Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
The Division of Forestry and Natural Resources offers program options leading to the master of science for students who wish to major in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources. Students selecting this graduate program may focus on field-related specialties including (but not limited to) recreation management and policy, environmental interpretation, and natural resource-based tourism. All students are required to complete a total of thirty-five credit hours and complete a thesis.
Admissions
A regular graduate student is a degree-seeking student who meets all the criteria for regular admission to a program of their choice and be under no requirements to make up deficiencies.
For regular admission, a student must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from a college or university and have at least a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or an average of 3.0 or higher for the last sixty credit hours).
- Provide three letters of reference from persons acquainted with the applicant’s professional work, experience, or academic background.
- Submit a written statement of 500 words or more indicating the applicant’s goals and objectives relative to receiving a graduate degree, and identify a potential faculty advisor.
- Have an adequate academic aptitude at the graduate level as measured by the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the New Medical College Admissions Test (New MCAT).
* International students must meet WVU's minimum score requirements for English language proficiency.
Students seeking admission for the M.S. in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources should have completed an undergraduate curriculum emphasizing natural resources recreation. A student whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than this discipline will ordinarily be required to take supplemental undergraduate courses as part of their degree work.
Students selecting this graduate program may emphasize recreation management and policy, environmental education and interpretation, or natural resource-based tourism.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Major Code: 0781
A candidate for the M.S. degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism must meet all University, College, Division, and Program requirements as outlined in the WVU Graduate Catalog.
Program Requirements
All M.S. degree candidates are required to follow a planned program of study. The student develops the plan of study during their first year in the program in conjunction with the graduate committee. The plan must be approved by the Director of the Division and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the Davis College. Students can either complete a traditional research-based thesis, or a more applied Project. The Project option could be completed in as little as 12 months or 3 semesters for students not on a Graduate Research Assistantship.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required in all courses applied toward degree requirements. | ||
Research Methods and Statistics * | 6 | |
Introduction to Research | ||
or AGEE 642 | Agriculture Education Research Methods and Design | |
Statistical Methods 1 | ||
or EDP 613 | Statistical Methods 1 | |
Recreation, Parks, & Tourism Resources courses (take 4 classes from the following list, or other approved RPTR classes) ** | 12 | |
Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management | ||
Non-Personal Interpretation | ||
Personal Interpretation | ||
Outdoor Recreation Behavior | ||
Tourism Planning | ||
Special Topics | ||
Cognate Area ** | 9 | |
400, 500, 600, or 700 level courses in AGEE, EDP, FMAN, FOR, RESM, RPTR, or other approved fields | ||
FOR 697 | Research (Project students take 3 credits of RPTR 792) | 3 |
or RPTR 792 | Directed Study | |
Total Hours | 30 |
- *
All students are required to take a 3-credit hour Graduate Research Methods class (such as EDP 612, AGEE 642, etc.).
- **
Excluding 697 courses and RPTR 792.
A thesis requires collecting a qualitative or quantitative data set for the purpose of conducting action-oriented research (e.g., program or needs assessments), cooperative research (e.g, cooperative problem solving), and/or theory development (e.g., hypothesis testing). The specific requirements for each student are determined by the thesis chair and committee members. A thesis ordinarily requires two years of residence. Students can also complete a Project option, which requires a substantial applied project (e.g., tourism management plan, interpretive management or exhibit plan), planned in conjunction with the student’s graduate committee.
Major Learning Outcomes
Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Resources
- Students will be able to apply a broad range of social science theories and methods to policy, planning, and management challenges and opportunities in the recreation, tourism, and natural resource fields.
- Students will be able to design and conduct field relevant research to address natural resource based recreation and tourism questions and problems.
- Students will be able to analyze and interpret research data that addresses natural resource based recreation and tourism questions and problems.
- Students will communicate effectively in writing and oral presentations to professional and lay audiences about issues in the RPTR field.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to remain current with contemporary issues within one's field and related areas.