Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Park, Recreation, and Tourism Professions (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 2800-01

Course: ORPT 2800-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PEHP
CRN: 31418

Course Description

This course introduces students to the variety of careers and professions in the park, recreation, and tourism (PRT) industry. Students will be introduced to a variety of organizations and agencies providing recreation and tourism services and managing the places where outdoor recreation activities take place. Students will complete a practicum with a current professional in the field, and begin to develop their own professional materials and competencies. The course will also introduce students to trends, challenges, and opportunities facing the PRT industry. Class meetings will take place indoors and in the field. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll

Required Texts

Required Assessment

Recommended Resource

Required Module Readings 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Understand and be able to describe the relationships between outdoor recreation, public lands, and tourism 
  2. Have a foundational understanding of federal, state, and local public land planning, management, and stewardship 
  3. Be able to articulate the value of outdoor recreation, tourism, and public lands to society 
  4. Identify key trends affecting the PRT industry and articulate possible approaches for responding to associated challenges and opportunities 
  5. Understand professional career opportunities in the PRT field and identify key knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for their chosen career path 
  6. Develop foundational professional materials and competencies  
  7. Establish the beginnings of a professional network in the PRT field 

Course Requirements

  1. 5-to-1 Critical Reading Exercises: 5-to-1 Critical Reading Exercises (CREs) are intended to give you an opportunity to identify new/meaningful information from assigned readings*, ask questions, and provide feedback throughout the semester. 5-to-1 CREs will accompany assigned readings regularly throughout the course. You will typically have one 5-to-1 CRE for each Module. *readings may include other types of media as well such as videos or podcasts
  2. Class Exit Tickets: A great deal of this class will be spent in the field. Exit Tickets provide students the opportunity to reflect on their experience, what they learned, and identify any remaining questions.
  3. Professional Practicum: Students will complete a 30-hour practicum with a working professional in the park, recreation, and tourism field. Students will keep an experience log, complete an interview with their Practicum Supervisor, write a reflection paper about their experience, and give a final presentation.
  4. Issue Project: Working with their Practicum Supervisor, students will identify a current issue (trend, challenge, or opportunity) affecting their specific industry, region, agency, unit, or practice. Students will investigate this issue and complete a report.
  5. Cover Letter: Students will write a professional cover letter for their practicum placement
  6. Resumé: Students will prepare a current, professional resumé
  7. Interview: Students will complete a mock interview
  8. Professional Portfolio: Students will create a professional portfolio that effectively showcases and communicates their professional experience and relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities. The goal is for students to continually add to their portfolio as they progress through their degree program and gain professional experience.
  9. Participation & Professionalism: Professional expectations for this course include:
    1. Attendance: attending class meetings and trips; arriving on-time. In-person attendance is expected for face-to-face classes.
    2. Preparation: being adequately prepared for class activities by completing assigned readings and lectures, bringing appropriate equipment and materials, etc.
    3. Follow-through: fulfilling commitments and completing work in a thorough, attentive, and timely manner
    4. Participation and Expedition Behavior: meaningful participation and modeling good expedition behavior in all course activities
    5. Appropriate use of technology in the classroom and during class activities
    6. Professional communication in all modes of communication (electronic, face-to-face)

Grading

The following grading standards will be used in this class:
  • 100 to 94.0% A
  • 90.0 to <94.0% A-
  • 87.0 to <90.0% B+
  • 84.0 to <87.0% B
  • 80.0 to <84.0% B-
  • 77.0 to <80.0% C+
  • 74.0 to <77.0% C
  • 70.0 to <74.0% C-
  • 67.0 to <70.0% D+
  • 64.0 to <67.0% D
  • 61.0 to <64.0% D-
  • 0.0 to <61.0% F

There are a total of 1,000 points in the course:

  • 5-to-1 Critical Reading Exercises, 9, 5 points each = 45 points
  • Class Exit Tickets, 11, 5 points each = 55 points
  • Professional Practicum (Practicum Log, Poster, Presentation), 300 points
  • Issue Project, 100 points
  • Cover Letter, 50 points
  • Resumé, 50 points
  • Interview, 50 points
  • Professional Portfolio, 100 points
  • Participation and Professionalism (Commenced Attendance, Class Attendance, Midterm Course Feedback, Course Wrap-Up), 250 points

Course Outline

Regular course activities will take place both on-campus and off-campus. On-campus activities provide students an opportunity to gain knowledge about the park, recreation, and tourism industry and crucial professional competencies. Off-campus activities provide students an opportunity to experience park, recreation, and tourism contexts, meet current professionals, and practice their professional skills. A detailed course outline, including weekly topics, schedule, and field locations, will be provided to students enrolled in the course at the beginning of classes.

Topics covered in the course include:
  1. Park, Recreation, and Tourism Organizations: This course will introduce students to a variety of agencies and organizations that provide and/or support outdoor recreation and tourism services. A new agency or organization will be discussed each week, followed by a field excursion to a local recreation site, business, or organization.
  2. Park, Recreation, and Tourism Career Opportunities: Students will learn about the variety of careers available in the park, recreation, and tourism field. Students will meet current professionals and discuss how to prepare for and pursue specific careers.
  3. Professional Materials: Students will develop a professional resumé, cover letter, and portfolio. The course will also introduce students to resources for finding and applying for internships and jobs. Examples include using USAjobs.gov, state hiring websites, and job boards.
  4. Issues, Opportunities, and Trends: Weekly discussions will highlight specific issues, opportunities, and/or trends within outdoor recreation and tourism. Specific examples and case studies will correspond to the agency or organization being introduced that week.

Course Format

This is a face-to-face course with off-campus field-based activities occurring nearly every week. Off-campus trips may take place in both indoor and outdoor settings and include physical activity like hiking. Students will be made aware of weather, activities, and any special considerations prior to the trip date. Students will need the following clothing/equipment for off-campus activities:
  • Backpack 
  • Water bottle (1L minimum preferred) 
  • Snacks 
  • Clothing appropriate for the weather and activity 
  • Close-toed shoes that are comfortable to walk in 
  • Something for taking notes (e.g. notebook and pen/pencil, phone with note app, etc.). Tablet/laptop not recommended. 

Activity-specific gear will be provided if necessary, though students may choose to use their own. Students are encouraged to use what they have and not feel obligated to purchase special clothing or equipment for this class.


Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All learning activities will be posted on Canvas and include clear instructions, learning objectives, evaluation rubric, and submission instructions. Any assignment that needs to be turned in will have posted due dates and times. Due dates will be 11:59pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. You are always welcome to turn an assignment in early.

Work will be accepted up to 48 hours (2 days) past the posted deadline with no penalty. Extensions beyond the 2-day grace period are granted on a case-by-case basis and may be given for extenuating circumstances with appropriate communication. Late assignments received >48 hours past the posted due date will receive half of the total points earned. Late assignments without an extension will not be accepted more than 7 days past the posted due date. No "extra credit" or alternative assignments will be granted to "make up" for missed learning activities. 

The professor may, at their discretion, offer extra credit for completing optional assignments or participating in activities that are relevant to topics covered in the class. Extra credit will only be made available to the entire class for activities that are accessible to all students. Students may choose where to apply any extra credit points earned. Points may be applied only to completed assignments that were turned in on time (within 48 hours of the posted due date) to increase the total score on the assignment. Extra credit points may not be used to cover for an incomplete, missed, or late (turned in after 48 hours of the posted due date with no approved extension) assignment.

Attendance Policy

Class attendance will be taken daily and tracked in Canvas. Students will be marked as Present, Absent (Excused), Absent (Unexcused), or Late.

Your attendance and participation in this course is a valuable contribution to the entire class, and will benefit your learning and performance. Students shall make every reasonable effort to attend class. Absences may be excused in the following circumstances:
  • Illness or urgent health need
  • University excused absences
  • As part of an accommodation authorized and communicated by the DRC
  • Family emergency
  • Other emergency or extenuating circumstance appropriately communicated to the professor
  • Pregnancy accommodations

Absences will not be excused for the following circumstances:
  • Work
  • Vacations
  • Weddings/honeymoons
  • Routine healthcare appointments

Classroom sessions may be recorded on Zoom. Recordings may be made available upon request.

Because a significant amount of course activities and lessons occur in the field, a minimum class attendance of 75% is required in order to pass the class. Absences may be excused following University Policy.

Course Fees

There are no additional fees required for this course.

Risk Statement

This course includes or could include, a laboratory, physical activity, personal travel, or field trips. Participation in the course may expose the student to certain foreseeable and unforeseeable risks of injury such as, but not limited to illness, injury or even death. Knowing of these risks, the student freely and voluntarily participates in the course and hereby agrees to assume and accept any and all associated risks.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.