UT Launches Outdoor Recreation, Park Management Concentration

KNOXVILLE — Students hoping to work for national or state parks can now take courses under the new University of Tennessee Outdoor Recreation and Park Management (ORPM) concentration. The courses are available in the Herbert College of Agriculture School of Natural Resources. Courses in this new undergraduate forestry major concentration rolled out in Fall 2024.

The curriculum includes recreation ecology, visitor use management, natural and cultural interpretation and outdoor leadership courses. It also uses the university’s 21,000-plus acres of forest land for teaching, research and demonstrations and takes advantage of nearby natural areas such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cherokee National Forest, state parks and outdoor recreation spaces within the city of Knoxville.

“Given the proximity to so many recreation resources such as the Great Smoky Mountains, strong connections to outdoor recreation agencies and private companies, and our new recreation faculty, we are well equipped to provide a strong education that incorporates the foundations of recreation in the classroom coupled with outstanding practical field experience,” Don Hodges, School of Natural Resources director, said about the new concentration.

Faculty members say it prepares students for careers in natural resource management agencies, non-profit organizations and small business operations. It also provides entrepreneurial training allowing students to be part of the growing outdoor recreation economy, which accounts for $1.1 trillion in economic output including $11.9 billion from Tennessee.

“These numbers point to the immense popularity of recreating in the outdoors, which comes with a certain responsibility. The Outdoor Recreation and Park Management concentration will prepare students to be leaders in protecting our natural and cultural heritage and ensuring high quality opportunities for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts,” Ryan Sharp, ORPM associate professor, said.

You can learn about the new concentration and its courses on the School of Natural Resources website and the academic catalog.

The UT School of Natural Resources is part of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT AgResearch and UT Extension at the UT Institute of Agriculture. The curricula focus on a mastery learning approach, emphasizing practical, hands-on experiences. The school’s faculty, staff and students conduct research and outreach programs that advance the science and sustainable management of our natural resources. For more information, visit naturalresources.tennessee.edu.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.