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This 15-credit undergraduate minor will prepare graduates from non-recreation management majors with the knowledge and technical skills to balance sustainable resource management with equitable recreational access and demand in parks, outdoor recreation, and other land management contexts.
Graduates of the minor will be able to:
- Analyze issues related to resource overuse and visitor impacts.
- Apply impact management principles to develop sustainable visitor use management plans.
- Contribute their expertise to local, regional, state, and federal natural resource management challenges and conversations related to equitable and sustainable natural resource recreation.
This minor, taught by faculty with expertise in recreation, parks, and the human dimensions of natural resource management, complements majors such as Environmental Science; Environmental and Sustainability Studies; Geography; Criminology, Law, and Society; Public Administration; History and Folklore Studies; and related fields. It provides students with practical, context-specific knowledge about how people interact with parks, protected areas, and natural resource settings, and how managers balance recreational access with resource conservation.
Students will:
- Develop skills in visitor use management, impact mitigation, and environmental interpretation.
- Build critical thinking and applied problem-solving abilities through fieldwork and real-world case studies.
- Strengthen professional communication and planning skills essential for working in interdisciplinary natural resource settings.
This minor is ideal for students who want to work at the intersection of people and nature to support equitable and sustainable land management.
- park ranger or interpreter (local, state, or federal)
- environmental educator or outreach coordinator
- visitor use management specialist
- outdoor recreation planner
- outdoor recreation program specialist or guide
- natural resource planner or technician
- conservation communications specialist
- community engagement or partnership coordinator
- stewardship coordinator
- law enforcement officer (with a resource management focus; e.g., conservation officer, game warden)
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$596.50
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$1,638.00
(includes MSF*) |
CEHD Course Fee
($25/credit with higher per credit or flat course fees for internship and select ATEP, RECR, and RMGT courses) |
$25 - $257 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$621.50 - $853.50 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$1,663.00 - $1,895.00 |
Undergraduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$350 | $275 for transfer students |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $163.50
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Academic Advisor
Melissa Busillo
Email: mbusillo@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-5261
Fairfax Campus: Krug Hall, Suite 213
Schedule an appointment
Hung-Ling Liu
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Brenda Wiggins
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Sammie Powers
Ellen Rodgers
Paul Gilbert