Recreation, Parks and Tourism, B.S. (A, L) or (R, A, L)*

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Concentration
Recreation Therapy Concentration
Tourism and Special Events Concentration

The mission of the Recreation, Parks and Tourism department is to academically engage students through diverse learning opportunities with an emphasis on experiential learning. This approach specifically targets the development of professional competencies in the areas of: (1) foundational knowledge, (2) program leadership, (3) administrative and management functions, and (4) professional skills and behavior. Emphasis is placed on developing the students’ critical thinking skills as the foundation for competency development. The ultimate goal is to produce effective leisure service professionals who are able to address the diverse challenges faced by contemporary society.

Our undergraduate program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions. The recreation therapy concentration meets eligibility requirements to take the national certification examination. COAPRT is accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, which recognizes 60 institutional and programmatic accrediting organizations.

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the A and L areas of the REAL Curriculum. Additionally, the Recreation Therapy concentration fulfills the R area of the REAL Curriculum. Students will study how leisure has shaped culture and its technical economical, and political significance in modern society. A full-semester internship will provide students with the opportunity to make practical use of principles, methods, knowledge, skills, and materials that have been developed or acquired in the academic program of study. Students concentrating in Outdoor Recreation and Leadership or Tourism and Special Events need majors/minors to fulfill the R and E areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements; Students concentrating in Recreation Therapy need a major/minor to fulfill the E area.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level. The Recreation, Parks, and Tourism major includes 3 credits of writing intensive courses.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Recreation, Parks, and Tourism major includes 6 general education credits.

Major Requirements (61-84 credits)

BS Requirement

Two electives outside of the REAL Curriculum, General Education, and RCPT requirements.

Required Major Courses

Required Courses (34 credits)

Concentrations (21-42 credits)

Students must choose one of the following concentrations:

Recreation Therapy Concentration (R, A, L) (42 credits)

The recreation therapy concentration prepares students for a career in recreation therapy, an allied health care profession. The recreation therapy concentration meets eligibility requirements to take the national certification examination. Technical standards must be met for a student to enter recreation therapy concentration courses.

Required Concentration Courses (21 credits)

Additional Requirements (21 credits)

The following courses are required as a part of student eligibility for entry into the National Certification Examination through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification:

Additional Degree Requirements

A 2.7 overall grade point average is required for entry into the following courses: RCPT 340 , RCPT 342 , RCPT 344 , RCPT 400 , RCPT 401 , and RCPT 445 . All recreation therapy courses: RCPT 319 , RCPT 340 , RCPT 342 , RCPT 344 , RCPT 400 , RCPT 401 , RCPT 445 , BIOL 310 , BIOL 311 , PSYC 230 , and PSYC 439 must be completed with a minimum grade of “C” for graduation. All RCPT courses are used for the calculation of the major grade point average.

Open Credit Hours (44 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Outdoor Recreation and Leadership Concentration (A, L) (21 credits)

Required Concentration Courses (21 credits)

Open Credit Hours (65 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Tourism and Special Events Concentration (A, L) (21 credits)

Option Requirements

Choose from the following two options:

Option 1

Option 2

Open Credit Hours (65 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Additional Information

New or transfer students accepted for admission by RU must declare RCPT as a major prior to the first day of classes. All others follow the policy below.
To declare the RCPT Major, current students must have a cumulative Radford University GPA of 2.5 or higher; or a grade of C or higher in RCPT 112 and RCPT 210, and a positive Professional Characteristics and Dispositions Evaluation.
To enroll in RCPT 470, a student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher; or a grade of C or higher in RCPT 413 and a current positive Professional Characteristics and Dispositions Evaluation.
The major GPA is calculated using all RCPT courses.