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Parks, Recreation, & Tourism Accreditation

Accreditation for PRT

 

Council on Accreditation PRT

 

Since 1968, within the College of Health, the Department offers programs of study leading to baccalaureate, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. Our undergraduate program is accredited through the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT). COAPRT is, in turn, accredited by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Our Vision

We envision a global community that values and celebrates parks, recreation, and tourism. To that end, we contribute to individual, community, and environmental health through education, research, and action informed by the preventive, developmental, and restorative properties of parks, recreation, and tourism.

Our Mission

We create, share, and apply knowledge about parks, recreation, and tourism to inspire students, inform policy, serve social needs, promote sustainability, and advocate for the health of people, communities, and the environment.

COAPRT Standards

COAPRT standard 2.05.05 requires reporting of aggregated results of learning outcomes assessment. Results for the most recent academic year (AY 2019) follow:

Six-Year Graduation Rate: 82%

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 1 from Standard 7.01: Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of and interest in current trends and issues within and affecting the field of PRT. Outcome 1 Measure Type: Direct Outcome 1 Result: Summer 2018, 91% of students earned 75% or above.

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 2 from Standard 7.02: Students will be able to calculate, interpret, and report essential descriptive statistics. Outcome 2 Measure Type: Direct Outcome 2 Result: Fall 2018, 85% of students earned 75% or above.

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 3 from Standard 7.03: Students will be able to apply selected legal principles to cases involving civil rights and civil liberties of personnel, participants, and clientele. Outcome 3 Measure Type: Direct Outcome 3 Result: Spring 2019, 92% of students earned 75% or above

First Accredited: 03/14/1979 Next Review: Congress 2020 Options: A B D Status: Accredited

Important Information Regarding Degree Mills

Please watch this important video on Youtube regarding degree and accreditation mills. According to CHEA, "Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. “Accreditation” from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential." Read more on CHEA's website https://www.chea.org/degree-accreditation-mills.

Undergraduate Advising

Senior Academic Advisor

Eric Gardner

Phone
801-585-0832

Email
eric.gardner@utah.edu

Graduate Advising

Director of Graduate Studies

Jim Sibthorp, Ph.D.

Phone
801-581-5940

Email
Jim.Sibthorp@health.utah.edu

 

Department Chair

Chair of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

Dorothy L. Schmalz, Ph.D.

Phone
801-581-8542

Email
d.schmalz@health.utah.edu

 

PRT Main Office

PRT MAIN OFFICE

250 South 1850 East
HPER-North Suite 239
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Phone: 801-581-8542
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