With a focus on improving community life, this major prepares you for a career in creating parks, tourism attractions, green spaces, youth development programs, and family sports and recreation facilities. Coursework engages students in the study of planning, positioning, leadership, problem-solving, innovation, policy, marketing, and finance. Students in this major select from six emphasis areas: Event Management, Community Recreation and Park Administration, Hospitality Management, Parks and Conservation, Tourism Management, and Youth Development.

Event management focuses on the various components of planning, managing, implementing, and evaluating meetings and special events.

Community recreation and park administration focuses on management of recreation, park and leisure service agencies that 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.

Hospitality management focuses on understanding the planning, analysis, and decision-making techniques needed for management positions in the hospitality industry. Students study and develop skills related to principles of management, sustainability, development, cultural tolerance, marketing, finance, and service quality as they apply to the hospitality industry. 

Parks and conservation focuses on management of natural and cultural resources associated with conserving parks and other protected areas.

Tourism management focuses on the planning, management, development, and promotion of places and events as tourism attractions.

Youth Development focuses on programs and services that contribute to the development of young people’s personal, physical, social and educational abilities. Coursework in this option focuses on positive youth development, program planning and evaluation, and methods for working with young people.