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This emphasis focuses on management of natural and cultural resources associated with park and amenity development. Land managers and related professionals operate within a variety of forums that require the integration of concepts in the bio-environmental sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and policy and administrative decision-making. Necessary skills include computer applications for natural resource management, geographic information systems, impact assessment methodology, and heritage and natural resources planning techniques.
Students with an emphasis in this field look forward to careers with both public and private employers in the recreation, park, and tourism fields, including state and federal agencies and private enterprises, non-profit organizations, youth camps, and environmental education programs.
The recreation and park administration emphasis focuses on management of recreation, park and leisure service agencies and requires expertise in problem-solving, computer-based decision making, assessment of social and environmental impacts, personnel, public relations, volunteer management, financing and fund-raising, marketing of services, and needs assessments. Skills in working with people in the legal and political environment are necessary, as well as the ability to assess and work with other organizations for cooperative developments in recreation and tourism.
Students in this emphasis prepare for managerial careers with public recreation and park agencies, youth agencies, not-for-profit recreation agencies, and commercial recreation enterprises.
Tourism is one of the largest and most diverse industries. To help students prepare for tourism careers , this emphasis area introduces issues pertaining to the management, development, and promotion of places and events as tourism attractions. Courses in tourism are designed to collectively build understanding about the linkages that exist between local places, host populations, and various public, private, and special interest groups. Students also develop competencies in assessing economic, environmental, social, and political impacts of tourism, as well as in tourism marketing. Students in this emphasis can pursue careers in private sector enterprises, government agencies, convention and visitor bureaus, and other tourism related service organizations.
This emphasis is designed to prepare students to address changes that are occurring in metropolitan and fringe areas, as well as changes that are occurring in other types of communities located in non-metropolitan areas. For example, rural communities have smaller economies of scale and less diverse populations than larger cities. Small coastal and other natural resource based communities must carefully weigh impacts of development against protection and conservation of environmental qualities.
Graduates of the community development program will be able to apply their conceptual, analytical, and management skills to such issues involving infrastructure development, leadership, economic growth, youth development, poverty, welfare-to-work, water quality, land use, and other issues involving mobilization and collaboration with diverse community groups. Community development students can look forward to careers in various levels of government and their programs, Cooperative Extension, and regional planning organizations. Other potentional employers include private community planning firms, industrial parks, retirement communities, recreational resorts and communities, and public relation firms.
For information about this program go to http://www.rpts.tamu.edu/communitydevelopment/
- 101. Introduction to Recreation and Parks
- Development of recreation movement with broad treatment of the role of parks and recreation in modern society. Interlinkages of recreation with other uses of natural resources. Basic concepts of recreation.
- Course Website
Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences (RPTS) |
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201.
Foundations of Recreation and Parks (3).
- Development of theoretical foundations of recreation and leisure; professional philosophy, present status, prospects for the future and the role of parks and recreation in modern society.
- Course Website
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202.
Foundations of Tourism (3).
- An introduction to travel and tourism from local to international levels. Overview of the scale, scope, and organization of the industry. Emphasis on development of natural, cultural and heritage resources of tourism. Identification of issues related to the economic, technological and political aspects of tourism.
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209.
Park and Tourism Operations (3).
- Planning, execution and supervision of field maintenance and operations. Prerequisite: RPTS 201, recreation and parks major or approval of instructor.*
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300.
Supervised Field Studies (3).
- Survey and application of principles of recreation and parks. Selected aspects of park and recreation management in an operational setting under supervision of an approved agency. Preparation and presentation of a comprehensive analysis of a specific problem. Offered on an individual basis. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: RPTS 307; 12 hours of credit in recreation and parks.
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301.
Leisure and Outdoor Recreation (3).
- Development and administration of recreational facilities in natural and indoor settings. Development of community , land and water resources to provide recreational opportunities in which environmental factors play major roles. Fundamental concepts of recreation and leisure and their roles in modern American culture.
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304.
Administration of Recreation Resource Agencies (3).
- Contemporary issues and related administrative practices associated with the provision of recreation services and setting; addresses principles associated with recreation resource agency administration; personnel and customer-related administrative issues in recreation resource agencies; concepts and principles relevant to commercial and non-profit recreation resource agencies. Pre-requisites: RPTS 201 and 209; RENR 201.
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307.
Methods of Environmental Interpretation (3).
- Communication processes and practices between resource managers and publics using or affected by natural, cultural and tourism resource places; principles and techniques of gathering, analyzing and disseminating information through various media, such as exhibits, presentations, publications and programs.*
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311.
Recreation and Tourism Programs (3).
- Program planning, operations, administration and evaluation; includes development of special events; service quality, hospitality training and participant satisfaction.*
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316.
Recreational Management of Wildlands (3).
- Management and recreational use of wild and wilderness areas and multiple use management areas. Systems and techniques for dealing with management problems in outdoor recreation. Prerequisites: RPTS 307 or approval of instructor.*
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331.
Tourism Marketing (3).
- Application of basic tourism marketing principles and concepts in government, business, and social-case contexts; situation analysis and operational evaluation; decision making in terms of product, place, price, and channel of distribution mixes for tourism attractions and services. Prerequisites: RPTS 202.
- Course Website
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336.
Recreation Research and Analysis (3).
- Introduction to current recreation research emphasizing specialized research methodology, adaptive techniques and methods of research review useful to the recreation professional. Analysis of the methods of problems identification, formulation and solution. Prerequisites: STAT 201 and RENR 201 or equivalents; all mathematics requirements satisfied. *
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340.
Recreation, Parks and Diverse Populations (3).
- Review of major judicial decisions and civil rights laws on the provision and distribution of recreation and park services in society; the influence of age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, race, religion and gender on individual's preferences for particular recreation opportunities and experiences; implications of individual differences for the provision of recreation services.*
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401.
Tourism and Recreation Enterprises (3).
- Market and financial feasibility analysis; resource characteristics, location and market aspects of tourism and recreation enterprises. Prerequisite: 3 hours economics and 3 hours management.*
- 402. Park Planning and Design (4).
- Classification of areas according to primary function, location and clientele served. Basic park planning principles involving scale, circulation, function and spatial relationships. Methodology for establishing planning goals, objectives and planning strategies. Prerequisites: Junior classification, RPTS 201 and RENR 201 or equivalents.*
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403.
Financing and Marketing Recreation, Park and Tourism Resources (4).
- Public sources of funding for facility development and of approaches to marketing recreation, park, and tourism services; applying knowledge to case study situations. Prerequisites: RPTS 311, junior or senior classification.
- 420. Natural Resource Law (3).
- Basic legal relationships and issues involved in the management, development and allocation of natural resources; includes federal, state and local statutes, administrative rules and judicial decisions; alternative dispute resolution theories and techniques. Cross-listed with RENR 420.
- 423. Tourist and Resort Development (3).
- Tourism and recreational travel; nature of resort development and its effect on generating tourist flow to and within regions. Relationship of resource characteristics and resource ownership and control to the characteristics an d economic importance of state and national resort industries. Prerequisites: RPTS 202.*
- 426. Tourism Impacts (3).
- Consequences and impacts of various kinds of tourism development for host communities and regions; read and evaluate case studies from Texas, other areas in the United States and internationally; economic, environmental, social, cultural and political impacts associated with tourism proposals, project development, tourist activity, industry expansion and industry decline. Prerequisites: RPTS 202 or approval of instructor.
- 460. Development and Management of Protected Areas (3).
- Case studies illustrating social, political, and legal influences on the development and management of parks, refuges, wilderness and other protected areas; interaction between protected-area management and tourism development in neighboring communities and regions; interpretation of social contexts. Prerequisites: RPTS 307 or 316, or 9 hours of credit in natural resource courses. Cross-listed with RENR 460.*
- 470. Youth Development Organizations and Services (3). NOTE: CURRENTLY LISTED AS
- RPTS 489
- Identification of community and personal issues youth face in growing up. Institutional and programmatic supports available, and leadership, administrative, financial and marketing tools necessary to develop successful youth programs and services.
- 481. Seminar (1).
- Preparation and presentation by students of papers reviewing recreation literature or reporting on current recreation developments. Required of all recreation and park majors. Prerequisites: Senior classification in recreation and parks.
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484.
Internship (1-6).
- Practical experience working in a professional recreation, park or tourism setting. Offered on an individual basis. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
- 485. Directed Studies (1-4).
- For individual research by advanced undergraduates upon a broad range of subjects not included in established courses. Prerequisites: Junior classification or approval of department head.
- 489. Special Topics in... (1-4).
- Selected topics in an identified field of recreation and parks. May be repeated for credit.*
- Course Website
* Field trips required for which departmental fees may be assessed to cover costs.
Renewable
Natural Resources (RENR) |
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201.
Computer Applications in Agriculture (3).
- Fundamentals of computer use and the application of agricultural software. Computer use in decision making and problem solving in agriculture. Prerequisites: AGLS 102 or RENR 102 or approval of instructor; Math 102. Cross-listed with AGLS 201.
- Course Website
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205.
Fundamentals of Ecology (3).
- Principles of ecology using a holistic approach treating plants, animals and humans as one integrated whole. Compositions, structure, nutrient cycles and energetics of biotic communities; adaptations to environmental factors; biotic relationships; and problems of environmental quality and resource use.
- 215. Fundamentals of Ecology - Laboratory (1).
- Sampling and estimating plant-animal populations, measuring environmental factors and recognizing and studying morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations of plants and animals to biotic or abiotic influences.*
- 375. Conservation of Natural Resources (3).
- Principles and philosophies associated with the development, management and use of natural resources. Ecological and social implications inherent in management alternatives involving the natural environment and use of renewable natural resources.
- Course Website
- 405. GIS for Environmental Problem Solving (3).
- Interdisciplinary approach to train students to integrate GIS and relevant technologies for environmental problem solving; helps students relate learning to real world situations; students conceptualize, develop and manage projects using real data; one term project required. Prerequisite: RENR 201 or equivalent or approval of instructor.
- 410. Ecosystem Management (4).
- Concepts and practices relevant to the development of landscape/regional level ecosystem management plans; an ecosystem management plan will be developed utilizing a strategic management/coordinated resources approach to establish resource goals, ecosystem resource analysis and impact evaluation, and implementation compatible with societal and individual concerns. Prerequisites: Senior classification and approval of instructor.*
- 420. Natural Resource Law (3).
- Basic legal relationships and issues involved in the management, development ad allocation of natural resources ;includes federal, state and local statutes, administrative rules and judicial decisions; alternative dispute resolution theories and techniques. Cross-listed with RPTS 420.
- 444. Remote Sensing in Renewable Natural Resources (3).
- Applications of fundamental photogrammerty and photo interpretation and the use of other sensors in remote detection and analysis of natural resources. Interpretation on natural vegetation as it applies to ecosystem analysis for range, forest and wildlife management; natural resource planning for rural, urban and recreational development. Prerequisite: Junior classification.
- 460. Development and Management of Protected Areas (3).
- Case studies illustrating social, political,and legal influences on the development and management of parks, refuges, wilderness, and other protected areas; interaction between protected-area management and tourism development in neighboring communities and regions; interpretation of social contexts. Prerequisites: RPTS 307 or 316, or 9 hours of credit in natural resource courses. Cross-listed with RPTS 460.
- 470. Environmental Impact Assessment (3).
- The evolution of natural resources regulatory policies and how this influences current procedures for environmental/natural resources assessment and management; demonstration of the environmental impact assessment procedures and policy issues associated with environmental impacts. Prerequisites: Senior classification or approval of instructor.
- 489. Special Topics in . . . (1-4).
- Selected topics in an identified field of renewable natural resources. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.*
Click on the following links for more information
- Application for Curricula Change (PDF format)
- Degree Plan (PDF format)
- Force Request Form
Special Electives
- Recreation and Park Administration (PDF format)
- Park and Natural Resource Management Option (PDF format)
- Tourism Resources Management (PDF format)
- Force Request Form
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