COAPRT Parks Recreation Tourism Accreditation | Recreation Management | SRTM

Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT)

Our BS in Recreation Management (Parks and Outdoor Recreation and Therapeutic Recreation) is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). COAPRT is, in turn, accredited by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

BS in Recreation Management (Parks and Outdoor Recreation; Therapeutic Recreation; and Individualized Program of Study)

The COAPRT-accredited curriculum in Recreation Management at George Mason University provides students with the framework necessary for professional development, career advancement, and graduate education through a combination of rewarding learning and practical experiences. Students can pursue the BS in Recreation Management, with a concentration in Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, or an individualized program of study. Our graduates are prepared to make a difference in the lives and practices of individuals, families, and communities by informing policy, promoting economic development, advocating stewardship of natural resources, encouraging inclusive community service, bolstering lifelong recreation participation, and working to enhance the quality of life. Students are exposed to the various facets of this dynamic and rapidly growing field through a combination of classroom and experiential learning opportunities, providing them with the knowledge and skills they need for career success.

COAPRT Standard 2.05:05 requires reporting of aggregated results of learning outcomes assessment. Results for the calendar year (2024) follow:

Competencies

7.01: Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy.

Students graduating from the BS in Recreation Management shall demonstrate an ability to develop and articulate their personal philosophy of leisure and a broad awareness of the profession and associated industries.

Students in RMGT 210, Introduction to Recreation and Leisure, are required to complete an activity participation and economic log, entailing the monitoring and analysis of personal recreation and leisure activities and their expenses. Additionally, they are required to write a paper (with citations) documenting their personal philosophy of leisure, perspectives on participation and spending, and the relationship of these findings to the development of the profession and associated industries.

In Calendar Year 2024, over 85% of the Recreation Management students enrolled in RMGT 210 earned at least a "3-Competent" or better on each 7.01-aligned rubric indicator.

7.02: Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.

Students graduating from the Recreation Management BS shall complete and present (orally and in writing) a Program Plan that can be implemented and evaluated in future courses (including the internship).

Students in RMGT 310, Program Planning and Evaluation, are required to develop the program plan comprising mission; program description; goals and objectives; operational criteria (e.g., accommodations; equipment/supplies; promotional website; staffing, venue, and activity plans); and evaluation tools to demonstrate the ability to design and implement services.

In Calendar Year 2024, 70% of the Recreation Management students earned a "3-Competent” or better on each 7.02-aligned rubric indicator. Worth noting, on 16 of the 18 rubric indicators assessing Standard 7.02, 100% of the Recreation Management students earned at least “3-Competent” or better.

7.03: Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about operations and strategic management/ administration in parks, recreation, tourism, and/or related professions.

Students graduating from the Recreation Management program shall complete and present (orally) a program presentation that demonstrates the following learner outcomes:

Discuss management practices and principles developed and successfully used in business, industry and public agencies.
Identify problems affecting the management and operation of organizations and the delivery of sport, recreation and tourism services.
Discuss the principles of organizing, allocating and managing organizational resources in order to provide equitable delivery of sport, recreation and tourism services.

Students in RMGT 410, Administration of SRT Organizations I, are required to develop a project presentation incorporating recent research about the type of organization selected for the semester-long project. This presentation references the content of four course assignments in which students describe a select organization’s purpose, mission, history, and services; develop an organizational plan including goals, actions, a vision, and a plan for overcoming anticipated challenges; and create a plan for staffing the organization, including interpreting and describing its organizational chart and structure, writing a job description, and designing a series of interview questions.

75% of students are expected to earn at least “Competent” on the “Content Areas” and “Evidence of Research” rubric indicators.

In Calendar Year 2024, 100% of the Recreation Management students earned at least "3-Competent" on each 7.03-aligned rubric indicator.

7.04: Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate, through a comprehensive internship of not less than 400 clock hours and no fewer than 10 weeks, the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in park, recreation, tourism, or related organizations.

Students in RMGT 490, Internship, are required to complete a final presentation to a panel of faculty and students providing an overview of the internship agency, services, personnel, supervision; their specific internship responsibilities; challenges faced during their internship; their special project; and what they have learned from the internship experience (specifically, how their past experiences and coursework have enhanced their internship and all aspects of their work, and how the internship will, in turn, influence their future career directions).

In Calendar Year 2024, 85% of the Recreation Management students earned a "3-competent" or better on 90% of the rubric indicators (9 out of 10) assessing Standard 7.04. Of note, the one rubric indicator of concern has been flagged by the faculty and staff for assessment of content validity and appropriateness as it neither aligns with the current COAPRT standards nor with all other indicators.

Important Information Regarding Degree Mills:
Please watch this important video regarding degree and accreditation mills. According to CHEA, "Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. “Accreditation” from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential." Read more on CHEA's website.

Program Annual COAPRT Reports

To view Mason’s full, most recent, annual report submissions to COAPRT, please visit the following websites: