Outdoor Recreation Business Administration, B.A.

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About the Concentration:

The Outdoor Recreation Business Administration program is housed in the Department of Business Economics in the Division of Social Sciences, and Business. This concentration is designed to develop skills and a knowledge base that will allow students to pursue careers in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism sector in Western Maine or elsewhere. The focus of the program is to develop specific competencies and business skills that will facilitate career progression in the existing snow sports, golfing, river industry, hiking and camping resorts, service and retail businesses that provide the economic core of the tourism and recreation industry in Western Maine and many other regions nationally and globally.

Major Requirements (66 Total credits)

Total	60
Internship	6
Total for Major	66

BUS 220 - Principles of Marketing Credits: 4
BUS 360 - Entrepreneurship Credits: 4
BUS 480 - Service Operations Management and Marketing Credits: 4
ECO 228 - Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Credits: 4
BUS 130 - Introduction to Recreation Credits: 4

Advanced Marketing

Either:

BUS 320 - Consumer Behavior Credits: 4
or
BUS 323 - Digital Marketing Credits: 4
or
BUS 326 - Social Media Marketing Credits: 4
or
BUS 337 - International Marketing Credits: 4

Recreation Courses

(8 credits from the following):

BUS 229 - Alpine Operations Leadership and Management Credits: 4
REC 103 - Principles and Practices of the River Industry Credits: 2
REC 104 - Principles and Practices of Camping and Hiking Credits: 2
REC 105 - Principles and Practices of the Golf Industry Credits: 2
REC 106 - Principles and Practices of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Maine Credits: 2
REC 107 - Principles and Practices of Adventure Education Credits: 2
SKI 120 - Orientation to Alpine Operations Credits: 4
SKI 122 - Theory of Ski Instruction Credits: 2
Other courses from Business, Alpine Operations, or Recreation as approved by ORBA Faculty.

People and Place

(8 credits of the following):

ANT 240S - Cultural Ecology Credits: 4
GEO 200S - Geographical Imaginations Credits: 4
GEO 212S - Latin America: Peoples & Environments Credits: 4
GEO 214S - Asia: Peoples & Environments Credits: 4
GEO 219S - Geography of Maine Credits: 4
GEO 320 - Environment, Economy, Society Credits: 4
GEO 331 - Nature and Society Credits: 4
GEO 340 - Sustainable Land Use Credits: 4
GEO 343 - Community Planning Credits: 4
HTY 240S - Maine History Credits: 4

SKI or REC Maximum of 4 Credit Hours:

REC 106 - Principles and Practices of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Maine Credits: 2
REC 132 - Recreation of Western Maine Credits: 2
SKI 120 - Orientation to Alpine Operations Credits: 4

General Education Requirements

For specific information about general education requirements and expectations, see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

Various minors could be undertaken within this degree.

Minimum Total of Credits for The Degree: 128

Learning Goals, Assessment, and Requirements

Learning Goals:

Students will be able to:

articulate their ideas in an effective manner, by speaking and writing coherently.
understand and analyze a broad range of issues by engaging analytical inquiry, informational literacy, ethical reasoning, problem solving skills and a broad multidisciplinary knowledge base.
understand the principles related to the development of human capital and effective leadership from an organizational and personal perspective.
demonstrate an understanding of business practices appropriate to managing and developing an organization operating in the outdoor recreation sector.
demonstrate an understanding of business and economics principles and practices appropriate to achieving a competitive advantage in the outdoor recreation sector.
demonstrate an understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the outdoor recreation sector, with particular emphasis on Western Maine.
develop an appreciation of the value of life-long learning.

Outcomes Inherent in the Goals:

Students will be able to communicate effectively. Oral and written communications will be coherent, articulate and will follow an appropriate professional style.
Students will be able to present (orally or in writing) analyses and discussions that demonstrate the appropriate use of analytical inquiry, informational literacy, ethical reasoning, problem solving skills and a broad multidisciplinary knowledge base in solving problems, analyzing cases and discussing issues related to outdoor recreation businesses.
Through papers, projects, exams, and discussions students will demonstrate:
- their understanding of human capital development principles and the development of leadership and interpersonal skills;
- their ability to apply relevant business practices;
- an awareness of strategies facilitating the development of a competitive advantage, for organizations in the outdoor recreation sector;
- an awareness of the opportunities and challenges facing the outdoor recreation sector, with particular emphasis on Western Maine, including how geography, people and the environment impact, and are impacted by, the development of a region.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of business practices, goal setting, leadership and interpersonal relations through their performance in professional situations.
Students will show a commitment to lifelong learning.