Recreation Management and Policy Major: Tourism and Event Management Option (B.S.)

Recreation Management and Policy Major: Tourism and Event Management Option (B.S.)
UNH Recreation Management and Policy Major Tourism and Event Management students at Gunstock Festival

The Tourism and Event Management (TEM) option prepares students to lead in the fast-paced world of festivals, destination marketing, resort management, and nonprofit events. Blending hands-on experience with classroom learning, the program connects students with New Hampshire’s vibrant tourism economy and global industry opportunities—developing the skills to design, plan, and manage unforgettable experiences for clients and communities.

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What is Tourism and Event Management?

Whether you see yourself coordinating festivals or special events, working in the tourism or resort industry, organizing a youth sports program,or working in a municipal recreation setting, UNH’s tourism and event management degree will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing recreation industry. You will gain the planning, administrative and leadership skills to work in a diverse array of recreation and event management organizations. You’ll also study key concepts in marketing, leadership, management and public policy in relation to delivering recreation services.

Why study Tourism and Event Management at UNH?

Hands-on, experiential learning is an important component of the tourism and event management option at UNH. Along with traditional classroom learning, you’ll study with professionals in the field and complete a full-time internship. You’ll also have opportunities to conduct research along side UNH faculty. You’ll be able to connect with fellow students through the Recreation Society, a student-led club promoting recreation opportunities for the UNH community.

Potential Careers

  • Festival and event planner
  • Ski and snowboard industry professional
  • Community recreation program manager
  • Recreation and youth sports programmer
  • Youth and camp program director
  • Resort staff or manager
  • Recreation facility manager
  • Non-profit administrator
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From the CHHS Blog

Haleigh Swabowicz ‘25 hopes to use her social work education and love for the outdoors to carve out a unique career path. 
Katie Ladlie, who works as a Recreation Therapist at Northeast Passage and competes as sled hockey athlete with the Northeast Passage Sled Hockey…
RMP Program & Event Management major Meaghan Murray '24 describes her experience interning this summer as VIP Artist Liaison at Bank of NH…

Curriculum & Requirements

This option equips students with an entrepreneurial mindset and prepares students for career-track positions in tourism and event management organizations, emphasizing planning, leadership, and administrative concepts. Students learn to apply skills in settings such as destination marketing and management firms, resorts, residential facilities, community development agencies, and festival and event businesses. To change your major to TEM, complete the online change of major form. TEM applications are accepted throughout the year and decisions are made on a rolling admission basis. If you have questions about the program and event management option, please contact Sean McLaughlin

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
RMP 490
or HMGT 401
or TOUR 400
Recreation & Tourism in Society
or Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
or Introduction to Tourism
4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
Discovery Course (INQ) 4
Discovery Course (QR) 4
 Credits16
Spring
RMP 501 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Recreation Services 4
RMP TEM Elective Course 4
Discovery Course (BS) 4
Discovery Course (PS/Lab) 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
RMP 557 Program and Event Design 4
Minor/Free Elective 4
Discovery Course (ETS) 4
Discovery Course (FPA) 4
 Credits16
Spring
RMP 559 Marketing the Recreation Experience 4
RMP 663 Management and Finance in the Experience Industry 4
Discovery Course (HP) 4
Minor/Free Elective 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
RMP 661
or HMGT 635
Leadership in Recreation Services
or Leadership and HR Management in Hospitality and Tourism
4
RMP TEM Elective Course 4
Minor/Free Elective 4
Discovery Course (HUMA) 4
RMP 563 Recreation Management and Policy Practicum 2
 Credits18
Spring
RMP TEM Elective Course 4
RMP TEM Elective Course 4
Discovery Course (SS) 4
Discovery Course (WC) 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
RMP 724 Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions 4
RMP 772 Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services 4
Minor/Free Elective 4
Minor/Free Elective 4
RMP 654 Professional Development and Ethics 2
 Credits18
Spring
RMP 764 Internship 8-12
 Credits8-12
 Total Credits124-128

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

All majors must complete a core curriculum.

Required Courses
RMP 490Recreation & Tourism in Society4
or HMGT 401 Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
or TOUR 400 Introduction to Tourism
RMP 501Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Recreation Services4
RMP 557Program and Event Design4
RMP 563Recreation Management and Policy Practicum2
RMP 654Professional Development and Ethics2
RMP 764Internship (Capstone) 18 or 12
1

All RMP students must complete an 8 or 12 credit hour internship.

Tourism and Event Management Option - Course Requirements
RMP 559Marketing the Recreation Experience4
RMP 661Leadership in Recreation Services4
or HMGT 635 Leadership and HR Management in Hospitality and Tourism
RMP 663Management and Finance in the Experience Industry4
RMP 724Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions4
RMP 772Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services4
Electives
Choose from the following courses:16
CEP 673
Green Real Estate
HMGT 661
Event Design, Planning, and Management
HMGT 667
Advanced Food & Beverage Operations & Event Management
HMGT 681
Contemporary Resort Development and Management
HMGT 758
Revenue Management: The Art of Pricing
HMGT 771
International Wine and Beverage
HMGT 777
Casino Management
HMGT 798
Topics
RMP 603
New Hampshire Ski Industry Management
RMP 668
Youth Culture and Programs
RMP 670
Venue Management Design & Operations
RMP 680
Festival and Community Event Planning
RMP 711
Recreation Resource Management
RMP 775
Entrepreneurial and Commercial Recreation
RMP 776
Human Dimensions of Natural Environments
RMP 780
Event and Experience Design
or any courses recommended by academic advisor
Total Credits60-64

Professional Internship

A supervised internship (RMP 764) is required of all majors and serves as their major capstone requirement. The internship is designed to create a bridge between theory and practical application. Students, working with their advisers and the internship coordinator, select an appropriate setting based on their professional and career interests. They must register for an 8 or 12 credit full-time internship that ranges from 10 to 16 weeks and is under the supervision of a qualified professional. Specific requirements are identified in the Internship Manual available from the Department of Recreation Management and Policy.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Students will know and demonstrate the nature and scope of the recreation, events, and tourism profession and their associated industries.
  • Students will know and demonstrate the techniques and processes used by professionals and staff in the recreation, events, and tourism industry.
  • Students will know and demonstrate the foundation of the recreation, events, and tourism profession in history, science, and philosophy.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge about operations, strategic management, and administration in recreation, events, and tourism organizations.
  • Students will demonstrate the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in recreation, events, tourism, or related organizations through participation in structured practicum and internship experiences.

Explore Program Details

The mission of the Program and Event Management Option in the Department of Recreation Management and Policy is to provide professional learning and development opportunities for UNH students interested in working with a diverse array of community-based recreation and leisure programs, special events, facilities, and organizations through classroom teaching, lab, field, and service-learning experiences.  Program and Event Management faculty and students seek to improve management and administrative practice in the recreation and leisure services field through research, engaged scholarship, and professional service throughout the country and world, with a special focus on the state of New Hampshire and the New England region.

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