BS Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

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Program Learning Objectives

At the completion of this degree program, EIM students will be able to:

  1. Think critically and creatively.
  2. Communicate effectively.
  3. Demonstrate their expertise in the Experience Industry and its associated industries in relation to the larger world of arts, sciences, and technology.
  4. Work productively as individuals and in groups.
  5. Use their knowledge and skills to make a positive contribution to society.
  6. Make reasoned decisions based on an understanding of ethics, a respect for diversity, and an awareness related to sustainability.
  7. Engage in lifelong learning.
  8. Demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge in the Experience Industry Management field: a) the nature and scope of the experience industry; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in the experience industry; and c) the foundations of the profession in history, science, and philosophy (COAPRT Standard 7.01).
  9. Demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity (COAPRT Standard 7.02).
  10. Demonstrate entry-level knowledge about operations and strategic management/administration in the experience industry (COAPRT Standard 7.03).
  11. Demonstrate, through a comprehensive internship of not less than 400 clock hours and no fewer than 10 weeks, the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in the experience industry (COAPRT Standard 7.04).

Degree Requirements and Curriculum

In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:

  • 60 units of upper-division courses
  • 2.0 GPA
  • Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
  • U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)

Note: No Major, Support or Concentration courses may be selected as credit/no credit.

MAJOR COURSES
RPTA 101Introduction to the Experience Industry4
RPTA 110Orientation and College Success in Experience Industry Management1
RPTA 121Theories and Frameworks of Experience Design4
RPTA 210Experience Design4
RPTA 255Leadership and Diverse Groups (E) 14
RPTA 313Sustainability in the Experience Industry4
or RPTA 413 Tourism and Protected Area Management
RPTA 342Risk Management for the Experience Industry4
RPTA 360Assessment and Evaluation of Experience Industry Management4
RPTA 370Experiential Marketing Strategies for Experience Industry Management4
RPTA 405Principles of Experience Industry Management4
RPTA 416Interpreting Experience Industry Data Analytics4
RPTA 424Financial Management in the Experience Industry4
RPTA 460Senior Project in Experience Industry Management4
RPTA 463Pre-Internship Seminar1
RPTA 465Internship12
Concentration or Individualized Course of Study courses (see below)24
SUPPORT COURSES
BUS 212Financial Accounting for Nonbusiness Majors 24
or AGB 214 Agribusiness Financial Accounting
BUS 215Managerial Accounting4
or AGB 323 Decision Making with Agribusiness Accounting Information
BUS 346Principles of Marketing4
ECON 201Survey of Economics (D2) 14
or ECON 222 Macroeconomics
ENGL 310Corporate Communication4
MATH 118Precalculus Algebra (B4) 1, 34
or MATH 119 Precalculus Trigonometry
or MATH 221 Calculus for Business and Economics
STAT 217Introduction to Statistical Concepts and Methods (GE Electives) 14
or STAT 251 Statistical Inference for Management I
GENERAL EDUCATION (GE)
(See GE program requirements below.) 56
FREE ELECTIVES
Free Electives 410
Total units180

Concentrations (Select one)

Individualized Course of Study

A minimum of 24 units of coursework, of which a minimum of 12 units must have a RPTA prefix, and a minimum of 4 units must be upper-division. Courses are selected by the student in consultation with the student's academic advisor, and the Individualized Course of Study must be approved by the academic advisor. If choosing a minor, the Minor Agreement form must be completed and submitted, and the required 12 units of RPTA prefix coursework may be waived.

General Education (GE) Requirements

  • 72 units required, 16 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
  • If any of the remaining 56 units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
  • See the complete GE course listing.
  • A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: A1 (Oral Communication), A2 (Written Communication), A3 (Critical Thinking), and B4 (Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning). 
Area AEnglish Language Communication and Critical Thinking
A1Oral Communication4
A2Written Communication4
A3Critical Thinking4
Area BScientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning
B1Physical Science4
B2Life Science4
B3One lab taken with either a B1 or B2 course
B4Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning (4 units in Support) 10
Upper-Division B4
Area CArts and Humanities
Lower-division courses in Area C must come from three different subject prefixes.
C1Arts: Arts, Cinema, Dance, Music, Theater4
C2Humanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English4
Lower-Division C Elective - Select a course from either C1 or C24
Upper-Division C4
Area DSocial Sciences - Select courses in Area D from at least two different prefixes
D1American Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement)4
D2Lower-Division D (4 units in Support) 10
Upper-Division D4
Area ELifelong Learning and Self-Development
Lower-Division E (4 units in Major) 10
Area F Ethnic Studies
F Ethnic Studies4
GE Electives in Areas B, C, and D
Select courses from two different areas; may be lower-division or upper-division courses.
GE Electives (4 units in Support plus 4 units in GE) 14
Total units56