Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration, Bachelor of Science (5010)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/krs

Program Coordinator

Raymond A. Poff, raymond.poff@wku.edu, (270) 745-2498

The major in Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration prepares students for numerous and exciting careers in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors. These careers are designed to help individuals, families, and communities improve their quality of life.

Students will complete at least one of the following options: a) Major consisting of core courses (36 hours); b) Major with concentration - Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism (48 hours); or c) Major with concentration - Nonprofit Administration (48 hours). 

The major requires 36 or 48 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. It is nationally accredited by The Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions. https://accreditationcouncil.org/.

Key career areas in Recreation and Park Administration include community recreation, outdoor recreation, recreational sport, event management, tourism, nonprofit organizations, campus recreation, recreation business, and Armed Forces recreation. 

Key career areas in Nonprofit Administration include, arts, culture, humanities, community development, disability services, disaster relief, education, environment, food, fundraising, healthcare, museums, nature, professional organizations, recreation, science, seniors, sports, wildlife, youth services, and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). 

For more information on career opportunities related to this major, please visit, https://www.wku.edu/recreation/career-opps.php. 

Concentrations

• Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism (RECS)
• Nonprofit Administration (RENA)

Program Requirements (36-48 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

The major requires a minimum of 36-48 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. 

Students will complete at least one of the following options:

1. (36 hours) – Major core courses as listed in the next section below. See important footnote below*
2. (48 hours) – Major core courses [36 hours] + Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism concentration [12 hours]
3. (48 hours) - Major core courses [36 hours] + Nonprofit Administration concentration [12 hours] 

*

Students selecting this option will also need to complete a certificate, minor, or second major. The combination must include at least 54 hours (48 unduplicated). For a list of popular programs to pair with this concentration, please visit www.wku.edu/recreation. 

Core Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
REC 200	Recreation in Society	3
REC 302	Recreation Leadership	3
REC 306	Experience Planning and Evaluation	3
REC 328	Inclusive Recreation	3
REC 338	Parks, Recreation, and Quality of Life	3
REC 402	Fiscal Practices in Recreation	3
REC 406	Recreation Administration	3
REC 490	Internship in Recreation	12
Complete 3 hours of REC courses (unduplicated) from REC 2**, REC 3**, REC 4**, or, other courses approved by the Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration advisor.		3
Total Hours		36

The two concentrations available to choose from include:

• Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism (48 hours);
• Nonprofit Administration (48 hours).

Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism Concentration 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Students will complete the 36 credit hours of core courses as detailed above, plus the following requirements:
Complete 6 hours (unduplicated) from REC 2**, REC 3**, or REC 4**.		6
Complete 6 hours (unduplicated) from the following:		6
REC 2**, 3**, or 4**
SPM 200	Introduction to Sport Management
SPM 300	Governance and Public Policy in Sport
SPM 305	Sport Event Management
SPM 310	Sport Ethics and Moral Issues
SPM 315	Sport Communication
SPM 404	Sport Facility Management
SPM 450	Legal Issues in Sport
PE 211	Net / Wall and Target Sports
PE 212	Striking / Fielding and Invasion Sports
PE 300	Lifespan Leisure & Recreation Activities
PE 319	Adapted Physical Education
PE 340	Football Coaching
PE 341	Basketball Coaching
PE 342	Track and Field Coaching
PE 343	Baseball Coaching
EXS 122	Foundations of Kinesiology
EXS 223	Introduction to Exercise Science
HMD 271	Tourism Planning and Development
HMD 373	Hospitality and Tourism Marketing
HMD 375	Meeting and Convention Management
HMD 475	Advanced Event Planning in Hospitality
MKT 220	Basic Marketing Concepts
MKT 331	Social Media Marketing
MGT 210	Organization and Management
MGT 333	Management of Nonprofit Organizations
ACCT 220	Principles of Financial Accounting
ENT 312	Entrepreneurship
PS 340	Principles of Public Administration
GEOG 210	Environment and Ecological Policy
GEOG 295	Introduction to Research Techniques
GEOG 475	Selected Topics in Environment, Geography, and Sustainability
GISC 316	Geographic Information Systems I
Or, other courses approved by the Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Administration advisor.
Total Hours		12

Nonprofit Administration Concentration 

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Students will complete the 36 credit hours of core courses as detailed above, plus the following requirements:
REC 220	Understanding the Nonprofit Sector	3
REC 460	Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations	3
MGT 333	Management of Nonprofit Organizations	3
or PS 340	Principles of Public Administration
MKT 220	Basic Marketing Concepts	3
Total Hours		12

Finish in Four Plans

Four Year Plans

Comprehensive Study of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism Concentration

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 200 (Colonnade - Social & Behavioral)	3	REC 302	3
COMM 145	3	ENG 100	3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences	3	Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab	3
HIST 101 or HIST 102	3	MATH 109, MATH 116, or MATH 183	3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective or World Language (if needed)	3
	15		15
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
REC 306	3	REC 328	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
ENG 200	3	ENG 300 or COMM 200	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		15		3
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 338 (Or, Connections - Systems)	3	REC 402	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Connections - Social & Cultural	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 406	3	REC 490	12
REC 338 (Or, Connections - Systems)	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		12
Total Hours 120

Essentials of Recreation, Parks, Events, and Tourism Concentration

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 200	3	REC 302	3
COMM 145	3	ENG 100	3
Colonnade - Natural & Physical Sciences	3	Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with Lab	3
HIST 101 or HIST 102	3	MATH 109, MATH 116, or MATH 183	3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective or World Language (if needed)	3
	15		15
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
REC 306	3	REC 328	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
ENG 200	3	ENG 300 or COMM 200	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		15		3
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 338 (Or, Connections - Systems)	3	REC 402	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Connections - Social & Cultural	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 406	3	REC 490	12
REC 338 (Or, Connections - Systems)	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		12
Total Hours 120

Nonprofit Administration Concentration

First Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 200	3	REC 302	3
COMM 145	3	ENG 100	3
Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences	3	Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab	3
HIST 101 or HIST 102	3	MATH 109, MATH 116, or MATH 183	3
Colonnade: Arts & Humanities	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective or World Language (if needed)	3
	15		15
Second Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours	Summer	Hours
REC 306	3	REC 328	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
REC 220	3	MKT 220	3
ENG 200	3	ENG 300 or COMM 200	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		15		3
Third Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 338 (Or, Connections - Systems)	3	REC 402	3
MGT 333 or PS 340	3	REC 460	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Connections - Social & Cultural	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3	Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		15
Fourth Year
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
REC 406	3	REC 490	12
REC 338 (Or, Connections - Systems)	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
Major/Minor/Cert/Elective	3
	15		12
Total Hours 120