{"id":10954,"date":"2018-03-22T19:20:10","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T23:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/?page_id=10954"},"modified":"2026-02-06T11:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T16:38:19","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building Healthier, Stronger Communities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded in 1947, the NC State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is&nbsp;dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities around the world by <strong>promoting active lifestyles<\/strong> and <strong>fostering positive connections&nbsp;between people and nature<\/strong>. We accomplish our mission through innovative and creative teaching, collaborative research, and focused engagement with local, national and global partners.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-custombg-three-background-color wp-block-ncst-button-spotlight\">\n    <div class=\"button-spotlight__container\">\n          <div class=\"button-spotlight__icon-container ncst-icon\">\n        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M4.28901 7.61716C4.28901 7.18591 4.00308 6.80154 3.6187 6.70779V6.27654L2.94839 6.13123V6.75466C2.56401 6.89998 2.27808 7.23279 2.27808 7.66404C2.27808 7.94998 2.42339 8.2406 2.61558 8.38123V13.2656H2.95308V13.6031H3.62339V13.2656H3.96089V8.33435C4.1437 8.14216 4.28901 7.9031 4.28901 7.61716Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M6.06084 5.7C6.25303 5.55469 6.44522 5.46094 6.6374 5.31563C7.45303 4.8375 8.45615 4.5 9.51084 4.30781C9.79678 4.26094 10.0358 4.21406 10.3265 4.1625C10.903 4.11563 11.4749 4.06875 12.0046 4.06875C13.153 4.06875 14.3062 4.21406 15.3093 4.45312C16.3171 4.69219 17.2733 5.12344 17.9905 5.64844C17.9905 5.98594 17.9905 6.225 17.9905 6.51094L22.5421 5.17031L11.9999 0L1.4624 5.31563L6.06084 6.46406V5.7Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M12 4.55157C14.2031 4.55157 16.2656 5.07657 17.5547 5.93907V7.75782H6.49219V5.93907C7.73438 5.07657 9.79688 4.55157 12 4.55157Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M6.44531 8.19373V15.5203L8.78906 17.8687V19.3031H15.2578V17.7703L17.5078 15.5203V8.19373H6.44531Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<path d=\"M19.5703 19.9266H15.3563L12 23.9531L8.78906 19.9313H4.42969C4.42969 19.9313 0.0234375 19.9313 0.0234375 24.0047C0.885937 24.0047 21.8672 24.0047 23.9766 24.0047C23.9766 19.9266 19.5703 19.9266 19.5703 19.9266Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n      <\/div>\n        <div class='button-spotlight__content-container'>\n      <h2 class=\"button-spotlight__heading\">Providing Top-Quality Education <\/h2>\n              <p class=\"button-spotlight__support\">The Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management baccalaureate degree program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions. This accreditation is granted to degree programs that meet or exceed specific criteria for quality of education offered, curriculum and learning environment.<\/p>\n            \n<div class=\"is-style-secondary wp-block-ncst-button\">\n      <a\n        class=\"ncst-block__button-link btn\"\n        href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/about\/professional-accreditation\/\"\n        data-ncst-lightbox=\"false\"\n                      >\n                  <span class=\"text\">Read More<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n              <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  \n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The department currently offers a total of three undergraduate degree programs, three graduate degree programs and two online degree and certificate programs. From our historical strength in sports and outdoor recreation, we have&nbsp;<strong>diversified our research and education portfolio&nbsp;<\/strong>to include the&nbsp;following concentration areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Recreation and Park Management<\/strong>&nbsp;focuses on environmental education, outdoor recreation, parks planning and management and conservation of parks and other natural resource areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tourism and Event Management<\/strong>&nbsp;focuses on recreation facility management techniques, fiscal management, facility and site planning, and recreation programming and administration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to our degree and research programs, the department is also home to outstanding <a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/extension-and-outreach\/\">Extension and Outreach programs<\/a> that help to protect our&nbsp;state\u2019s special places, such as parks, farms and tourist destinations, and to enhance the health and well-being of our residents and tourists. Our&nbsp;Digital Imagery Visualization Lab also allows faculty and students to utilize digital imagery and immersive virtual environmental technologies to assist park, recreation, and tourism professionals with advanced mapping, planning, and analysis tools and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"has-orange-400-background-color wp-block-ncst-big-fact has-orange-400-background-color wp-block-ncst-big-fact\">\n  <div class=\"big-fact__container\">\n    <h2 class=\"big-fact__heading\">We create a better future<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"big-fact__support\">The interdisciplinary expertise and talent of our faculty allow us to engage critical national and global challenges related to parks, recreation, sport and tourism.<\/p>\n    \n\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Experience Your Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, we provide a <strong>practical education<\/strong> that combines theory and classroom instruction with hands-on experiences and real-world research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ready to learn on the job? <\/strong>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/undergraduate\/internships\/\">10-week internship experience<\/a> provides student&nbsp;with skills in program development, administrative procedures, supervision, and facility operation and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Think you can change the world? <\/strong>Students can work with our award-winning faculty to conduct <a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/research\/\">high-impact research<\/a> in a number of focus areas, including outdoor recreation, environmental education and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dream of studying abroad? <\/strong>We offer several <a href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/undergraduate\/study-abroad\/\">study abroad programs<\/a> that allow students&nbsp;to immerse themselves in new cultures and to develop a more comprehensive vision of their academic and career goals.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"has-custombg-one-text-color wp-block-ncst-testimonial ncst-testimonial has-red-400-text-color wp-block-ncst-testimonial\">\n        <div class=\"testimonial-container\">\n          <p class=\"testimonial__content\">&#8220;The many professional development workshops, resume building exercises, internships and conferences have all developed skills that I will need in my future.&#8221;<\/p>\n          <div class=\"testimonial__attribution-container \">\n                        <div class=\"attribution-title-name-container\">\n               \n                <p class=\"attribution-name\">&#8211; Ellison Lambert<\/p>\n                             \n                <p class=\"attribution-title\"><strong>Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management student<\/strong><\/p>\n                                        <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Students Get Jobs<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>Housed in one of the smaller colleges on campus, our department offers a personable and friendly atmosphere where students benefit from <strong>one-on-one interactions with faculty experts<\/strong>. By gaining an understanding of the many aspects of sport and recreation, students leave our department ready to pursue an array of career paths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Park Ranger<\/strong> \u2013 Patrol park grounds to make sure campers, hikers and visitors follow park rules and fire safety regulations. Give presentations or guided park tours. Recent employers include the National Park Service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sport Program Director<\/strong> \u2013 Responsible for team leadership and implementation of high-quality classes, events and programs. Recent employers include Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tourism Program Specialist<\/strong><br>Support destination marketing, visitor programming and community-based tourism initiatives. Recent employers include the Raleigh Visitor Information Center and destination organizations in NC.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"ncst-labeled-section wp-block-ncst-featured-content ncst-featured-content is-card-style layout-three-column\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__background\">\n    <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__container\">\n               <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__header\">\n                      <h2 class=\"ncst-labeled-section__heading\">Next Steps<\/h2>\n                            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"ncst-labeled-section__content\">\n        \n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-featured-content\"><a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/undergraduate\/degree-programs\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-14164\"\n            alt=\"Student in a Classroom - About - Parks Recreation and Tourism Management NC State\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/Extesnsion_0000__MAH0136.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/Extesnsion_0000__MAH0136.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/Extesnsion_0000__MAH0136-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/Extesnsion_0000__MAH0136-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/Extesnsion_0000__MAH0136-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/Extesnsion_0000__MAH0136-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Explore our majors<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">We provide a hands-on education that prepares students to enter the workforce career-ready.<\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/research\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-22503\"\n            alt=\"Group of students gathered outside of a home in Peru. - About - Parks Recreation and Tourism Management NC State University\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/12\/Extesnsion_0008_ExperiencialTourismPeru_Barbieri-resized-2-1024x576-1-768x432-1.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/12\/Extesnsion_0008_ExperiencialTourismPeru_Barbieri-resized-2-1024x576-1-768x432-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/12\/Extesnsion_0008_ExperiencialTourismPeru_Barbieri-resized-2-1024x576-1-768x432-1-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Learn about our research<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">Our faculty play a vital role in solving some of society\u2019s biggest challenges. <\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n\n\n<a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-content-card with-image\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/about\/contact-us\/\"\n  >\n  \n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\"\n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-14168\"\n            alt=\"Hike on a Bridge - About - Parks Recreation and Tourism Management NC State\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/bridge_light.jpg\"\n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/bridge_light.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/bridge_light-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/bridge_light-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/bridge_light-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/05\/bridge_light-1200x675.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                        <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">Contact us<\/h3>\n              \n\n              \n\t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\"><span class=\"text\">Schedule a visit or send us a question. We\u2019d love to hear from you. <\/span><span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-light\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-light\">\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building Healthier, Stronger Communities Founded in 1947, the NC State Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management is&nbsp;dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities around the world by&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":53,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/split-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"backgroundColor\":\"red_400\",\"imageID\":14053,\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2020\/04\/cnr.leung_.p1.final_.jpg\",\"pageIntro\":\"The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management seeks to educate future leaders, advance research and spread knowledge to fulfill NC State's land-grant mission.\",\"imageAlt\":\"PRTM Research - From Yosemite to Antarctica, NC State Professor Examines Tourism Impacts in Protected Areas - Parks Recreation and Tourism Management NC State\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10954","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/53"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10954"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22590,"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10954\/revisions\/22590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/prtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}