The Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management offers several options that lead to varied careers depending on a student's interests.
The option in parks and recreation management. This option prepares students to work in park management, protected area management, natural resources, and outdoor recreation. This is the major for those who love the outdoors and want a career that celebrates and preserves nature.
Classes visit national, state, and local parks and natural areas for hands-on education and meet with professionals who manage our state's outdoor areas. In the classroom, students learn about stewarding the natural environment, supporting and understanding visitors, providing recreation opportunities, and collaborating with public and private partners.
The degree plan also includes a strong foundation in management principles, including customer service, diversity and inclusion, marketing, and legal issues. Students cap off their studies with a 14-week internship, which many students turn into a full-time job.
Our graduates work across the state and nation with agencies that manage public lands (such as the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service), state parks and forests, wildlife refuges, cultural and historical heritage sites, and local and regional park districts.
The option in resort and lodging management. This option prepares graduates for a career in the hospitality industry, including lodging management, restaurant management, and more. Along with core department courses, the RLM option offers courses on topics like hotel and restaurant management, tourism management, hospitality budgeting, strategic management seminar, and includes hands-on training with hospitality professionals.
Graduates acquire the necessary skills to be competitive hospitality professionals upon graduation and enjoy helping others and bringing an upbeat attitude to their job.
The option in recreation therapy (suspended). Admission to the option in recreation therapy is currently suspended. Contact the Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management Department for more information.
This option prepares students to work as allied health professionals with people who have special needs in clinical, residential, and community-based agencies. Students studying in this option meet the standards developed by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and the California Board of Recreation Therapy Certification (CBRTC). Successfully completing this curriculum provides students with knowledge competencies necessary to qualify for both the national and state Recreation Therapy Certification exams.
The option in event management. This option prepares students to work in the conferences and events, either as event planners or with suppliers (such as hotels and convention centers).
Students learn about event planning, coordination, and management, with a capstone course where students design, plan, and/or implement a special event. The degree plan includes a strong foundation in management principles, including hotel and resort management, food and beverage management, customer service, diversity and inclusion, marketing, and law.
Most students also learn through experience by working in the industry or volunteering for special events in the local area. Students cap off their studies with a 14-week internship, which many students turn into a full-time job.
Our graduates work with many different types of events such as conferences, conventions, exhibitions, festivals, and music or sporting events. They also work as managers at event facilities, such as hotels, resorts, country clubs, restaurants, and wineries.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Application to the Major
Departmental approval is required before you begin coursework for this major. Application to the major can be made at the department office.
Course Requirements for the Major: 58-60 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Additional required courses, depending upon the selected option are outlined following the major core program requirements.
A maximum of 15 units of internship (courses numbered 189, 289, 389, 489, 589) may be applied to a bachelor's degree at California State University, Chico.
Since the Department of Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management uses a mentor-advisor system, it is important for you to request an advisor when you declare recreation, hospitality, and parks management as your major. In general, recreation, hospitality, and parks management majors are encouraged to take RHPM 200 during the first semester in the department. Depending on the desired option, RHPM 250 (for the options in resort and lodging management and event management) or RHPM 240 (for the option in parks and recreation management) should also be considered.
Select nine units from any Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management (RHPM) courses
9
Total Units
28
The Option in Recreation Therapy: 26 units
Admission to the option in recreation therapy is currently suspended. Please contact the Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management Department for more information.
Select nine units from any Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management (RHPM) courses
9
Total Units
27
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
