Recreation, park and tourism professions are embarking upon a new and exciting era of change and opportunity. Success in this profession requires managers with entrepreneurial skills, a marketing perspective, willingness to experiment with new methods and a firm belief in a human development ethic. Our curriculum is designed to prepare students to meet these challenges and opportunities.

SUPPORTING AREA POSSIBLE COURSES
Students with an emphasis in recreation administration may pursue a specialty track in either management, marketing, urban and regional planning, human resource management, or gerontological studies. This suggestion is provided to: (1) assist students to focus their electives courses in a designated area; (2) encourage students to branch out into more than one department and develop an interdisciplinary emphasis; and (3) enhance graduate student's marketability.
Additionally, specialty track courses may be derived from fields such as business administration, computer and information sciences, decision and information sciences, health services administration, etc. Students may also take related courses in environmental issues, resort management and tourism, landscape architecture, etc.

THESIS
An option exists for students to earn a Master's Degree without a thesis by taking additional coursework and passing a comprehensive exam in their final semester. Alternatively, students may write a thesis on a topic of their choice with the support and approval of their graduate committee. Students are encouraged to pursue the thesis option as this gives them an opportunity to have hands-on experience with a research topic, to learn in-depth about their thesis topic and to contribute to the professional literature through publishing their results. If there is any intention to continue their education at the doctoral level, a thesis is strongly recommended.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Students may be considered for employment in areas which manage parks, recreation, and tourism oriented organizations in the public and private sector.