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Recreation Management

 

The mission of the Recreation Management Program is to prepare students to manage natural and cultural recreation resources in order to enhance the leisure experience. Through coursework and service activities, students gain understanding of the history, philosophies and theories of recreation and leisure. They develop knowledge and skills necessary to plan, promote, administer and evaluate recreation programs, facilities and services in a variety of settings. Students also have the opportunity to develop specialized knowledge in the area of Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management, Recreation and Park Management or Outdoor Experiential Education.

The program has a faculty of eight full-time and five part-time professors with backgrounds and experience in the entire spectrum of recreation. A combination of classroom and hands-on experience with one-on-one counseling is emphasized. The over 200 students in the program lead a student organization, the Recreation Management Association, which has won campus-wide recognition for service programs and fund raising

The Recreation Management Program at Appalachian State University is fortunate to be located in the mountainous northwest corner of North Carolina. The region includes Mount Mitchell (the highest peak east of the Rockies), the Blue Ridge Parkway, the New River (part of the Wild & Scenic Rivers System and an American Heritage River), Grandfather Mountain, four ski resorts, the Pisgah National Forest, and numerous recreation oriented resorts and private developments.

Appalachian is located in the Town of Boone, providing a scenic, small town backdrop for the campus of approximately 15,000 students. Year round recreation opportunities include climbing, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, white water boating, fishing, and camping.

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