Located in the East Central region of Alabama, the Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, or CFWE, offers easy access to the abundant forests, rivers and streams, and waterways that make this state one of the most biologically diverse in the nation. These diverse natural habitats, which span from the Gulf of Mexico to the Tennessee Valley, make Alabama an ideal place for education and careers in natural resources.  Parks and Recreation Management students benefit from our integrated curriculum that makes full use of Central Alabama’s beautiful parks and recreation areas. Our faculty instruct students on topics such as environmental education, planning, management, environmental interpretation, and recreation programming using learning laboratories such as the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center, the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation areas, and Chewacla State Park, among others.

The Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management at Auburn University prepares students with training in the design, management, and administration of programs for federal, state, or community parks and recreation areas or to work with non-profit or private industries operating sports, tourism, and recreation facilities.

Within the Nature-Based Park and Recreation Management career path, students learn to manage national, state, or private parks and recreation areas suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, hunting, and mountain biking, among others. Alternatively, they can choose to focus on Community Parks and Recreation Management, which involves administering facilities such as city trails and parks, community recreation centers, playgrounds, aquatic centers, and other sporting facilities. They can also choose the Leadership and Planning Option, which tailors the major to students who wish to have hands-on involvement in planning, developing, and coordinating programs in parks and other nature-based facilities.

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.

Parks and Recreation Management coursework includes experiential learning and career preparedness opportunities such as:

• 2-week experiential field course where students can earn several micro-credentials, including Leave No Trace, Certified Interpretive Guide, Trip Leader, Wilderness First Aid, and Trail Building certifications, among other skills.
• Before their senior year, students are prepared for and complete supervised internships as part of their degree requirements. These internships improve the career readiness of our students, who can apply classroom theory within real-world situations under the direction of a supervisor or mentor.
• Study abroad opportunities on Sustainable Nature Tourism in Costa Rica, Belize, and New Zealand are also available and count toward restricted electives in the Park and Recreation Management emphasis.

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:

• Parks and recreation agency director
• Public lands manager
• Operations manager
• Outdoor recreation center director
• Camp director
• Program manager
• Wellness coordinator
• Park ranger or interpreter
• Outdoor guide or outfitter