Ag Academics at South Dakota State University Park Management Expanding populations, increased leisure time, greater mobility and changing social attitudes are just a few reasons why the demand for parks and outdoor recreation services is increasing now and is expected to increase in the future. Park professionals are needed to meet this demand. The park management curriculum at SDSU is designed to help interested students develop into parks and outdoor recreation professionals. Preparation for the Major Admission to the park management program at South Dakota State University is open to high school graduates and college transfer students. No requirements, other than those expected of all applicants to South Dakota State University, are demanded of students entering the major.
Students generally have a strong interest in the natural resources and in working with people.
The park management curriculum is designed to involve the student in a variety of courses ranging from landscape design to community recreation to soil and water mechanics. The major blocks of courses are in parks and outdoor recreation, horticulture, landscape and planning, communication skills and business administration. Core undergraduate courses are parks and society, outdoor recreation resource management, interpretation, park operation and facility management, commercial recreation areas, forest ecology and management and advanced park management. These core courses are intended to relate the other courses in the curriculum to the student s career objectives in park management. A unique aspect of the park management curriculum is a two-summer work experience for a park or outdoor recreation agency that is required of all students.