Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
A program that prepares individuals to plan, develop, and manage tourism in a natural resource setting, with an emphasis on applying environmentally sound, culturally sensitive, and economically sustainable principles. Includes instruction in environmental studies; natural resource management and interpretation; tourism planning, management, and policies; public land use management and policies; communications; marketing; and public relations.
- Schools offering
- 12
- Annual completions
- 98
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $56k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to plan, develop, and manage tourism in a natural resource setting, with an emphasis on applying environmentally sound, culturally sensitive, and economically sustainable principles. Includes instruction in environmental studies; natural resource management and interpretation; tourism planning, management, and policies; public land use management and policies; communications; marketing; and public relations.
Examples of specialized tracks: Ecotourism, Resource Recreation and Tourism, Nature, Based Tourism, Natural Resources Interpretation, Hunting and Fishing Guide.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling | $77k | +7.7% | Bachelor's degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$56k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$47k
Bachelor's
$57k
Top colleges for Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 0 | 22 | 22 |
| University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | 0 | 21 | 21 |
| The University of Montana | Missoula, MT | 0 | 19 | 19 |
| University of Vermont | Burlington, VT | 0 | 18 | 18 |
| University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum, VA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo | Arecibo, PR | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Casper College | Casper, WY | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence, RI | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unity Environmental University | New Gloucester, ME | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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