Outdoor Recreation Management
Let the National Forest be your classroom
Turn your passion for the outdoors into your career.
Outdoor Recreation Management is a growing field in which graduates are qualified to work in a variety of settings. Graduates gain experience in their chosen field relating to outdoor recreation management and have the business skill sets necessary to successfully implement and/or manage a public agency, a non-profit organization, or their own business.
Baccalaureate Programs (B.S.)
Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Recreation Management
The bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation management requires 57-60 credit hours, including specified courses in accounting, business, economics, management, marketing, sport science, and outdoor recreation management.
Courses
What We Offer
- Recreation and Leisure in Contemporary Society
- Outdoor Skills Series – Backpacking, Navigation, Winter Activities, Whitewater Activities, Climbing, Canoeing & Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Outdoor Skills (other, as needed)
- Recreation and Community Development
- Recreational Tourism
- Recreation Program Planning
- Leadership in Recreation Management
- Environmental and Cultural Interpretation
- Risk Management and Liability
- Research Methods in Recreation and Tourism
- Sustainable Recreation and Eco-Tourism
- Park and Recreation Facility Planning and Design
- Independent Study
- Current Issues in Outdoor Recreation Management
- Organization and Management of Recreation Agencies
- Field Apprenticeship Capstone
Careers in Outdoor Recreation Management
The career paths for graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Recreation Management are as varied as the outdoor activities available in the region where they choose to live and work. The program will prepare you for careers in:
- Public Land Agencies
- Nonprofit Recreation Organizations
- Tourism
- Recreation Management
Internship Opportunities
Internships provide opportunities for students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom while making meaningful contributions to the organization for which they work. Students can complete internships during any semester, though most take place over the summer and last about 10 weeks. With guidance from the Director of Career Services & Student Employment, students develop an internship proposal and gain hands-on experience in their field. Internships also include a reflective journal, a final paper, and relevant research.
Why Outdoor Recreation Management at D&E
Small class sizes enable engaging faculty members to enhance your learning experience by challenging and inspiring you and providing individualized attention. The Mountain Highlands of West Virginia provide students with more than 1 million acres of National Forest lands and hundreds of miles of rivers and streams to explore. With 10 state parks and three state forests nearby, students at Davis & Elkins College can engage in hiking, kayaking, climbing, skiing, biking, caving, and much more, right in our backyard!
In addition to nature’s playground, there are several resorts and outdoor adventure centers a short distance from campus. Outdoor recreation courses have been held at the following locations:
- Blackwater Outdoor Adventures
- Canaan Valley Resort
- Cheat River
- Dolly Sods Wilderness
- Monongahela National Forest
- Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center
- Otter Creek Wilderness
- Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area
- Shavers Fork of the Cheat River
- Timberline Four Seasons Resort
- Tygart Valley River
- White Grass Ski Touring Center