Dec 05, 2024  
2024-2025 University of Wyoming Catalog 
    
2024-2025 University of Wyoming Catalog

Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Management, Creative Studies in Recreation & Tourism Concentration, B.S.


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A B.S. in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management (ORTM) emphasizes stewardship and conservation of natural resources, tourism and outdoor recreation theories and best practices, and entrepreneurial and business management strategies.

This concentration is for students with interests outside designated concentrations. Design a program of study with advisor approval.

Degree Program Requirements


This major requires a minimum of 76 credits (primary) or 70 (concurrent), <variable> of which are upper-division credits. Students must satisfy USP requirements in accordance with their primary program. Additionally, students need a minimum of 120 total credits, including 42 upper-division credits to graduate from UW. 

University Studies Program


This degree requires that The University Studies Program 2015  requirements are met before graduation. Some of the courses required for this major fulfill USP requirements, but not all. Students should check their degree evaluations and consult with their assigned academic advisor to discuss their specific course plan.

Program Overview


Students choose one of five different concentrations.

Students earning a degree in ORTM will be expected to demonstrate learning in six key areas:

  1. Leadership
    • competency in leading and building diverse, collaborative teams;
    • application and evaluation of ethical, resourceful leadership principles to challenges and solutions within the ORTM industry.
  2. Professional Practice
    • ability to apply and critically evaluate practical, creative, ethical, and theoretical frameworks in diverse and complex professional circumstances.
  3. Communication
    • ability to manage dynamic relationships and demonstrate best practices in communication.
  4. Nimble and Creative Thinking
    • ability to strategically design, implement, and evaluate sustainable and emergent services, experiences, and opportunities.
  5. Trans-disciplinarity
    • synthesis and application of ecological and human communities, with the capacity to provide wise stewardship and conservation of natural resources;
    • tourism and outdoor recreation theories and best practices;
    • entrepreneurial and business management strategies.
  6. Place-based and Global Understanding
    • skills to implement solutions appropriate for local environments that demonstrate fluency in global contexts and diverse cultures.

20+ Credit Hours in ORTM Foundations Courses


Business Fundamentals


Environment & Natural Resources


People & Culture


13+ Credit Hours in Synthesis & Applied Experience


Professional Development (1 Credit Min. S/U Grading Only)


  • Credits: 1-6
  • Satisfactory completion of a 400+ hour professional and applied experience required prior to enrollment. No more than 6 total credits of ENR 4970, ESS 4970, or ORTM 4970 can be applied across multiple Haub programs. All prefixes are interchangeable and are accepted for any Haub program.

19+ Credit-Hour Concentration


Note that courses already taken in the ORTM core, foundations, or synthesis & applied experience cannot also apply to concentration requirements.

  • Self-designed program of study; requires approval from advisor.

6+ Credit Hours of Haub School Requirements Courses


  • Students earning a B.S. in ORTM with their degree awarded from the Haub School must additionally complete 6 credit hours of Haub School Requirements:

    1. U.S. Diversity (choose one course)

    2. Global Awareness (choose one course)

Additional Requirements


Students complete additional credit hours in consultation with advisor if needed to meet minimum 120 credits, including 42 upper division credits, to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming.

Additionally, students must:

  • earn a C or better in all courses fulfilling program requirements - in­cluding Haub School U.S. Diversity and Global Awareness courses, and degree, major, and/or minor courses;

  • earn 12 credits unique to each program when enrolled in multiple Haub School programs;

  • meet University of Wyoming requirements for earning a bachelor’s degree, including, but not limited to, completion of University Studies Program and maintaining minimum 2.0 GPA for good academic standing and graduation.

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