OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0
The Recreation & Tourism Management major provides an integrated study of recreation and tourism services that prepares students for careers ranging from game wardens to park interpreters, professional guides, recreation resource managers, camp directors, municipal recreation directors, nature-based tourism providers, fitness center directors, experiential educators, and many more. Students select our program because they love the hands-on nature of the coursework, the field work, the small class sizes, and placement in internships that gain them quality work experience by the time they graduate.
Our program emphasizes learning and leadership in a wide variety of environmental contexts. Students gain a broad understanding of leisure and recreation in our society while developing strong managerial skills. The curriculum is designed and selected with the expectation that graduates will leave UMM with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills pertinent to all areas within the leisure service industry (as “generalists”, rather than “specialists”). Yet, students have the opportunity to delve more deeply into their personal area of interest through our carefully designed concentrations and potential pursuit of cross-disciplinary minors and certificates.
Our program maintains a balance between analytical thinking and practical application as we prepare students for the profession. Students become very involved in campus and community stewardship and programming through many service projects over the course of their studies. Projects such as the Machias Haunted Forest and the Washington County Special Olympics allow students to learn through experience while benefiting the local community.
UMM takes great pride in our personal approach to education and our Downeast location. Our location on the coast among coves, rivers, lakes, and forests lends itself to the enjoyment of outdoor recreational experiences and, therefore, to unique experiential learning opportunities, particularly for future recreation professionals.
The Recreation & Tourism Management program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions, the accrediting body associated with the National Recreation and Park Association. Graduates are prepared to become Certified Park and Recreation Professionals, giving them national recognition. All students may also acquire nationally recognized certifications while participating in this program, such as Leave No Trace Trainer, Wilderness First Responder, Red Cross EMR, Certified Interpretive Guide, and Sport First Aid.
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