BS in Recreation Administration
Units required for Major: 57-59
Total units required for BS: 120
Program Description
The BS in Recreation, Park and Nonprofit Management prepares students to work in a wide range of fields that serve the public; protect our natural, cultural and heritage resources; and support a healthy quality of life. Students follow a set of foundational core classes that are augmented with the student’s choice of additional courses in one or more of the following areas:
- Nonprofit and Community Engagement.
Leadership. Community Events & Fundraising. Volunteer Management.
In this area, students choose from courses that will help develop skills and improve confidence in the areas of grant writing, leadership, community outreach and advocacy, finding and managing volunteers, creating fundraising events, and other related areas. There is an emphasis on engaging diversity to help nonprofit agencies best serve their local communities. - Outdoor Recreation.
Natural Resource. Experiential Education. Parks & Protected Areas.
In this area, students choose from courses that will prepare them for ranger, park law enforcement, or wilderness interpreter jobs in federal or state government funded agencies such as the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Parks and Recreation, or the Bureau of Land Management. Additional coursework prepares students to serve as adventure recreation or experiential education leaders for recreation providers such as Peak Adventures. - Public and Agency Recreation.
Campus & Military Recreation. Community Sports. After-School Programming.
In this area, students will gain skills in planning, implementing, managing, and evaluating comprehensive recreation programs that are a vital part of healthy communities. Students choose from courses that will teach them age-appropriate recreation programming across a wide-range of location and facility types including campus recreation centers, community park settings, summer camps, military bases, after-school sites, and others.
Note:
- Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation, Park and Nonprofit Management are not be subject to the University’s Foreign Language Graduation Requirement. Students who change major may be subject to the University’s Foreign Language Graduation Requirement.
- No more than 6 units of RPTA 198 and RPTA 199 in combination may be used to meet program requirements. No more than 3 units of RPTA 198 may be used to meet major requirements.
- RPTA 21, RPTA 22, RPTA 100, and RPTA 122 may not be used to meet program requirements.
Minimum Grade Requirement
Grade of "C-" or better is required in all courses applied to the major.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Courses (16 Units) | ||
| RPTA 1 | Orientation to Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration | 1 |
| RPTA 30 | Recreation, Parks and Tourism in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| RPTA 32 | Leadership and Group Development 3 | 3 |
| RPTA 42 | Recreation and Parks: Natural, Cultural, and Heritage Resources | 3 |
| RPTA 60 | Budgeting for Recreation Services | 3 |
| RPTA 62 | Introduction to Recreation Law | 3 |
| Required Upper Division Courses (16 Units) | ||
| RPTA 101 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| RPTA 105 | Management in Recreation, Parks and Tourism | 3 |
| RPTA 106 | Introduction to Inclusive Recreation and Recreation Therapy | 3 |
| RPTA 110 | Research and Evaluation in Recreation, Parks and Tourism | 3 |
| RPTA 136 | Program and Event Planning in Recreation, Parks and Tourism | 3 |
| RPTA 183 | Marketing Recreation Services | 3 |
| Elective Requirement (15 Units) 1,2 | ||
| Selective 15 units from the following with approval from major advisor: | 15 | |
| Race, Class Gender and Leisure 3 | ||
| The Outdoor Recreation Experience | ||
| Leisure, the Individual, and Contemporary Society | ||
| Recreation Services for Diverse, Underserved and Underrepresented Populations | ||
| Youth Development in Recreation, Parks & Tourism | ||
| Community Sport Programming | ||
| Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR): Military Recreation Services | ||
| Campus Recreation | ||
| Community Organization | ||
| Experiential Education in Outdoor Recreation Settings | ||
| Developing and Programming Adventure Experiences | ||
| Ecology Of Resource Areas | ||
| Visitor Management in Recreation Areas | ||
| Law Enforcement for Forest and Park Rangers | ||
| Environmental Interpretation | ||
| Management of Recreation Facilities | ||
| Grant Writing for Social, Community and Human Service Organizations | ||
| Leadership and Fundraising for Non-profit Organizations | ||
| Volunteer Management in Nonprofit, Service, or Community Organizations | ||
| Administration in Recreation, Parks and Tourism | ||
| Professional Organization Leadership | ||
| Internship Requirement (10-12 Units) | ||
| Select from the following for a minimum of 10 units: | 10 - 12 | |
| Partial Internship: Recreation, Park and Nonprofit Management | ||
| or | ||
| Internship: Recreation, Park and Nonprofit Management | ||
| Total Units | 57-59 | |
- 1
At least 9 units must be at the upper division level.
- 2
RPTA 21, RPTA 22, RPTA 100, or RPTA 122 may not be used to meet major requirements.
- 3
Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.
General Education Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units) | ||
| A1 - Oral Communication | 3 | |
| A2 - Written Communication | 3 | |
| A3 - Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (13 Units) | ||
| B1 - Physical Science | 3 | |
| B2 - Life Forms | 3 | |
| B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5) | 1 | |
| B4 - Math Concepts | 3 | |
| B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units) | ||
| C1 - Arts | 3 | |
| C2 - Humanities | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course | 3 | |
| C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area D: The Individual and Society (6-9 Units) | ||
| Area D Course | 3 | |
| Area D Course 2 | 0 - 3 | |
| Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. | 3 | |
| Area E: Understanding Personal Development | ||
| Area E Course 3 | 0 | |
| Area F: Ethnic Studies (3 Units) | ||
| Area F Course | 3 | |
| Total Units | 43-46 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
Department recommends RPTA 33 to meet Area D.
- 3
Required in Major; also satisfies GE.
Graduation Requirements1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (9 Units) | ||
| American Institutions: U.S. History | 3 | |
| American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive (WI) | 3 | |
| Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (6 Units) | ||
| English Composition II | 3 | |
| Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE) | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 2 | 0 | |
- 1
To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.
Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.
- 2
- Students with a declared major of BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management, BS in Recreation, Park and Nonprofit Management, or BS in Recreation Therapy are exempt from the Foreign Language Graduation Requirement.