Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management program
Undergrad major Undergrad minor Graduate degreeDo you enjoy being active, working with people and helping them develop and grow?
Join a profession where your work is to bring quality leisure into people's lives.
The Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management program at UWL is the only nationally-accredited recreation management program in Wisconsin and one of the largest undergraduate programs in the U.S. Our students gain practice in the field and network with professionals through internships and community engagement in their coursework.
What is Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management?
Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management (ORTEM) students learn the skills and knowledge to pursue professional careers designing, facilitating, and managing recreation, tourism, and outdoor experiences. They work with people from diverse backgrounds in settings such as parks and recreation departments, outdoor adventure agencies, camping organizations, and tourism and event management businesses.
The Recreation Management (ORTEM) program prepared me to make an impact at my internship site right away. The mix of classes gave me the practical knowledge to avoid wasting time having to learn the basics on site, while also giving me the theory and inspiration to dream new ways to educate, enrich and entertain our customers.
Pierce Johnson
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Jobs in Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management
The Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management program offers four different emphasis areas (generalist; tourism and event management; community-based recreation, and outdoor recreation), which allows students to study and prepare for careers most closely related to their interests.
Students are trained for middle management careers in a range of agencies, such as national, state, and local parks and recreation departments, destination marketing organizations, tourism attractions and facilities, event venues, and various non-profit enterprises.
Career options
- Recreation center supervisor
- Parks & Recreation coordinator
- Park ranger
- Amusement park manager
- Cruise ship director
- Camp director
- Outdoor program coordinator
- Event coordinator
- Event planner
- Outdoor adventure program guide
- Director of fan experiences
- Sport director
- Wellness director
- Tourism marketing director
- Convention sales manager
- Director of hospitality
- Environmental educator
Graduate education
The rigorous undergraduate curriculum also provides a solid foundation for those choosing to pursue a graduate degree in recreation management. A dual degree option is available for students wishing to complete a bachelor's and master's in reduced time.
What distinguishes UWL's program?
Students gain hands-on experience through a 12- week internship designed to serve as a student’s transition from the university curriculum to the profession. Also, students complete an additional 100 hours of hands-on professional experience prior to their internship.
UWL's Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation has been nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT) since 1988.
Curriculum exceeds national accreditation standards and is a key factor in the department’s national reputation.
Faculty play an important role in the educational and professional development of each student. Students are assigned a faculty adviser who is available for advisement on registration, internships, and professional development throughout their academic career.
All of the faculty members are involved in leadership positions with national and state recreation professional associations. They also perform research and write extensively on important topics in the recreational field, and several are nationally and internationally renown scholars.
A Tourism Research Institute provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in tourism-related research activities.
The placement rate for recreation management majors is consistently above 90 % in locations around the U.S.
Areas of study
Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management
Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management (ORTEM) students learn the skills and knowledge to pursue professional careers designing, facilitating, and managing recreation, tourism, and outdoor experiences. They work with people from diverse backgrounds in settings such as parks and recreation departments, outdoor adventure agencies, camping organizations, and tourism and event management businesses.
Undergrad minor View a sample plan for Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management Catalogfor Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management Learn more for Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event ManagementCommunity-Based Recreation Emphasis
The community-based recreation emphasis prepares students for professional roles in programming and management in a wide variety of recreation related fields in the public and non-profit sectors such as municipal parks and recreation departments, state agencies, youth serving agencies, religious-affiliated agencies, social service agencies, and campus recreation.
Undergrad major View a sample plan for Community-Based Recreation Catalogfor Community-Based RecreationGeneralist Emphasis
The recreation management generalist emphasis allows students to explore all areas of recreation. Students in the generalist emphasis take the recreation management core curriculum and an additional nine credits selected from the other three emphasis areas.
Undergrad major View a sample plan for Generalist Catalogfor GeneralistOutdoor Recreation Emphasis
The outdoor recreation emphasis is for students who want to work in natural resource-based recreation settings. This program helps students develop skills in outdoor programming and leadership, environmental education, outdoor guiding and adventure, and nature-based recreation management.
Undergrad major View a sample plan for Outdoor Recreation Catalogfor Outdoor RecreationTourism & Event Management Emphasis
The tourism and event management emphasis is for students interested in creating and managing visitor experiences. Whether it is managing a resort, promoting a destination, leading adventure tours, or planning events, a career in tourism is about helping others enjoy their travel and event experience as much as you enjoy your own.
Undergrad major Undergrad minor View a sample plan for Tourism & Event Management Catalogfor Tourism & Event ManagementUndergrad + graduate dual degree Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management (four emphasis options) & Master of Science in Recreation Management Dual Degree Program
Students in this dual degree program in recreation management earn a Generalist Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Recreation Management.
- Community-Based Recreation
- Generalist
- Outdoor Recreation
- Tourism/Event Management
Sample courses
More programs to consider
FAQ
How can I connect with other recreation majors?
The Recreation Majors Club meets the professional and service needs of our students. In addition to being active on campus and in the community, students within this organization regularly attend regional and national conferences where they obtain valuable knowledge, professional contacts, and professional experience.
Last modified: 07/17/2020
What certifications are available?
Upon graduating, recreation management majors are eligible to take the Certified Park and Recreation Professional examination through the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), a valuable credential for professional advancement. In the commercial area, students are also eligible to take the Certified Commercial Recreation Professional (CCRP) Examination. The placement rate for recreation management majors is consistently above 90 percent in locations around the U.S.
Last modified: 07/17/2020
