Studies & Degrees in Parks and Recreation Management
Parks and Recreation Management Study Programs
Parks and recreation management is the study of how parks, protected natural areas, sports and leisure facilities and recreation programmes are planned, run and paid for. It sits between business, natural resource management and the social sciences. The University of Maine, for example, describes its programme as an integration of natural, social and management sciences, because recreation, tourism, natural resource planning and environmental concerns are handled together in practice.
Students learn to design and lead recreation programmes, manage staff, budgets and facilities, market services and evaluate results. The common courses of the bachelor's degree at The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) show the typical mix: leisure and human behaviour, leadership and group dynamics, inclusive leisure services, the political and legal aspects of recreation services, marketing, programming, and programme evaluation and research.
Qualifications and levels
Most programmes in this subject are in the United States, where it is usually taught as a four-year bachelor's degree under names such as "Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management" or "Parks, Recreation and Tourism".
- Bachelor's degree. At Penn State the Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management requires a minimum of 120 credits, of which 45 are general education, and the suggested academic plan runs over four years. Students choose one of four options, among them Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management, Community Recreation Management and Professional Golf Management. The commercial recreation option includes a 12-credit internship.
- A specialisation inside another degree. At The Ohio State University, Parks and Recreation is one of the specialisations of the natural resource management major. At the University of Maine the programme belongs to the School of Forest Resources, which gives it a strong natural resource component.
- Master's degree and doctorate. Some universities continue at graduate level. The University of Florida lists a bachelor's, a master's and a PhD concentration in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, a department that also places a small share of its students in parks, recreation and leisure organisations.
- Two-year colleges. Several community colleges in the directory teach the subject at associate level or as the first two years of a bachelor's degree. Ask the college which qualification it awards and where its credits transfer.
In the United States, the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT), established in 1974, accredits bachelor's programmes in parks, recreation, tourism, sport management, event management, therapeutic recreation and leisure studies. Its directory lists 63 accredited programmes (checked in October 2026). Accreditation is voluntary, so it is worth asking a school whether its programme has it.
Where to study it
The SpainExchange directory lists 15 schools for this subject: 13 in the United States, one in Australia and one in Spain. Teaching is in English at the American and Australian institutions. Examples in the United States are Penn State, The Ohio State University, the University of Maine, the University of Florida, Illinois State University and West Virginia University.
Location matters more than in most subjects, because field visits and internships are part of the degree. The University of Maine points to its position close to Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park and the Appalachian Trail, and states that students can earn academic credit for summer internships and cooperative education.
Spain has no degree with this exact name. The nearest university route is the bachelor's degree (grado) in tourism, taught in Spanish; in the directory, The Open Faculty in Murcia offers a grado en Turismo.
Careers
Graduates work for public park systems, commercial recreation and tourism companies, non-profit organisations and natural resource agencies. Penn State says its programme prepares students for supervisory and administrative positions with park systems, environmental centres, commercial recreation and tourism agencies, golf courses, hospitals and assisted living facilities, and schools and colleges. The University of Maine names park rangers, park planners, campground managers, directors of parks and recreation, and naturalists among the jobs of its recent graduates.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts about 346,900 recreation workers in the United States in 2025, 32 per cent of them employed by local government. It projects employment to grow 4 per cent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Entry-level recreation jobs typically require a high school diploma, but for some positions employers may prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in recreation or a related field.
The National Recreation and Park Association offers the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification, which shows that the holder has met education and experience qualifications.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a degree in parks and recreation management take?
Penn State's suggested academic plan spreads the bachelor's degree over four years of full-time study, with a minimum of 120 credits.
Is an internship part of the degree?
Usually yes. Penn State's commercial recreation option includes a 12-credit internship, and the University of Maine gives academic credit for summer internships and cooperative education.
What does COAPRT accreditation mean?
COAPRT is the council that accredits bachelor's programmes in parks, recreation, tourism and related fields in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its directory lists 63 accredited programmes.
Can I study parks and recreation management in Spain?
Not under that name. The closest university option is a grado en Turismo, taught in Spanish, such as the one at The Open Faculty in Murcia.