Parks and Recreation Management students benefit from our integrated Leadership and Planning Option curriculum, which leverages Auburn University’s state-of-the-art sports and recreation programs to provide a hands-on, real-world learning experience. Our faculty instruct students on topics such as recreation planning, sports coordination, environmental interpretation, and leadership using learning laboratories such as Auburn’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, City of Auburn Parks and Recreation facilities, the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, and Chewacla State Park, among others.

A Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Programming Management – Leadership and Planning Option prepares students to plan, conduct, develop, and administer recreational opportunities and events for the public. In-demand career paths with this major include parks and recreation programmer, sports and recreation league coordinator, and recreation center programmer within community parks and recreation facilities. In nature-based recreation settings, they will be qualified to become camp leaders, event and programming coordinators, private-industry recreation coordinators, outdoor educators, field guides, and other similar positions.

The College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment welcomes transfer students who wish to apply up to 60 semester hours of credit toward their degree program at Auburn University.  The school has also forged cooperative transfer programs for students who are earning credit toward their degrees at University of West Alabama, and others. A partnership with Southern Union State Community College also offers a Path to the Plains where students may take classes simultaneously at both institutions until their junior year, where they will fully enroll at Auburn.

If you have any questions about Auburn’s grade point requirements for transfer students, transferring or would like an academic advisor to evaluate your transcripts, please call our Student Services office at 334-844-1001 or e-mail workingwithnature@auburn.edu. Learn more about Auburn’s cooperative transfer programs.

Leadership and Planning Option students will take courses in community- and nature-based recreation, event management, programming, leadership, and communications, preparing them for more hands-on involvement in events such as tennis and soccer tournaments, mountain biking and running races, and other educational activities and community programs.

The major is designed in accordance with the standards set by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). After one year of employment, students who have completed the degree are eligible to take the examination to become Certified Park and Recreation Professionals (CPRP) through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

Parks and recreation management offers diverse and plentiful career opportunities with national, state, local, and private organizations that manage parks and recreation facilities for public or private use within occupations such as:

• Recreation center programmer
• Sports and recreation league coordinator
• Parks and recreation programmer
• Event and programming coordinator
• Camp program leader
• Outdoor educator
• Field guide