PKMT 212 - Park and Recreation Administration

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course introduces management principles and professional practices in parks, recreation, and leisure organizations. Topics include organizational structure, human resource and fiscal management, public relations, risk management, and agency policies. Students complete applied projects in hiring and program leadership while examining current trends and workplace challenges.

Note Fall semester only.

Prerequisite PKMT 104 or permission of instructor.

Text

Hironaka-Ju, Samuel V Lankford, Oksana Grybovych Hafermann, Christopher R. Edginton, Dale Larsen, J. Managing Recreation, Parks, And Leisure Services An Introduction. Available from: VitalSource Bookshelf, (5th Edition). Sagamore Publishing LLC, 2025.

Objectives

The student will be able to:

A. Apply management theories to parks and recreation settings.

B. Evaluate organizational policies, goals, and procedures in recreation agencies.

C. Apply liability prevention strategies for recreation agencies.

D. Conduct a mock hiring process for a recreation agency position.

E. Implement a structured recreation program.

F. Develop a program budget aligned with organizational goals.

G. Evaluate current trends and issues affecting parks and recreation management.

Content

A. Management and Leadership Foundations

B. Organizational Structure and Governance

C. Policy, Planning, and Program Development

D. Human Resource Management

E. Fiscal and Risk Management

F. Communication and Public Relations

G. Trends and Issues in Recreation Management

Student Evaluation
A-G student evaluation will be based upon exams, assignments, case studies, and projects.