Ph.D., Community Resources and Development

Course Descriptions

Required:

CRD 610, Sustainable Communities, 3 credits
Offered in fall
Analyzes “community” as concept and as an organizing system for promoting sustainability. This course considers issues at different scales, ranging from urban to rural, local to global, historical to contemporary. Students will critically examine the role of public, private, and nonprofit institutions in promoting quality of life.

CRD 620, Community Research Methodology, 3 credits
Offered in fall
Introduces community research methods, with emphasis on methodological questions and techniques relevant to contemporary community based research.

REC 502, Statistical and Data Analysis, 3 credits
Offered in fall
Introduces descriptive and inferential methods used in recreation and tourism sciences. Students gain experience using statistical software.

REC 555, Social Scientific Perspectives, 3 credits
Offered in spring
Reviews theoretical and empirical social science literature in recreation and tourism.

CRD 683, Field Work, 3 credits
Offered in spring
Structured, supervised field experience in a field science or other discipline requiring experience in field techniques.

CRD 792, Research, variable credit
Independent study in which a student, under the supervision of a faculty member, conducts research that is expected to lead to a specific project such as a thesis or dissertation, report, or publication. Assignments might include data collection, experimental work, data analysis, or preparation of a manuscript.

CRD 799, Dissertation, variable credit
Supervised research focused on preparation of dissertation, including literature review, research, data collection and analysis, and writing.

Electives:

NLM 510, Foundations of Nonprofit Management, 3 credits
Offered in fall semester in even years
Explores the history and role of the nonprofit sector in American society; contemporary issues and delivery systems.

NLM 520, Financial Management in Nonprofit Organizations, 3 credits
Offered in spring semester
Reviews fiscal-management accounting procedures, understand financial tools used by nonprofit managers, and provides basic framework for evaluating financial performance of a nonprofit organization.

REC 530, Recreation and Tourism Service Management, 3 credits
Offered in spring semester of even years
Examines and applies organizational behavior, leadership, human resources, and development; planning and risk management to profession.

NLM 540, Volunteer and Human Resources in Nonprofit Organization, 3 credits
Offered in fall semester
Managing the volunteer and paid staff human resources in nonprofit organizations; practices and theories.

NLM 550, Philanthropy: Theory and Practice, 3 credits
Offered in spring semester
Provides overview of selected fundraising topics and insight into both the theory and practice of this area.

REC 552, Critical Issues in Recreation and Tourism, 3 credits
Offered once a year
Examines critical research issues in the leisure, recreation and tourism fields.

NLM 560, Leadership and Ethics in the Nonprofit Sector, 3 credits
Offered spring semester
Examines leadership and ethical questions encountered by managers and leaders in the nonprofit organizations.

NLM 562, Social Entrepreneurship, 3 credits
Offered spring semester
Introduces social entrepreneurship, including how ideas are formulated, constructed, and implemented; experiential learning in developing a social enterprise plan. Credit is allowed for only NLM 562 or 410.

REC 569, Advanced Tourism Studies, 3 credits
Offered once a year
Advanced survey of tourism literature with an emphasis on relevant theories, concepts, and current research.

REC 570, Society and Natural Resources, 3 credits
Offered once a year
Analyzes the social aspects of natural resource science, policy, and management. Prerequisite: PRM 370 or instructor approval.

REC 579, Tourism Analysis, 3 credits
Offered fall or spring semester
Examines theories and methods that govern tourist behavior and their relevance to destination development, operations, and management.

NLM 610, Executive Leadership and Governance, 3 credits
Offered spring semester
Examines the multiplicity of roles for executives and board of directors in providing strategic leadership for nonprofits. Prerequisite: NLM 510.

NLM 620, Critical Issues Facing Nonprofits, 3 credits
Offered spring semester
Improves understanding of trends emerging within nonprofits such as leadership, resource development, and social responsibility. Prerequisite: NLM 510.

A number of special topics courses are available as well. These may be offered as graduate level courses or as undergraduate/graduate level. Some examples include:

NLM 598, Art and Public Policy
REC 591, Sports Management
REC 591, Special Events Management
RTM 598, International Tourism
RTM 598, Special Events Management
RTM 598, Special Events Management-Advanced
RTM 598, Sustainable Tourism Management
RTM 598, Grant Writing for Human Services Professionals
RTM 598, Marketing Recreation and Tourism
RTM 598, Volunteer Management in Human Services Organizations
RTM 598, Human Services for At-Risk Youth
RTM 598, Leisure and Aging
RTM 598, Entrepreneurial Recreation and Tourism

Electives may also be selected from the many offerings by other university schools and departments with advisor approval.