Recreation Resource Management

About This Degree

Formed in 2002, the Department of Environment and Society is the first of its kind in a college of natural resources in this country and has served as a model for the development of similar departments at other institutions of higher learning.

The recreation resource management program is a professional degree aimed at students interested in managing outdoor recreation settings, such as public forests and rangelands, state and national parks, and wilderness areas. An understanding of both the land itself and the people who visit these areas is critical in recreation professionals. The goal of the program is to train people to manage public land to provide high-quality experiences for visitors while protecting and preserving the land at the same time.

Recreation resource management graduates are familiar with a variety of land and water management issues, are grounded in social science, and are familiar with research methods and statistical analyses. USU is located within half a day’s drive of six national parks, putting students in close proximity with field study opportunities at some of the most beautiful and most commonly visited recreation sites in the world.

REQUEST INFORMATION
ADVISING

At a Glance

College: S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources

Department: Environment and Society Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus

Program Requirements

Update this page

Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Graduates in recreation resource management can pursue the following careers:

Environmental interpreters
Recreation planners
Park rangers
Monitors of environmental quality
Tourism management and development
Environmental visitor education
Sustainability in nature-based tourism
Trail crew supervisors
Ski area employees
Visitor center directors
Wilderness rangers

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Becky Hirst

Environment and Society Staff Assistant
Email: becky.hirst@usu.edu
Office: NR 201
Phone: (435) 797-3781

I am not a current USU student

I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

I have been admitted and plan to attend, or continue attending USU

USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

Applicants from various undergraduate backgrounds may be considered. Depending on the student’s desired area of research, certain prerequisite courses may be required.

To be accepted to the program, it is recommended that applicants first contact a specific faculty member with whom they are interested in working. If the faculty member is accepting graduate students and agrees to work with the student, the student can then apply by completing the following application requirements:

Application Requirements:

Complete the online application
Pay the $55 application fee
Score at or above the 40th percentile on in the GRE
Have a 3.2 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

The department has the following deadline:

Fall semester – February 15

The degree programs in the Department of Environment and Society have rolling admission, meaning the department will continue to consider and accept applications until the program is full. The time it takes to process an application is primarily dependent on the speed with which the School of Graduate Studies receives letters of recommendation, transcripts, and test scores. For most students, this process may take six to eight weeks. Applicants should plan accordingly.

Program Requirements

Students must prepare and submit an article or other written product for publication by the time they graduate.

Plan Options

Students can receive the MS by pursuing one of two options:

In the Plan A option, students complete graduate-level coursework and must write a thesis.
The Plan B option requires the production of a paper or creative work of art and is expected to reflect equivalent scholarship standards as a thesis.

Financial Aid

The Department of Environment and Society provides funding for most of its graduate students through research assistantships, available through professors having contracts, grants, or other awards.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.