Undergraduate Academic Programs

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science in Recreation (BSR), Park and Recreation Management Major

Description of Program

In the specialization park and recreation management students acquire professional management skills that can be applied in a wide variety of recreation and leisure facilities and programs around the world. Quality courses with small faculty/student ratio and varied fieldwork opportunities guarantee our students an outstanding educational experience.

Admission

Apply online for undergraduate admission to Indiana University at http://admit.indiana.edu/.

A newly admitted freshman pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Recreation degree with a major in park and recreation management will receive an offer of direct freshman admission to the park and recreation management program if he or she meets both of the following criteria:

  • The applicant must have earned one of the following minimum standardized test scores: A combined critical reading and math score of 1270 on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) or a composite score of 29 on the ACT (American College Test).
  • The applicant must have either graduated in the top 12 percent of his or her high school graduating class or earned a minimum high school GPA of 3.5.

Before entering the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation as a park and recreation management major, all other students must meet both of the following criteria:

  • The student must successfully complete at least 26 credit hours.
  • The student must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at Indiana University.

Students in the University Division must also declare their intention to major in park and recreation management to the University Division Records Office. Undergraduate students who complete the semester before certification of admission to the school with less than a 2.0 GPA for the semester will be admitted on a probationary status.

International transfer applicants to the School of HPER, whose primary language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper- based test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or a 79 on the Internet-based test, is required for direct admission to the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. For students from countries where the TOEFL is not available, other evidence of English proficiency may be considered. All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take the Indiana University English language examination before registering for course work. Appropriate remedial English courses may be prescribed on the basis of test results.

All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take a special examination in English with IU prior to registering.  Prepared by IU and designed to test a student’s ability to use English in an academic setting, the exam consists of three parts: an essay on a general topic, a listening comprehension exercise, and a grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension section.  There is little that one can do to prepare for this exam other than to continue using written and spoken English at every opportunity.  

International students whose primary language is not English must agree to take any English language courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned do not meet degree requirements.  If the results of the proficiency examination indicate that full-time work in English is required, the student will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  

Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency.  If a student has serious doubts about English ability and is not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, the student should consider completing English study in the student’s home country.  In addition, the student may consider delaying admission to a future session.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Recreation degree with a major in park and recreation management.  A minimum of 26 successfully completed credit hours and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are required for admission to this program.  Graduation requirements include:

  • completion of general education requirements.
  • completion of park and recreation management major requirements.
  • a minimum of 124 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
  • a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses with the following department code-prefixes: HPER-R and HPER-L. 
  • No Pass/Fail except for free electives.
General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students who matriculate as degree-seeking students at IU Bloomington in or after the summer term of 2011 must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2011-2012 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Undergraduate students who matriculate as degree-seeking students on the IU Bloomington campus in the summer or fall terms of 2010, or the spring term of 2011, must complete the School of HPER general education requirements which are described below. Unlike the 2011-2112 Bloomington campus-wide general education requirements, the 2010 School of HPER general education requirements do not include a residency requirement, nor do they restrict the use of extended-term, independent study or correspondence courses.

2010 School of HPER General Education Requirements

English Composition (0 to 3 credits required, C- minimum required in the course used to satisfy this requirement)
Complete one of the following options:

  • CMCL-C 110 Writing the World (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition 1 (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 170 Introduction to Argumentative Writing: Projects in Reading and Writing (3 cr. - this topic only)
  • ENG-W 131 EX Elementary Composition by Examination (0 cr.)

Mathematical Modeling (3 to 4 credits required)
Complete one of the following options:

  • MATH-A 118 Finite Mathematics for the Social and Biological Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MATH-D 116 AND MATH-D 117 Introduction to Finite Mathematics I-II (4 cr.)
  • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-S 118 Honors Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications: Finite Mathematics for the Social and Biological Sciences (3 cr.)
  • MATH-V 118 Finite Mathematics with Applications: Finite and Consumer Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-J 113 Introduction to Calculus with Applications (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus 1 (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 211 Calculus I (4 cr.)
  • MATH-M 213 Accelerated Calculus (4 cr.)

Note: The course(s) used to satisfy the mathematical modeling requirement may NOT also be applied to the natural and mathematical sciences requirement.

Natural and Mathematical Sciences (5 to 6 cr.)

Complete either six credits of acceptable natural and mathematical sciences (N&M) courses, or a single, approved, five-credit N&M course with a substantial laboratory component. The course used to satisfy the mathematical modeling requirement may NOT also be used to fulfill this requirement. Visit the list of acceptable natural and mathematical sciences (N&M) courses for choices and more information.

Arts and Humanities (6 credits required)
Complete six credits of acceptable arts and humanities (A&H) courses.

Social and Historical Studies (6 credits required.)
Complete six credits of acceptable social and historical studies (S&H) courses.

World Languages and Cultures (0 to 14 cr., most commonly 6 credits)
There are three options for completion of the world languages and cultures requirement.

Major (88 cr.)

Professional Recreation Requirement (45 cr.)
(A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required in the following courses.)
Complete each of the following courses:

  • HPER-R 160 Foundations of Recreation and Leisure (3 cr.) +(S&H)
  • HPER-R 237 Computers in Park, Recreation, Sport, and Tourism Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 270 Inclusive Recreation Services (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 272 Recreation Activities and Leadership Methods (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 301 Internship Preparation (1 cr.)
  • HPER-R 340 Leisure in Modern Society (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 363 Professional Internship (14 cr.)
  • HPER-R 367 Event Planning and Program Development (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 390 Statistical Applications in Leisure Studies (3 cr.) or ECON-E 370 Statistical Analysis for Business and Economics (3 cr.) or MATH-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or PSY-K 310 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) or SOC-S 371 Statistics for Sociology or SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 441 Legal Aspects of Recreation (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 466 Management of Leisure Services (3 cr.) (minimum grade of C)
  • HPER-R 490 Research and Evaluation (3 cr.)

Park and Recreation Management Specialization Requirement (31 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

  • CMCL-C 121 Public Speaking (3 cr.) (minimum grade of C–) +(A&H) or CMCL-C 122 Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.) (minimum grade of C–) +(S&H)
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 231 Careers in Leisure Service (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 282 Leadership Strategies and Diversity Applications (3 cr.) (minimum grade of C)
  • HPER-R 422 Marketing for Leisure Services (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 451 Fiscal Management for Leisure Service Organizations (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 471 Human Resource Management in Leisure Services (3 cr.)
  • HPER-T 101 Introduction to Resource Development/Fundraising (3 cr.)
  • HPER-T 201 Annual Giving (2 cr.) or HPER-T 202 Major Gifts and Planned Giving (2 cr.)
  • HPER-T 301 Capital Campaigns (2 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Volunteer Sector (3 cr.)

Professional Elective Requirement (12 cr.)
Complete a minimum of 12 credits from the following professional electives:

  • ANTH-A 403 Introduction to Museum Studies (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 202 Aquatic Facility Operator (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 206 Recreational Sport Programming (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 236 Tourism and Commercial Recreation (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 266 Recreation Facilities Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 271 Dynamics of Outdoor Recreation (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 283 Recreation Based GIS Systems (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 302 Aquatic Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 323 Ecosystem Management (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 326 Customer Service and Media Relations (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 354 Sport and Violence: Influences and Issues (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 365 Leisure and Aging (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 385 Wilderness and Protected Lands (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 423 Visitor Behavior (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 468 Strategic Planning for Recreation, Park, and Tourism Organizations (3 cr.)
  • HPER-R 472 Youth Sport Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.) +(S&H)
  • SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the U.S. (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Public Policy and the Arts (3 cr.)
  • THTR-T 428 Production and Events Management (3 cr.)

+ Courses followed by a S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.


Special Opportunities

During the course of their studies, students have the opportunity to work and train in a variety of professional recreation management settings. Through class practica, projects, internship opportunities, and field experiences, students learn leadership, management, programming, marketing and evaluation, legal aspects of park and recreation management, and communication skills.

Careers

Graduates with this degree are prepared for a range of career positions, including: recreation leader, youth recreation services specialist, special events programmer, aquatics director, event manager, military recreation provider, recreation supervisor, park ranger, and conservation officer.

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