Learning Objectives

Parks and Recreation

The Parks and Recreation program offers a broad program of study designed to prepare students for professional service in public, private, commercial, therapeutic, administrative and volunteer parks and recreation settings. A multi-disciplinary curriculum emphasizes an understanding of individuals, groups, and organizations impacting leisure needs.

Utah State University’s Parks and Recreation program is an accredited program through the National Recreation and Parks.

Parks and Recreation majors are given instruction and experiences in leading, programming, planning, designing, and administrating parks and recreation programs and facilities. The program is oriented toward developing the student as a well rounded generalist by providing broad and diverse experiences in parks and recreation. Coursework emphasizes the attainment of skills in the areas of administration and management, design and analysis, leadership, research, and program development.

Educational preparation is enhanced through required work experience and internships. To gain hands-on experience students first work for 200 hours with an agency. This is followed with a culminating full-time (500 hour) internship experience for one semester following senior year. The student identifies an area of parks and recreation to focus on and then meets with the internship coordinator to develop the parameters of the internship.

The major goals and objectives of the Parks and Recreation Program are as follows:

1. Prepare majors to become professionals in both the public and private sector of recreation and leisure services.

2. To provide skill and theoretical training in preparing the student:

to administer a parks and recreation program including budgeting, personnel management and program development.
in special skill areas such as grantsmanship, master plan writing and feasibility study process.
to administer specific recreation programs such as camps and aquatic facilities.
to evaluate, design and manage parks and recreation facilities, areas and resources.
to perform basic research, such as, community surveys in parks and recreation.
to develop a personal/professional philosophy regarding parks and recreation.
to understand the unique differences in working with individuals from diverse populations.
to organize and lead a variety of social recreation programs.

3. To provide majors with an opportunity to test their education through practical application during internships and pre-internship work experience.

4. To provide students throughout the university with a basic understanding of the importance of leisure and recreation as an integral part of their lives.

5. To provide service to municipalities through training and education in the area of recreation, master plans, feasibility studies and community development projects.