Contact the Department of Geography Planning and Recreation

Email:
geog​@nau.edu
Call:
928-523-2650
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PRM LINKS Accordion Open

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Parks and Recreation Management, Bachelor of Science

Through this degree, recreation resource professionals are prepared for diverse careers in the field of parks and recreation. The PRM Program focuses on small class size, high student-teacher interaction, on-site field experiences, and experiential learning opportunities. The faculty are are dedicated to expanding the scholarly knowledge base of people and organizations to enhance the quality of leisure experiences and places.

Requirements Accordion Open

  • To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

     

    The full policy can be viewed here.

Overview Accordion Closed

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 66 - 72 units of major requirements which includes 18 - 24 units of minor, or individualized study requirements.
  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion120
Major GPAC
Highest Mathematics RequiredSTA 270
Fieldwork Experience/InternshipRequired
University Honors ProgramOptional
Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate PlanOptional
Progression Plan LinkNot Available

Purpose Statement

The Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) program fulfills the discipline of preparing students for careers in parks, recreation, tourism, and related fields. The program provides an equitable, inclusive, and justice-oriented approach to education that develops students' critical thinking skills and competencies needed for these careers.

The curriculum incorporates experiential learning opportunities, scaffolds pedagogies, and skills, and encourages curiosity through relationships with self, community, and world. Students develop competencies in program delivery, outdoor recreation, event management, community engagement, environmental education, and more based on their chosen focus area or minor.
 
Further, students may use an Individualized Study or relevant minors, such as the Community and Commercial minor, the Outdoor Education and Leadership minor, or the Natural Resource Law Enforcement minor, to complement their career interests, while completing the academic requirements of their bachelor's degree in PRM.
 
The PRM program prepares students for opportunities to serve communities in positions like recreation programmers, park rangers, tourism coordinators, outdoor educators, event planners, community engagement specialists, environmental advocates, and more. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to promote justice, foster healthy communities, and contribute to a sustainable future in their careers.
 

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge:
    • The nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism, or related professions and their associated industries.
    • Techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries.
    • The foundation of the profession in history, science, and philosophy.
    • Demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
  • Demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
  • Demonstrate the sustained ability to apply the recreation process, use diverse, structured ways of thinking to solve problems related to different facets of professional practice, engage in advocacy, and stimulate innovation.
  • Assess the importance of ethics in recreation leadership.

Details Accordion Closed
Major Requirements

  • This major requires 66 - 72 units distributed as follows:

    • Parks and Recreation Common Course Requirements: 48 units
    • Individualized Study or Minor Requirement - Select one: 18 - 24 units
      • Individualized Study Option: 18 units
      • Minor Option: 18 - 24 units

     

    Take the following 66 - 72 units:

  • Individualized Study or Minor Requirement - Select one (18 - 24 units)

    • Individualized Study Option (18 units)

      • Consult with your advisor to determine the additional coursework you will use for this individualized plan. 
      • The 18 units of coursework must be approved by your advisor.

    • Minor Option (18 - 24 units)

    • You must complete a minor of at least 18 units from those described in this catalog. In consultation with your advisor, you should select a minor that is appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following:

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

    • This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

    • Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management and start a Master of Science in Geography at NAU.

      A total of 12 units will be shared between the plans selected from:

      • 400-level coursework (6 units)
      • PRM graduate-level coursework (6 units)
    • Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs, as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year.

      Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.

    • Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:

    • Major Requirements

      This major requires 69 - 75 units distributed as follows:

      • Parks and Recreation Common Course Requirements: 51 units
      • Individualized Study or Minor Requirement - Select one: 18 - 24 units
        • Individualized Study Option: 18 units
        • Minor Option: 18 - 24 units


      Take the following 69 - 75 units:

    • Individualized Study or Minor Requirement - Select one (18 - 24 units)

      • Individualized Study Option (18 units)

        • Consult with your advisor to determine the additional coursework you will use for this individualized plan. 
        • The 18 units of coursework must be approved by your advisor.

      • Minor Option (18 - 24 units)

      • You must complete a minor of at least 18 units from those described in this catalog. In consultation with your advisor, you should select a minor that is appropriate for your career aspirations and educational needs. Your minor advisor will advise you about this part of your academic plan.

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following:

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 of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in the lower-division core in order to move forward into upper-division core courses. In addition, you must have a Grade of 'C' or better in all lower- and upper-division core courses, including repeated courses, in order to graduate.

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

  • This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

Availability Accordion Closed
 
Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation
Location
Room 201 Building 70
Social and Behavioral Sciences West
19 W McConnell Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Mailing Address
PO Box 15016
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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