Park and Recreation Management (PRM) Major - Recreation Administration Specialization

Recreation Administration Specialization
Paul Fokken, Coordinator
Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences
Intramural Building, SIM 116
605-688-6163
email: paul.fokken@sdstate.edu

Park and Recreation professionals are needed to meet recreation demands resulting from expanding populations, increased leisure time, greater mobility and changing social attitudes. The curriculum in Park and Recreation Management is designed to prepare students for professional positions in parks and outdoor recreation, and recreation programming and administration. A minor in Recreation Administration is also offered. Two areas of specialization are available:

1. Students interested in parks and outdoor recreation, and employment with federal, state, county and municipal parks and recreation agencies and with private recreation and tourism enterprises, can tailor their program of study using the Park Management Specialization curriculum, offered through the Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks department.
2. Students interested in recreation programming and administration, and employment with municipal recreation agencies, YMCA/YWCAs, business, and therapeutic recreation in clinical as well as community settings, should follow the Recreation Administration Specialization curriculum, offered through the Health, Physical Education and Recreation department.

The Recreation Administration Specialization is based on an interdisciplinary approach providing a broad, comprehensive background for leadership and administrative roles in the recreation profession. All students transferring into the Recreation Administration Specialization from within the University or from another institution will be evaluated on an individual basis by a departmental screening committee. Transfer students must have a 2.0 GPA to be accepted into the Recreation Administration Specialization. Transfer students with less than a 2.0 GPA may petition for approval. If accepted, the transfer student will enter on probation for one semester. A student in the Recreation Administration Specialization must have a 2.4 cumulative GPA to be recommended for the required internship experience. A minimum final grade of “C” is required in all courses taught in the major.