The Outdoor Education and Leadership Emphasis is only offered at Flagstaff campus.
Through this degree, recreation resource professionals are prepared for diverse careers in the field of parks and recreation. The PRM Program focuses on small class size, high student-teacher interaction, on-site field experiences, and experiential learning opportunities. The faculty are are dedicated to expanding the scholarly knowledge base of people and organizations to enhance the quality of leisure experiences and places.
The PRM core curriculum is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) This program is recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
If you have a keen interest in the outdoors and desire to help ensure the availability of future park, recreation, and leisure service opportunities, a degree in Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) will help you pursue this career. Graduates find jobs with municipal parks and recreation departments, private resorts, federal land-management agencies, correctional institutions, nonprofit organizations, and a variety of other outlets in the industry.
Northern Arizona University's location is perfect for studying parks and recreation with six National Forests and a dozen units of the National Park Service system within a half-day's drive of campus, including the nearby Grand Canyon. Degree coursework will help prepare you for a career that encourages healthy lifestyles and enjoyment of the outdoors.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | STA 270 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Emphasis, Minor, or Coursework Required | An emphasis, minor, or coursework is required for this major. |
Purpose Statement
The Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) program fulfills the discipline of preparing students for careers in parks, recreation, tourism, and related fields. The program provides an equitable, inclusive, and justice-oriented approach to education that develops students' critical thinking skills and competencies needed for these careers.
The curriculum incorporates experiential learning opportunities, scaffolds pedagogies and skills, and encourages curiosity through relationships with self, community, and world. Students develop competencies in areas like program delivery, outdoor recreation, event management, community engagement, environmental education, and more based on their chosen focus emphasis area.
Outdoor Education and Leadership
The Outdoor Education & Leadership (OEL) provides specialized skills and certification for students interested in careers in outdoor and environmental education, adventure leadership, guide services, and related fields. Students develop competencies in backcountry medicine, outdoor leadership, experiential education curriculum design and delivery, Leave No Trace ethics and training, and organizational management. In the OEL focus area students obtain a Wilderness First Responder Medical Certification, Leave No Trace Level-2 Instructor Certification, as well as the ability to effectively lead groups in the outdoors, develop and deliver environmental education programming, and analyze outdoor-focused organizations. Graduates are prepared for opportunities such as outdoor educators, wilderness guides, adventure program leaders, park naturalists, environmental interpreters, and related roles supporting healthy, ethical engagement with the natural world.
Community and Commercial and Tourism
Community, Commercial & Tourism (CCT) provides students with skills and knowledge related to planning and managing programs, events, facilities, and services for community recreation, commercial recreation businesses, sustainable tourism, and hospitality. Students develop competencies in areas like event planning, sponsorship, marketing, budgeting, financial analysis, cross-cultural program design, sustainable tourism development, hospitality services, recreation facilities operation, and environmental and cultural interpretation. They gain abilities to organize events, track finances, design inclusive programs, apply tourism and hospitality best practices, and promote environmental awareness. Graduates are prepared for careers such as special event coordinators, recreation supervisors, tourism development specialists, program managers, commercial recreation entrepreneurs, and related roles serving communities and businesses through accessible programming and sustainable tourism.
Further, students may use an Individualized Study or relevant minors, such as the Natural Resource Law Enforcement minor, to meet compliment their career interests, while completing the academic requirements of their bachelor’s degree in PRM.
The PRM program prepares students for opportunities serving communities in positions like recreation programmers, park rangers, tourism coordinators, outdoor educators, event planners, community engagement specialists, environmental advocates, and more. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to promote justice, foster healthy communities, and contribute to a sustainable future in their careers.
This major requires 66 - 72 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 66 - 72 units
Parks and Recreation Common Course Requirements (48 units)
Although not required for the degree, PRM 110 and PRM 205 are recommended Liberal Studies courses for PRM Majors.
Emphasis or Minor Requirement - Select One (18 - 24 units)
Individualized Study Emphasis (18 units)
Minor Requirement (18 - 24 units)
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
You must maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average in the lower-division core in order to move forward into upper-division core courses. In addition, you must have a Grade of "C" or better in all lower- and upper-division core courses, including repeated courses, in order to graduate.
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.
This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.