Parks and recreation professionals provide an invaluable service to humanity.
Their goal is to improve the quality of life through the provision of high caliber leisure services.
In today's society, we recognize that leisure experiences may provide the healthiest and most satisfying part of one's life. We provide a "high touch" complement to "high tech" lifestyles.
In addition to these positive personal impacts, recreation offers significant economic values. Current estimates show annual expenditures in excess of $350 billion per year.
Parks and recreation professionals seldom gain immense financial rewards; nonetheless, many would describe themselves as rich in spirit. "There is a lot to say for looking forward to your work each day," says one agency director. Many find the challenges and diversity particularly rewarding.
The recreation and park administration curriculum is designed to prepare future professionals for careers with the following types of agencies: Public parks and recreation departments as administrators, facility managers, and program directors; Commercial recreation as hospitality directors, department managers, concessionaires, and program specialists; Corporate recreation as agency directors or program specialists; Youth serving agencies as executive directors, facility managers, activity specialists or camp directors; Military recreation as division heads or program specialists.
Skilled professionals such as these are necessary to maintain the highest levels of quality in supplying the volume and diversity of leisure experiences demanded by the public.
The recreation and park administration option at K-State meets this demand through a rigorous and multi-disciplinary curriculum focusing on : business management; program development; facility operations and design; and public relations and marketing. As a future leisure services professional, you must develop a broad educational base so you can understand the social, economic, and political factors influencing leisure behavior. You will also gain a solid foundation in the natural sciences and humanities, as well as communication and problem solving skills sufficient to either make or influence the making of intelligent and informed decisions.
The parks and recreation administration curriculum is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association. Graduates from accredited curriculums benefit through enhanced certification status and improved employment opportunities.
For more information about the park resource management program e-mail or write to:
Kansas State University
Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources
2021 Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center
Manhattan, KS 66506-5506
Email: sreyer@oznet.ksu.edu
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