Real-world experience that matters
From outdoor recreation management to commercial recreation and tourism management, students have real-world opportunities to delve into their desired career paths.
Faculty members selected Golf Digest Best Teachers for 2026-27
Eric Handley, director of the Suzy and Jim Broadhurst Golf Teaching and Research Center (GTRC) and associate teaching professor, and Dan Merrell, head of coaching and player development at the GTRC and assistant teaching professor, earned national honors from Golf Digest.
Major, minor in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
The Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management undergraduate program examines how leisure activities, tourism, and participating in life changing experiences impact health and well-being.
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management
Transforming Health and Wellness — Through Engaging People in Recreation
Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at Penn State strives to positively impact health and wellness through recreation, park, tourism, and leisure opportunities — often affectionately referred to by many as the aspirational “bucket list” activities of their lives.
Undergraduate Program
Undergraduate Program
Explore the undergraduate degree that examines the broad spectrum of ways in which leisure activities, tourism and participating in life changing “experiences” impact our health and well-being.
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Graduate Program
Graduate Program
The graduate program explores how the social, environmental, psychological, and economic aspects of a broad array of leisure activities and pursuits can truly transform people’s lives and sense of well-being.
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Research
Research
Our team of esteemed research professionals collaborates closely with students and industry partners to examine how people engage in a full spectrum of recreational activities and how it affects their lives, the lives of others, and the environment around them.
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World Campus
World Campus
The RPTM program on World Campus can help prepare you for a career in one of the world’s largest service-sector industries, all from the comfort of your home. It has been built to help you gain the theoretical, managerial, practical and technical skills needed to succeed in the field.
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Graduating with a degree in recreation, park, and tourism management, Destiny Rodriguez joined the New York Jets personnel operations this past summer. Rodriguez reports to the Jets’ general manager, helping with the operational duties of departments, such as professional and collegiate scouting and analytics.
