Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Behavioral Aspects of Outdoor Recreation (Face-to-Face)

ORPT 3060-01

Course: ORPT 3060-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Kinesiology & Outdoor Rec
CRN: 30983

Course Description

This course examines the social, psychological, and geographic influences on human behaviors in outdoor recreation settings. An emphasis is placed on current research and critical challenges affecting recreation management. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing required

Required Texts

Required Textbook
Manning et al. (2022) Studies in Outdoor Recreation: Search and Research for Satisfaction, 4th edition. Oregon State University Press. 

Note: Students must have the 4th edition

Required Module Readings (Instructor provided)
  • Abrams et al. (2020). Encouraging Safe Wildlife Viewing in National Parks: Effects of a Communication Campaign on Visitors’ Behavior
  • Defining Research: What it is and how it’s done
  • Human Subjects Research and the Institutional Review Board
  • Mallick and Driessen (2003). Feeding of wildlife: How effective are the ‘Keep Wildlife Wild’ signs in Tasmania’s National Parks?
  • Manning et al. (2001) Defining, Measuring, Monitoring, and Managing the Sustainability of Parks for Outdoor Recreation
  • Research Tools: Locating and Evaluating Sources
  • Shafer (1969) The Average Camper Who Doesn’t Exist
  • Waterman (1993) Values in Conflict in the Backcountry

Additional readings may be assigned based on topics students in the class choose to discuss. Students may also lead seminar discussions and select and assign scholarly articles for their peers to review with the instructor’s guidance and approval.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the four major public land management agencies and describe their missions as they relate to providing opportunities for outdoor recreation
  2. Discuss relevant social theories and how they relate to recreation management
  3. Describe recreationists in terms of characteristics established by current theory and research (i.e. specialization, motivations, place attachment, etc.)
  4. Define and describe outdoor recreation management frameworks and how they can be used to manage visitors and visitor experience
  5. Use management frameworks and theories to address problems and challenges related to visitor use management
  6. Gain a better understanding of recreation social science research by examining current research findings and developing a research project
  7. Develop skills in written communication, oral communication, and working as a member of a team

Course Requirements

Optional Learning Activities
  1. Critical Reading Responses: Students will have the opportunity to respond to assigned readings, identify key terms and concepts, connect reading content to discussions and experience, and ask questions about the reading.
  2. Seminar Discussion Lead: Students will have the opportunity to lead an in-class discussion on a topic related to recreation social science.

Required Learning Activities
  1. Think Pieces: Students will complete short in-class writing assignments related to assigned readings or class discussions to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts and develop critical thinking skills.
  2. Recreation Social Science Activities: Students will complete activities demonstrating their understanding of concepts, frameworks, and tools presented in this class and ability to apply them in a recreation management context. Examples include management activities, a field-based activity, and a case study.
  3. IRB Training: Students will complete the CITI Human Subjects Research Ethics training and earn a certificate of completion
  4. Research Article Activity: Students will select and analyze a research article related to a recreation social science topic.
  5. Recreation Research Project: Working in teams, students will select a topic related to outdoor recreation social science, identify a research question, complete a literature review, and present their findings. Students may also develop the project into a research proposal.

Grading

This course utilizes ungrading, shifting the focus from “How many points did I get?” to “What did I learn?”. No points or grades will be given for assignments - only an acknowledgment of Complete (Satisfactory) or Incomplete (Unsatisfactory/Missing) work with feedback on strengths and opportunities for improvement. All assignments and learning activities will include Instructions, Criteria for Success, and a rubric with specifications for satisfactory work. Students may revise submitted work to demonstrate learning and receive a Satisfactory/Complete grade. For all assignments and learning activities, criteria for “Satisfactory” work are based on the standard of passing, or a C.

In order to pass the course, students must complete the following learning activities:

  • Think Pieces: students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 70% of the Think Pieces
  • Recreation Social Science Activities: students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 70% of the Recreation Social Science Activities
  • Research Article Activity: students must satisfactorily complete the Research Article Activity
  • IRB Training: students must complete human subjects research ethics training
  • Project: students must complete a satisfactory literature review and presentation on a relevant recreation social science topic
  • Participation and Professionalism: tudents must demonstrate a satisfactory level of participation and professionalism by attending class meetings and trips, and meaningfully participate in class discussions and activities 

ORPT 3060 is listed as a “standard grade” course in the Academic Catalog. Therefore, students will receive a final letter grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F) at the end of the semester. Students will propose the grade they feel they earned and justify the proposal using evidence of engagement and completed work. The professor reserves the right to accept or not accept the final proposed grade based on evidence of the student's work and engagement over the course of the semester.

Course Outline

Unit 1: The Science of Outdoor Recreation: This unit will discuss the research process and methods used to study outdoor recreation social science and behavioral topics. Topics include defining research, an introduction to research methods, ethical research principles, and applying research findings to outdoor recreation management.

Unit 2: Behavioral Aspects of Outdoor Recreation: This unit will introduce contemporary outdoor recreation social science theories and concepts, including motivations, cultural influences, specialization, place attachment, substitutability, conflict, and social norm theory. Additional topics may be selected based on input from students enrolled in the course. We will also explore how social science concepts inform applied outdoor recreation management. Students will have the opportunity to lead a class seminar on a social science topic during this unit.

Unit 3: Recreation Research Project: Using what they learned in Units 1 and 2, students will complete a research project on a recreation social science topic.

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 and Wednesday. Students 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. 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.

Attendance Policy

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 and the river trip. 
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
A minimum attendance of 75% is expected in order to pass the course.
Class sessions may be recorded on Zoom. Recordings may be made available upon request.


Course Format

This is a face-to-face course facilitated using a seminar format. This format requires attentiveness and active participation, utilizing discussion and other active learning methods. The course utilizes Canvas to provide assignments, announcements, and other course resources.

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.

Course Fees

A $7.50 per credit program fee applies to ORPT courses

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.

Religious / Conscience Belief Accommodation

RELIGIOUS / CONSCIENCE BELIEF ACCOMMODATION: In accordance with SUU Policy 6.7 Student Belief Accommodation, students may request, in writing, that their faculty accommodate their sincerely held religious or conscience beliefs. Students should provide their faculty with sufficient advanced notice, if possible within the first five (5) business days of the semester or session, or thereafter with good cause for requesting an accommodation after the first five (5) business days.

Faculty must provide a schedule accommodation or excuse an absence, in any course, for students to observe or participate in religious holidays or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of the student’s religious tradition or religious organization.

In courses that are required for graduation or for an academic major, a faculty member may accommodate a religious or conscience belief by modifying an assignment or examination if its content conflicts with the student’s belief. Faculty may decline the accommodation if it would fundamentally alter the course requirements. If declined, the student may request review by a neutral arbiter using the Belief Accommodation Request Form: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv&layout_id=5

Questions go to Assistant Provost Jake Johnson at johnsonj@suu.edu.

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.