PRTM Concentration Areas
- Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management (CRSCM)
- Professional Golf Management (PGM)
- Park and Protected Area Management (PPAM) (Note: At the graduate level, this is Recreation Resource Management)
- Therapeutic Recreation
- Travel and Tourism
Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management (CRSCM)
The Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management (CRSCM) concentration is focused on preparing students for programming and managerial positions in a wide variety of recreation related fields including the public and non-profit sectors such as municipal parks and recreation, state and national agencies, voluntary youth serving agencies, religious-affiliated social agencies, university campus recreation programs and much more. Students will take classes in a wide variety of areas including management, leadership, programming, risk management, facility operations and more. In addition, all students will gain hands-on experience through a 400-hour internship working for an employer in a position tied to community recreation, amateur sport or camp management. Today’s CRSCM professionals are a strong component in a national movement to increase the quality of life for all citizens through a wide variety of recreation opportunities.
Examples of Job Opportunities for CRSCM Graduates
Youth Sport Program Coordinator
Director of Parks and Recreation
Day Camp Leader
Camp Director
Cultural Arts Supervisor
University Intramural Sports Director
Afterschool Program Coordinator
Aquatics Supervisor
Adult Sport Program Supervisor
Links of Interest
National Recreation and Park Association
National Alliance for Youth Sports
American Camping Association
YMCA
National Intramural and Recreational Sport Association
South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association
Professional Golf Management Program (PGM)
The PGM Program in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management Department (PRTM) at Clemson University provides a unique educational background for students who desire to become PGA professionals. Students obtain specialized knowledge and preparation to be leaders in the expanding golf industry. The PGM curriculum provides an academic program that develops well-rounded, service-oriented golf professionals who can meet and respond to the personal as well as business management requirements of golf facilities. The combination of skills and knowledge acquired in the program augment the golf professional's success as a manager and advocate for the game. Further, because of the unique resources of Clemson University, graduates will have a greater understanding of environmental issues as they relate to golf operations, and the ability to promote and expand golf to youth, women, minorities and those with disabilities.
Park and Protected Area Management
(Note: At the Graduate level this is Recreation Resource Management)
Park and protected area management is becoming increasingly important as competing interests seek to utilize our finite land and water resources. This emphasis area prepares the student for work experiences with the various governmental and private agencies and organizations who preserve, develop and manage our natural and historic areas. Included among these organizations are such diverse groups as the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management; varying state, regional and local park systems; and organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society, the Wilderness Society and National Wildlife Federation.
Park and protected area management offers training in the "art of environmental manipulation" in order to furnish increased activities in park or historic settings. Through a combination of resource planning and practical application, students gain a working knowledge of the field, enabling them to function effectively, either from an administrative standpoint or as a member of a professional team. Core curriculum offerings are strengthened by supplemental electives in disciplines including wildlife biology, horticulture, forestry, geology, history, soils, public relations, planning and others.
In an era of increased park visitation and diminishing resource bases, the need for interpretation of the values of parks and historic sites to the visitor has become apparent. Through a combination of hands-on and classroom experiences dealing with existing natural and historical settings, the student learns to express individual creativity in the art of interpretation. The interpreter functions as a "middleman" between visitors and managers and is a vital link in the park management process. Students are prepared to act as interpreters themselves, or to effectively utilize the talents of staff members in the role of a park administrator.
In summary, via a mixture of philosophical, theoretical and practical applications, a graduate of the recreation resource management curriculum is capable of meeting that most demanding challenge--that of administering the optimum blend of people and the resource base which in turn will determine the future of this nation.
Therapeutic Recreation
Are you interested in creating recreation experiences and opportunities for individuals with disabilities? If so, therapeutic recreation may be the major you have been looking for!
Therapeutic recreation is:
“…treatment, education, and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life.”
National Therapeutic Recreation Society, 2000
Therapeutic recreation specialists typically work with individuals who have some type of cognitive, emotional, and/or physical limitation. For example, you may find therapeutic recreation specialists who work with hospitalized children who have cancer or are recovering from burns, adolescents and adults with psychiatric disorders, youth at-risk, older adults recovering from strokes or living with dementia, children and adults with developmental disabilities such as mental retardation, children and adults with physical impairments such as strokes or spinal cord injuries. A variety of agencies employ certified therapeutic recreation specialists, including community based recreation agencies, camps, schools, children's hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, physical rehabilitation hospitals, general hospitals, adult day care, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes, to name a few!
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “fast employment growth [in therapeutic recreation] is expected in assisted living, outpatient physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and [community] services for people with disabilities.” The median annual salary for therapeutic recreation specialists in 2000 was $28,650. According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, the mean salary among a random sample of their members was $35,656 in 1996.
There are two national organizations for therapeutic recreation specialists: the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) and the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS). ATRA's members typically work in hospital and clinic settings. NTRS's members work in a variety of settings ranging from hospitals to adult day care to community based recreation agencies. Members of NTRS receive the premiere TR journal, Therapeutic Recreation Journal , as part of their membership. We encourage students to consider joining ATRA or NTRS. There are membership applications on-line and you may join either organization via their websites.
All students who complete the requirements for the B.S. degree in therapeutic recreation will be eligible to sit for the examine to become certified as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). This certification is a basic requirement for entry-level positions in the field of therapeutic recreation. For further information on this professional certification you may access the website of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
Finally, students considering a major in TR or students enrolled in our program who are looking for internship sites or program ideas may benefit from pursuing the Therapeutic Recreation Directory.
Travel and Tourism
Concentration prepares students for interesting and challenging careers working in one of the world's most diverse and dynamic industries. Students in this concentration are introduced to issues pertaining to the management, planning, and promotion of places and events such as tourist attractions. The program is designed to provide an understanding of the linkages that exist between local communities, their populations, and various public, private, and special interest groups. Students in Travel and Tourism can pursue careers in private sector enterprises, government agencies, convention and visitor bureaus, as well as other tourism-affiliated organizations.
©Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management - last updated on
August 27, 2009