Rasul A. Mowatt
Department Head & Professor,
Departments of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
+1 919-515-4445
NC State University
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College of Natural Resources
NC State University
Further information
For inquiries about undergraduate programs or academic support:
For inquiries related to graduate programs, admissions, or graduate studies:
Founded in 1947, The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management seeks to educate future leaders, advance research and spread knowledge to fulfill NC State’s land-grant mission. It is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities around the world by promoting active lifestyles and fostering positive connections between people and nature. They accomplish this mission through innovative and creative teaching, collaborative research, and focused engagement with local, national and global partners.
Of great value is PRTM’s location in the Raleigh/Durham “Triangle” region, offering proximity to diverse natural and cultural settings, state parks, nonprofit organizations, tourism agencies, and the NC State Tourism Extension Office. This environment fosters experiential learning and community-based projects—from agri-tourism and micro-entrepreneurship to service-learning and internship partnerships in real-world settings.
The academic programs are designed as two-year (master’s level) or four-year (undergraduate) degrees and include coursework in the following areas:
- Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Management
- Sport and Event Management
- Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education
- Fiscal and Strategic Management
- Research Methods and Applied Fieldwork
- Facility and Venue Management
- Leadership and Risk Management
Leisure related programmes
PRTM provides two undergraduate degrees with concentrations in Recreation and Park Management, Tourism and Event Management, Sport Management, and Golf Management, each combining theoretical foundations with hands-on learning. Students gain real-world experience through internships and community partnerships, and develop the leadership, programming, and management skills needed to address contemporary challenges such as environmental conservation, health disparities, and social inclusion through leisure.
- Master of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, focused on research and policy applications.
- Online Professional Master’s in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management, a 31-credit accelerated program for working professionals.
- Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, emphasizing independent, theory-based research with global and applied relevance.
- Natural Resources Masters Program, an intercollegiate and multidisciplinary degree focusing on natural resource policy, management, and assessment. Students may pursue a Master of Science or a non-thesis Master of Natural Resources and are required to select a Technical Option.
The Department offers two graduate-level certificates: the Graduate Certificate in Sport and Entertainment Venue Management, a one-year online program with virtual reality components and strong industry collaboration; and the Graduate Minor in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, available to MS and Ph.D. students, which applies social science to environmental challenges and public engagement.
International opportunities
The university actively encourages all students to participate in study abroad programs, including recurring faculty-led experiences in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
Students are supported by academic advisors and benefit from structured internships with local, national, and international organizations. They also have access to research laboratories and valuable professional networking opportunities.
Supporting Organization signatory party of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism
