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Parks, Recreation and Sport Management, BS

Do you want to manage programs and facilities that help communities thrive? Build leadership, management and communication skills that will prepare you for success. You learn how to provide meaningful recreation experiences in public, private and nonprofit settings.

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Students in the BS in Parks, Recreation and Sport Management engage in conversation outdoors, with one wearing a gold ASU shirt.

Quick facts

Courses

120 credit hours
Math intensity: General program math intensity general
First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics
View more details

Additional facts

STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.

Accreditation

This degree is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Re...

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Degree description

Parks, Recreation and Sport Management degree description

In the Bachelor of Science program in parks, recreation and sport management, you prepare to lead and manage programs that enhance quality of life and strengthen communities. You gain a broad understanding of the field through coursework and applied experiences that integrate natural, social and management sciences.

Coursework includes wilderness and environmental communication, policy, assessment, and recreation planning and programming. The program also features an internship that enables you to apply your learning in professional settings within the parks, recreation and sport industries.

Why study parks, recreation and sport management at ASU?

Pursue concurrent degrees, often called a double major and graduate with two distinct degrees and two diplomas. Working alongside your academic advisors, you can design your own concurrent combination, though some pairings aren't possible when the curricula overlap too heavily.

Choose the accelerated option to earn both a bachelor's and a master's in as little as five years. Built for high-achieving students, these programs let you share undergraduate and graduate coursework to reach your master's degree sooner, all taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

Additional details

Get involved through the Sports, Parks and Recreation Students' Club, which works to enrich the academic, social and professional experiences of sports, parks and recreation majors. SPARC opens the door to community service, networking, learning, leadership, member benefits and plenty of fun.

Courses

Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.

Sample courses
PRM 120 Leisure and the Quality of Life
PRM 201 Introduction to Sport and Recreation Management
PRM 203 Designing Experiences: Events and Programs
PRM 304 Recreation and Sport Planning and Facilities
PRM 306 Leading Experiences
PRM 380 Wilderness and Parks in America

Course checksheet and curriculum archive

The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.

What If

Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).

Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.

If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.

See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)

What you'll learn

The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.

  • Incorporate multiple perspectives when proposing solutions to complex PRSM issues.
  • Integrate knowledge from diverse disciplines to develop comprehensive strategies that address the complex challenges faced by park, recreation and sport organizations.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in written communications with diverse audiences (e.g., clients, interdisciplinary team members, families, community members).

Admission requirements

Here are the admission and application details

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.

First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") is required to change majors to this program.

Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.


Explore expanded study opportunities

This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.

This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
scrd@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0182
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0182
Learn more about this program
Undergraduate advisor
Melissa Bryant
602-496-0264
Melissa.Bryant@asu.edu
Graduate advisor
April Maguire
602-496-0182
scrd@asu.edu
General contact
602-496-0182
Learn more about this program
General contact
602-496-0450
Learn more about this program

Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.

Global experience

Study abroad programs that include travel to some of the world's most renowned and pristine parks, wildlife reserves and other recreational facilities, as well as to forests, reefs and deserts, provide students with invaluable professional development and insight that they can use in their future career.

With more than 300 programs available, study abroad enables students to tailor their experience to their interests and skill sets.

Paying for college

Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Get an estimate

Build the career and future you want

Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:

Career opportunities showing job titles, projected growth rates, median salaries, and links to detailed information
Career Growth Median Salary More Information
Community Life Director 6.3% $48,590
Event Planner 5.8% $61,160
Fitness and Wellness Coordinator 6.2% $69,770
General Manager (GM) 5.0% $105,770
Museum Educator 6.3% $38,120
Park Ranger 5.3% $73,010
Recreation Coordinator 4.3% $36,560
Social Services Director 7.2% $80,390
Urban Planner 3.9% $89,320

Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.

Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).


More about careers

Careers this parks, recreation and sport management degree prepares you for

Graduates are prepared for professional roles in which they design, develop and manage recreation services that meet the needs of diverse communities. They are employed in public, private and nonprofit organizations in Arizona, nationally and abroad, in settings such as:

  • armed forces recreation
  • city park and recreation departments
  • county and state park agencies
  • federal natural resource agencies
  • hospitals and care facilities
  • nonprofit recreation programs
  • private and commercial recreation facilities
  • special event management
  • sport venues and theme parks
  • youth agencies

Contact information

Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.

School of Community Resources and Development | UCENT 164
scrdadvising@asu.edu
602-496-1658

Frequently asked questions about degree programs

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

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