Outdoor recreation is one of the world’s most diverse and fastest -growing
industries. It is often intertwined within another worldwide growth industry, tourism.
The Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) program is designed to provide
students with training that will qualify them to work in a variety of work
settings such as parks and protected natural areas, the public and private
business sectors, nonprofit environmental organizations, as well as state and
federal natural resource agencies. The PRT program emphasis on the integration
of natural, social, and management sciences reflects the interdisciplinary
context in which recreation, tourism, natural resource planning, and
environmental concerns are addressed.
Students interested in the study of Parks, Recreation and Tourism will find
the program ideally situated close to the rocky coasts, mountains, Acadia
National Park, Baxter State Park, the Appalachian Trail and Maine tourism
developments. Visits to these sites afford students unique and exciting
opportunities both during class and leisure to observe and participate in
on-going operations relevant to the profession. We frequently have guest
lectures from the public sector and commercial recreational enterprises to
acquaint students with the diversity of professional management issues and
practices.
Our faculty, both full-time and cooperating, are unique in their extensive
experience in the field as well as their national and international reputations.
A wide array of academic experiences are available to students: field experiences, studies abroad and assisting with recreation-related research
enhance our students’ education and employability.
Small class sizes ensure student/professor interaction and a more personal
learning experience. A faculty advisor works closely with students to assist in
choosing a program of study, provide career counseling, and provide a better
understanding of the profession.
Students interested in summer intern and cooperative education opportunities
can receive academic credit in addition to the valuable on-the-job training
experiences. Numerous and diverse intern opportunities exist in the area
allowing students to take classes simultaneously if they wish.
The faculty in Parks, Recreation and Tourism bring over 6 decades of
experience in recreation resource management and research to the program. The
location of the PRT program within the Department of Forest Management provides
students with a solid grounding in natural resource management training.
Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism
The Parks, Recreation and Tourism curriculum is designed to develop
proficiency in the profession while providing a broad general education. There
are four major study areas within the PRT curriculum:
- Natural Sciences: forest biology, wildlife conservation, ecology, geology,
dendrology, conservation biology
- Social Sciences: communications, social psychology, environmental ethics,
sociology, environmental history
- Management: ecology and environmental sciences economics, land use
planning, forest management, environmental law and policy, business
administration, public management
- PRT Professional Preparation: forest recreation management, visitor
behavior and management, tourism management and planning, environmental
interpretation
Specialization within Parks, Recreation and TourismIn addition to the base curriculum students may elect courses for a minor in
Public relations, Business Administration, International Affairs, Ecology and
Environmental Sciences or Psychology and several other related fields.
The University of Maine The University of Maine
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