Undergraduate

Recreation Management and Policy: Tourism and Event Management

Develop expertise in event planning, tourism operations, and recreation management alongside faculty from one of the nation's most respected departments in the field.

2026

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Location

Durham, NH

Courses

15*

Credit

128 hrs.*

Full-time

4 yrs.

Part-time

Varies

View course catalog

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Recreation Management & Policy

The Tourism and Event Management degree at UNH offers comprehensive training backed by our department's long-standing accreditation from the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions.

Here you'll be able to develop expertise in event planning, tourism operations, and recreation management alongside faculty from one of the nation's most respected departments in the field. With a curriculum that emphasizes practical experience and industry connections, our program prepares you for dynamic careers in event production, destination management, and community recreation. You'll benefit from the same excellence that has made our department nationally renowned for its therapeutic recreation and outdoor leadership programs.

*Number of courses and course credit hours may vary, please reach out to your academic advisor for exact requirements.

Department of Recreation Management & Policy

Key Links

Tuition Costs

Contact Cards

Lauren Ferguson

Assistant Professor

Lauren.Ferguson@unh.edu

Hewitt Hall, Durham, NH 03824

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

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

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. Applications are accepted throughout the year and decisions are made on a rolling admission basis.

Degree Plan

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
Fall		Credits
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
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	16
Second Year
Fall
RMP 557	Program and Event Design	4
Minor/Free Elective		4
Discovery Course (ETS)		4
Discovery Course (FPA)		4
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	18
Spring
RMP TEM Elective Course		4
RMP TEM Elective Course		4
Discovery Course (SS)		4
Discovery Course (WC)		4
	Credits	16
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
	Credits	18
Spring
RMP 764	Internship	8-12
	Credits	8-12
	Total Credits	124-128

Requirements for the Program

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.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
RMP 490	Recreation & Tourism in Society	4
or HMGT 401	Introduction to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
or TOUR 400	Introduction to Tourism
RMP 501	Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for Recreation Services	4
RMP 557	Program and Event Design	4
RMP 563	Recreation Management and Policy Practicum	2
RMP 654	Professional Development and Ethics	2
RMP 764	Internship (Capstone) ¹	8 or 12

¹: All RMP students must complete an 8 or 12 credit hour internship.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Tourism and Event Management Option - Course Requirements
RMP 559	Marketing the Recreation Experience	4
RMP 661	Leadership in Recreation Services	4
or HMGT 635	Leadership and HR Management in Hospitality and Tourism
RMP 663	Management and Finance in the Experience Industry	4
RMP 724	Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions	4
RMP 772	Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services	4
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 Credits		60-64

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.

Student Learning Outcomes

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.

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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Explore Program Details

Mission Statement

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.

Resources

UNH Internal TransfeR APPLICATION

Procedures for Retention of RMP Major Status

PEM Information Packet