Program Detail

Frostburg State University

Recreation and Parks Management

Dr. Natalia Buta, Department Chair
Email
101 Braddock Rd
Cordts Pe Center
Frostburg, MD  21532-2303
(301) 687-4458

Accredited Program




The Recreation and Parks Management major at Frostburg State University is housed in the Department of Recreation and Parks Management in the College of Business, Engineering, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences. The program has three full-time faculty members assigned to it. The discipline consists of 39 credits, including an internship. In addition, the major offers four concentrations: Community Program Delivery, Adventure Sports, Hospitality Management and Tourism, and Sport Promotion and Communication. The Adventure Sports Concentration is a collaborative program with Garrett College, and the Hospitality Management and Tourism Concentration is a collaborative program with Allegany College of Maryland. The program is great preparation for a career as a park ranger, program staff at a resort, campus recreation staff, sports promotion specialist, camp director, or an adventure sports specialist. Students are mentored through the educational process, which prepares them to enter a field they are not only qualified for but also one that they love.

COAPRT Standard 7.01. - Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy.
  • Outcome:
    Outcomes: Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism, or related professions and their associated industries, b) the techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries, and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science, and philosophy.
  • Measure Type:
    Direct
  • Assessment Method:
    A sample of assessment methods were used to assess the three outcomes identified for Standard 7.01. For each subcategory of learning outcome (scope of the profession, techniques of professionals, and the foundations of the profession), an assessment method was used. The three methods used were reflective paper for onsite visits for RECR 201, CPRP self-assessment, and exams.
  • Result:
    Overall, for the 7.01 standard, all three (100%) of the assessment indicators were above the 70% criteria. The average for the standard was 91.8%, which is above the 70% criteria. The three assessment subcategories were the nature and scope of the profession, the techniques of professionals, and the foundations of the profession. Nature and scope of the profession (91% of students scored above 70%) Techniques and processes (93% of students scored above 70%) Foundations (91.5% of students scored above 70%)
COAPRT Standard 7.02. - Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity.
  • Outcome:
    Outcomes: 7.02.01 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design a recreation program. 7.02.02 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to implement a recreation program. 7.02.03 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to evaluate a recreation program.
  • Measure Type:
    Direct
  • Assessment Method:
    A sample of assessment methods were used to assess the three outcomes identified for Standard 7.02. Representing the three subcategories identified in the programming learning outcome (i.e., program design, program implementation, program evaluation), a sample of three assessments were used in the assessment where one factor represented each dimension of the learning outcome. The four methods used were an individual program plan, self-assessment per competencies, and research paper.
  • Result:
    For the programming learning outcomes, all three of the assessment indicators were above the 70% criteria. The average for the standard was 85.6%, which is above the 70% criteria. The three assessment indicators were program design, program implementation, and program evaluation. 7.02.01 Program Design (71% of students scored above 70%) 7.02.02 Program Implementation (100% of students scored above 70%) 7.02.03 Program Evaluation (86% of students scored above 70%)
COAPRT Standard 7.03. - Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about operations and strategic management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions..
  • Outcome:
    Outcomes: 7.03.01 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about agency organizational structure, authority, role, responsibility, and agency organization and administration. 7.03.02 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about planning for recreation. 7.03.03 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about human resources management. 7.03.04 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about financial management. 7.03.05 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about facility and land use. 7.03.06 Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about public safety and risk management.
  • Measure Type:
    Direct
  • Assessment Method:
    A sample of assessment methods were used to assess the six outcomes identified for Standard 7.03. The seven CAPRA-related assessment indicators were agency, planning, administration, human resources, financial, facilities and land use, and risk management. For each subcategory of learning outcome, an assessment method was used. The methods used were exams for agency roles, planning concepts (master planning and site planning), and administration, a budgeting assignment for financial management, a hiring unit for human resources, a specialty area assignment for facility and land use, and a risk management plan.
  • Result:
    Five of the six (86%) assessment indicators for the management learning outcomes were above the 70% criteria. The only measure that scored under 70% was the human resources measure. The average for the standard was 86.1%, which is above the 70% criteria. The six assessment indicators based on the CAPRA accreditation standards were agency and administration, planning, human resources, financial, facilities and land use, and risk management. 7.03.01 Agency (94% of students scored above 70%) 7.03.02 Planning (90.9% of students scored above 70%) 7.03.03 Human Resources (62% of students scored above 70%) 7.03.04 Financial (89% of students scored above 70%) 7.03.05 Facilities and Land Use (100% of students scored above 70%) 7.03.06 Risk Management (80.9% of students scored above 70%)