Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism
The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism's curriculum was the first academic program west of the Mississippi to be granted accreditation by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) in 1979. COAPRT is the only accreditation of recreation, park resources and leisure services curricula recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Accreditation Standards
- Standard 7.01 - Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy.
Course Reflection: This course was my first taste of the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism program. We took 'field trips' to public, non-profit, and commercial agencies to learn and see first hand what impact these companies have in our community. We also held a lot of in class discussions about these companies, what they do, and what we could do to make a difference. Lastly, our big project was to put on an event, my favorite part. The group I was in held a Job Fair at the Downtown Hilton. This event was successful in proving that it is possible to build an event from the bottom up, work in a group setting, and working together brings different traits to the table.
Course Description: This course was an introduction to the field of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. We discussed public, non-profit, and commercial agencies that provide Park, Recreation, and Tourism services and programs. We discussed the historical and conceptual roots of the field. We discussed professional opportunities, as well as issues and trends affecting our profession.
Artifacts: Special Event Program Plan Portfolio
- Standard 7.02 - Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
- Standard 7.03 - Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions.
Course Reflection: This was by far one of my favorite classes and professors, Matt Brownlee. I did take this in a summer semester and expected to 'ruin my whole summer' but it didn't! I learned so much about management, how to interview properly, and most of all I learned about ME. To conclude this class we had to create a Management Philosophy, attached below. This was our time to pull together our own experiences and ideas of management mixed with ideas we learned throughout the semester.
Course Description: This course focuses on the basic principles and practices of management pertaining to parks, recreation, and tourism agencies. Also, this class focuses on the roles of PRT managers in relation to HR issues, motivation, leadership, and legal considerations.
Artifacts: Management Philosophy
- Standard 7.04 - Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate, through a comprehensive internship of not less than 400 clock hours, the ability to use diverse, structured ways of thinking to solve problems related to different facets of professional practice, engage in advocacy, and stimulate innovation.
Course Description: The purpose of this course is for students to gain practical experience in the PRT field by integrating concepts learned in their coursework with their field experience and to reflect upon the field experience. Upon completion of the course, each student will have served in the community providing recreation services to a variety of populations. Each student will also develop professional skills that will increase their marketability upon graduation.