Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism & Event Management program

Undergrad major Undergrad minor Graduate degree

Do 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.

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

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

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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.

What distinguishes UWL's program?

Hands-on experience

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.

Nationally-accredited

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.

Excellent curriculum

Curriculum exceeds national accreditation standards and is a key factor in the department’s national reputation.

Connection to faculty

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.

Reputable faculty

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.

Tourism Research Institute

A Tourism Research Institute provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in tourism-related research activities.