Course Description
Introduces students to park management with focus on the management of public lands (local to federal) pertaining to visitation and outdoor recreation use. The four major areas covered are administration (policies, liabilities), management (budgeting, human resource), resource management (planning, facilities, impacts), and visitor management (conflicts, law enforcement, safety).
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to identify a current park
management issue, conduct research on the issue, present an
overview and SWOT analysis of the different sides/aspects of the
issue, strategies or solutions for the issue and long-term ideas
for monitoring any suggested changes. Graduate students will
present their findings and submit a ten-page report on the issue
and their findings.
Athena Title
Park Management
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in RLST 5400, NRRT 5400, ANTH 5400 or RLST 7400, NRRT 7400, ANTH 7400
Undergraduate Prerequisite
[PRTM 3310 or FANR 3400-3400D or FANR(ECOL) 4810/6810 or FANR(MARS) 1100 or FANR 1100E or FANR 4202/6202-4202D/6202D)] and permission of major
Graduate Prerequisite
[PRTM 3310 or FANR 3400-3400D or FANR(ECOL) 4810/6810 or FANR(MARS) 1100 or FANR 1100E or FANR 4202/6202-4202D/6202D)]
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course aims to meet the following objectives: • To introduce the basic concepts, principles, approaches, and models of managing recreation resources in natural resource settings. • To provide understanding concerning the delivery of visitor and recreation services and products in public lands. • To provide a foundation of the necessary knowledge and skills that managers need to develop, manage, and maintain public lands and their recreation facilities. • To provide understanding of the contemporary professional issues in park management and how they affect the delivery of visitor services. • To understand the knowledge and skills needs to manage diverse natural resources, ranging from wilderness to urban areas, in order to promote and enhance the visitor's experience. • To understand the principles/procedures for the planning and operation of public lands. • To understand the basic principles and procedures for designing public lands for visitation and use. • To be able to identify the environmental legalities of park management.
Topical Outline
Resource management in public lands Overview of public land and park management Overview of current issues in park management Park administration, business management, and policies Human resource management Park resources and facilities Planning and monitoring of resources and facilities Visitor use and protection Managing for diverse populations and uses Working as a park manager