Adventure Education Conference. We organized it for four years then started a rotation with other colleges in the region: Warren Wilson, Southwestern Community College (SCC), Montreat, and Brevard College. The club gets to run this every fifth year or so now, with it being for students and run by students and costs very little—another great way to get involved!

Service Projects
Some students have organized service projects for the community. Examples include:

  • Appalachian Trail - "Trail Magic"
  • Parents Night Out where WCU faculty and staff can have an evening out while their children are led in activities and games.

The club is extremely important as it is the best avenue for you to develop both a strong professional network and your own leadership. Other avenues for development are fraternities and sororities, Base Camp Cullowhee, or Last Minute Productions at the University Center. However, with other organizations you may not be developing a network of recreation professionals who can help you as professionals in your future careers.

Don't forget that prospective employers are looking for graduates who have shown INVOLVEMENT through their résumés and references. Anyone can get involved in a variety of ways. To be competitive in the job market, you need to be involved—that is the major reason for the club's existence.
PRM Awards Banquet
At the end of each spring semester the club organizes an awards banquet for PRM majors, which usually includes a catered dinner, slide show, music and awards.


For more information on the club, contact the PRM Program or check out the club's Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/PRMclub/

Careers in Parks and Recreation

What type of career opportunities can you expect?

  • Program leader for city parks and recreation
  • Coordinator - community centers
  • Department administrator - county parks and recreation
  • Facility manager - YMCA/YWCA, military, or college campus recreation
  • Recreation coordinator – resorts
  • Camp counselor - camps
  • Program director - camps

Strategies:

  • Be involved with Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) club activities such as meetings, conferences, banquets, newsletters, etc.
  • Choose mini-internships in appropriate sites
  • Choose the main internship(s) in the type of agency where you would like to apply for your first job
  • Join the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
  • Attend professional meetings and conferences
  • Do summer work in your chosen area
  • Be involved with Last Minute Productions (LMP)
  • Work with Pathways to the Future to become aware of the American Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Apply theories learned in class

Experience counts for a lot in this area, so we encourage you to keep a journal of all the trips, workshops, clinics, etc. that you make to add to your Interview Portfolio. Some agencies such as Outward Bound expect details of your past outdoor experiences.
Outdoor equipment is available to PRM majors. Because of risk management concerns, climbing equipment is unavailable and kayaking equipment is restricted.
Expedition experience is very important as many outdoor agencies operate their programs in this format.  Attending an expedition course can be expensive yet it is a good investment in terms of your future in the industry.  Without it, your employment with expedition-based organizations is limited. These courses are available through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound (OB) and The Wilderness Education Association (WEA).  Several of our students have worked with The International Wilderness School (IWLS), which is accredited through WEA.   Plan an expedition style course the summer of your junior year.  During your senior year you will be completing your Capstone Internship.

  • Instructor for youth at risk - Non-profits such as Outward Bound and Project SOAR or state agencies such as Camp Woodson.
  • Instructor of outdoor activities - Private companies such as Nantahala Outdoor Center, Endless River Adventures, International Wilderness Scool (IWLS) and non-profits such as National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound (OB), and Wilderness Education Association (WEA); camps; rafting companies; and adventure travel companies.
  • Mountain guide - Mountain guide companies such as Exum Mountain Guides and Fox Mountain Guides.
  • Instructor for people with disabilities - Non-profits such as Wilderness Inquiry II.
  • Instructor for corporate programs - Private outdoor companies such as Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and Pecos River Ranch.
  • Ski/Snowboard Instructor and ski patrol - ski resorts.
  • Canopy tour guides.
  • Program director and agency director - see above.

Strategies:

  • Get outside certifications such as Wilderness Education Association (WEA), American Canoe Association (ACA), Outdoor Emergency Care, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), etc.
  • Work outdoor summer jobs in camps, at NOC, Last Minute Productions (LMP), Project SOAR, or other agencies. Work with Pathways to the Future.
  • Become involved with rescue organizations. Join WEA, Association of Experiential Education (AEE), or another professional organization.
  • Attend outdoor conferences and workshops. Organize common adventures with peers to gain experience in a variety of activities.
  • Become Outdoor Emergency Care-National Ski Patrol (OEC) certified, then work at ski resorts such as Cataloochee or Sapphire Valley.
  • Apply theories learned in class.

Commercial and resort recreation also is known as “travel and tourism.”

  • Resort recreation program director - resorts and hotels
  • Hotel worker (front desk/accommodations, etc.) - resorts and hotels
  • Private club worker/manager (golf, tennis, etc.) - clubs
  • Conference organizer - convention centers
  • Chamber of Commerce worker/director - Chambers of Commerce
  • Travel guide - travel companies
  • Adventure travel guide - adventure companies
  • Resort manager - resorts and hotels
  • Travel agency worker/manager - travel agency
  • Attractions worker/manager - railroads, caves, mines, theme parks, etc.

Strategies:

  • Choose appropriate mini-internship sites
  • Choose main internship site in the type of agency you wish to work in and try and do summer work at that place in advance
  • Work at the Chamber of Commerce
  • Become familiar with all aspects of resorts—beds, food and beverage operations, front desk, and recreation.
  • Become proficient in another language.
  • Join the Commercial Recreation and Management Association.
  • Complete travel agency management courses at a community college.
  • Apply theories learned in class.

If you are interested in natural resource management, you should choose the recreation resource management concentration, which can lead to your working for the Park Services, the Forest Service, or the Army Corps of Engineers as a ranger.
We tailor this concentration to fit the different land agencies; for example, law enforcement experience is more useful to those working with the Parks Service than to those working with the Forest Service. You can take law enforcement training for Park Rangers at Southwestern Community College and transfer the credit to the concentration in this major, because this coursework puts you ahead of others when applying for park jobs.
If you are interested in wildlife management, consider taking some wildlife management courses at Haywood Technical College. We will count this credit as part of this concentration.

  • Ranger - Park Service
  • Interpreter - Forest Service
  • Naturalist - Army Corps of Engineers
  • Trail crew - Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Resource management – state parks
    Strategies:
  • Complete criminal justice course for Park Rangers at South Western Community College (SCC)
  • Complete wildlife courses at Haywood Tech
  • Do co-ops as early as possible - especially for the engineers. Choose internships in appropriate agencies.
  • Get involved in volunteer rescue work
  • Take rescue courses
  • Plan approved area of study early
  • Join Student Conservation Association (SCA)
  • Take summer seasonal positions
  • Adopt-a-Trail
  • Apply theories learned in class

PRM Mission

Our mission is to advance knowledge, educate professionals, engage communities, and affect positive social and environmental change using innovative, experiential, and equitable practices. PRM graduates are prepared to design, implement, and evaluate components of the leisure service industry.

PRM Vision

We envision a global community where individuals and groups can equitably and responsibly access spaces for recreation, pursue healthy active lifestyles, and promote social and environmental justice. 

PRM Values

Diversity & Social Justice
Lifelong learning
Professionalism
Environmental Stewardship
Healthy active lifestyles
Compassion
Integrity
Adventure
Experiential Learning
Community
Innovation
Engagement

PRM StudentsPRM Climbing

PRM Faculty

PRM Faculty

Left to right: Jeremy Schultz, Rebekah Henderson, Callie Schultz, Paul Stonehouse, Roslynn Powell, Andrew Bobilya

  

Andrew Bobilya

Professor

Parks and Recreation Management

Rebekah Henderson

Instructor

Parks and Recreation Management

Roslynn Powell

Assistant Professor of Practice

Parks and Recreation Management

Callie Schultz

Associate Professor

Parks and Recreation Management

Jeremy Schultz

Assistant Professor

Parks and Recreation Management

Paul Stonehouse

Assistant Professor/Program Director

Parks and Recreation Management

Adjunct Instructors:

Jeremiah Haas, Associate Director of Outdoor Programs - jhaas@wcu.edu
Todd Murdock, tmurdock@wcu.edu
Tanya Poole, tbpoole@wcu.edu
Dr. Ben Tholkes, Professor Emeritus - tholkes@wcu.edu
David Wynn, wynnd@wcu.edu

Accreditation

Western Carolina University’s Parks and Recreation Management program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). The Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) accredits baccalaureate programs in parks, recreation, tourism, sport management, event management, therapeutic recreation, and leisure studies offered at regionally accredited institutions within the United States and its territories, and at nationally accredited institutions in Canada, and Mexico.

Important Information Regarding Degree Mills:

Please watch this important video regarding degree and accreditation mills. According to CHEA, "Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. “Accreditation” from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a usable credential." Read more on CHEA's website: https://www.chea.org/important-questions-about-degree-mills.

Annual COAPRT Assessment Updates

PRM's 2021-2022 Continuous Improvement Report (CIR)
Fall 2021 | 7.0 Series COAPRT Data
Spring 2022 | 7.0 Series COAPRT Data

2020 Self-Study Report

Current faculty CVs are linked in individual faculty webpages (above) and in self-study document. 

Current faculty CVs are linked in individual faculty webpages (above) and in self-study document. 

 7.0 Series Overivew:

a. Program SLO to Course SLO Map

b. Curriculum map (intro, practice, mastery)

 

7.0 Series Sample Syllabi, Assignments, and Rubrics:

a. PRM 250: Foundations of Parks and Recreation Management

i. Syllabus

b. PRM 260: Professional Planning in PRM 

i. Syllabus

ii. Synthesis Paper Assignment

c. PRM 270 : Leadership & Group Dynamics

i. Syllabus

ii. Leadership Essay & Rubric

iii. Group Project Presentation & Rubric

d. PRM 495: Senior Seminar

i. Syllabus

ii. Assignment booklet (includes all assignments and rubrics)

e.  PRM 255: Active Recreation & Leisure

i. Syllabus

ii. Student-led Activity Sessions Assignment & Rubric

f. PRM 430: Entrepreneurship & Commercial Recreation 

i. Syllabus

ii. Feasibility Study Assignment & Rubric

g. PRM 275: Diversity & Inclusion in PRM

i. Syllabus

ii. Course Calendar

iii. "Self-as-other" Paper

iii. "Self-as-other" Paper Rubric

iv. "Media Analysis" Paper

v. Reading response assignment

h. PRM 461: Management & Administration of PRM

i. Syllabus

ii. Recreation project assignment and rubric

i. PRM 361: Program Planning & Evaluation of PRM

i. Syllabus

ii. Program Plan Assignment

iii. Oral Presentation Assignment

iv. Evaluation Report Assignment

j. PRM 483/484: Capstone Internship I & II

i. Syllabus, Reflection Paper Assignment and Rubric  

k. PRM 370: Capstone Internship Orientation 

i. Syllabus

ii. Digital Portfolio Assignment

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