2024-2025

Parks and Recreation Management, Minor

Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This minor is no longer offered at the Online Campus. See the Campus Availability tab below for alternate plan campus options.

This minor is intended to open the door to the richness of America’s (and the world’s) parks, wildlands, and outdoor recreation settings. The program includes leadership, supervision, program planning, and relevant computer applications.

  • A minor is earned in conjunction with a bachelor's degree.

    To receive a minor (18 - 24 units) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject matter areas with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0. At least 12 units of the minor must be unique to that minor and not applied to any other minor.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

No more than fifty percent of the units used to satisfy minor requirements may be used to satisfy major requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 18

Purpose Statement

The Parks and Recreation Management minor fulfills the discipline of providing foundational knowledge and skills related to careers serving communities through parks, recreation, tourism, and related fields. Students develop an understanding of these professions and industries, including their history, philosophies, operations, and diversity of services.

The curriculum incorporates leadership, programming, administration, and community engagement competencies. Students gain knowledge in areas like professional ethics, recreation program design and delivery, organizational structures, financing, public relations, and embracing personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.

The minor prepares students for early career opportunities such as recreation leaders, program assistants, facility attendants, and related roles that contribute to healthy communities and meaningful experiences through parks, recreation, tourism, and adjacent industries. The minor also provides a foundation for those interested in pursuing further education and advanced careers serving communities through accessible programs, sustainable tourism, and livable cities.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Identify the nature and scope of relevant parks, recreation, tourism, or related professions and their associated industries.
  • Demonstrate critical thought on the history of Parks and Recreation.
  • Articulate the values found in core philosophical concepts as they relate to Parks and Recreation.
  • Practice leadership and facilitation skills.
  • Assess the importance of ethics in recreation leadership.
  • Assess needs, develop, and facilitate targeted recreation and leisure experiences.
  • Analyze the differences and organizational structures among recreation service sectors.
  • Identify funding structures, financing, and budgeting systems common to recreation service sectors.
  • Demonstrate techniques for community engagement and public relations.

Minor Requirements

  • Students enrolled in this minor may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

Additional Information

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.