The Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) Graduate Program Handbook provides key resources for students, including information about program timelines, degree requirements, policies, expectations, and life at NC State. It complements the University Graduate School Handbook, which contains detailed information about Graduate School policies and procedures

Current Student Forms

The following forms are important for current graduate students and should be completed at specific points throughout the academic year:

• Mutual Expectations Form (2026-27). At the beginning of each academic year, faculty advisors should work with students to complete and discuss this form, which outlines guidelines and expectations from the coming year across multiple domains (research, teaching, service, etc.).
• Travel and Professional Development Request Form. At the beginning of each academic year, students hoping to obtain department funding to assist with travel or professional development must apply using this form.
• TA Expectations Form. All instructors who have a TA assigned to their course should complete this form before class begins. The form helps to ensure instructors and TA are on the same page regarding responsibilities throughout the course.
• TA Evaluation Form. All instructors who have a TA assigned to their course should complete this brief form at the end of the course. Additional, and more detailed, evaluation feedback (e.g., formal peer review of teaching) can be conducted separately if mutually agreed upon by the instructor and TA.
• Annual Activity Reporting Form (2026-2027). In April every year, all graduate students complete this form to highlight their accomplishments throughout the year (e.g., publications, presentations, courses taught, professional development activities, service, etc.)
• Annual Progress Evaluation Form (2026-2027). In May every year, all faculty advisors complete this form for each of their students to highlight progress, areas of strength, and opportunities for growth and improvement. Faculty advisors should discuss responses on this form with graduate students. 
• Graduate Student Fellowship Applications. More details coming soon…

Program Policies and Degree Planning

Departmental Policies

All PRTM graduate program policies are summarized in the PRTM Graduate Program Handbook (2026–27). Additional policies and guidelines include:

• PhD Guidelines and MS Guidelines. These guidelines help doctoral and master’s students and their advisors plan a path toward graduation and provide benchmarks for measuring progress toward degree completion.
• Guidelines for Article-Style Dissertation (ASD)
• Advisor Change Procedure
• Procedure to Transfer from MS to PhD Program
• Doctoral Student Teaching Course Compensation Policy

NC State Graduate School Degree Information

• Graduate School Forms — Forms for exams, course actions and other graduate program needs.
• Graduate School Minimum Requirements and Transfer Credits
• Minimum Enrollment Requirements
• Master’s Degree: Summary of Procedures
• Doctoral Degree: Summary of Requirements
• Degree Planning
• Build an Advisory Committee
• Schedule an Exam
• Theses and Dissertations
• Electronic Theses and Dissertations
• Academic Difficulty
• Withdrawal from the University

Teaching and Professional Development

PRTM Teaching and Professional Development Courses

• PRT 685/885: Supervised Teaching. This course is a practicum focused on developing effective teaching methods. Students lead the preparation and delivery of an undergraduate course, while faculty mentor(s) help to develop the specific teaching plan, provide mentorship, and regular feedback to advance graduate students’ professional goals. This form outlines the procedures and recommendations for the entire supervised teaching experience, including preparation, implementation, and evaluation.
• PRT 884: Advanced Directed Study in PRTM. This course aims to provide an alternative supervised substantive professional development experience that is comparable to the Supervised Teaching course (PRT 885) in the PRTM PhD Curriculum. In this course, students will develop and implement an advanced directed study plan addressing their essential professional networking, communication, and analytical skills under the supervision of their advisor. PhD students pursuing a non-academic career are expected to take this Advanced Directed Study (PRT 884) course, while PhD students pursuing an academic career path should take PRT 885. The form is to be completed collaboratively by the Instructor (Advisor) and the Advisee prior to the course.

Teaching Resources

• NC State Graduate School Teaching Programs
• Open Educational Resources
• Khan Academy
• Social Science Research Network
• MERLOT
• Faculty Focus
• Graduate Student Research Symposium

Funding, Employment and Travel

Funding and Employment

• Graduate Student Support Plan
• Assistantships and Fellowships
• NC State Payroll — Payroll information and resources.
• Tuition, Billing and Cashier’s Office

Travel

• NC State Travel Guides and Forms
• Before traveling, complete a Travel Authorization through MyPack Portal: For Faculty & Staff > Financial Systems > Travel Authorizations
• Equipment Room and Vehicle Pool Information

Technology, Facilities and Transportation

• College of Natural Resources IT Services. For assistance, email [email protected] or submit an IT Help Form.
• Room Scheduling Quick View
• Parking and Transportation

Campus and Student Support

• Graduate Student Association
• New Graduate Student Survival Guide
• New Student Orientation
• Information for International Students and Scholars