Recreation Management & Physical Education

Planning
Planning your Program: 

The best time for a Recreation Management and Physical Education major to go abroad will be a combination of their concentration, credits they have transferred in, whether they have a dual major or a minor, whether they plan on taking any summer classes, and obviously their personal situation.  Listed below are some suggested time frames for each concentration. Students looking to go abroad during a different period are encouraged to work closely with their department advisor and the Education Abroad Office.

For all concentrations short-term study abroad opportunities are normally fairly easy to fit into a student’s degree plan.  Students are able to start participating on short-term programs (winter break, spring break, and summer) as early as their first year.  Students participating on short-term faculty-led programs often fulfill General Education, Major Free Electives, Major Concentration courses, Language requirements, or 2nd Major/Minor requirements.  Students participating on partner summer programs may be able to fulfill Recreation Management and Physical Education requirements in addition to the above options. Some students will also engage in research or complete an international internship.

RMPE majors often participate in a department faculty-led program as these courses are directly integrated into the major.  Students are also encouraged to consider a semester program. 

RMPE: Health and Physical Education

Due to certification requirements the best time for an HPE major to spend a semester abroad is during the first semester of their Sophomore Year.  Students will need to plan to take HPE 2130 while abroad to stay on track. Students should also plan to take CI 2300 during the summer before their study abroad semester.

RMPE: Commercial Recreation and Tourism Management

Students looking to spend a semester abroad should look to complete RM _____, before going abroad.  The Junior Year is often the best time to go abroad. Students should save 1-2 General Education requirements as well as their RM Concentration coursework. This is also an ideal time to satisfy some of your minor requirements. It may also be possible to complete the required internship abroad.  

RMPE: Outdoor Experiential Education

Students normally organize their semester abroad so that they are fulfill OEE requirements as well as some minor coursework.  This is often completed during the Junior Year. Students should be sure to take RM ____ prior to going abroad.

RMPE: Recreation and Park Management

Recreation and Park Management majors can study abroad for a semester during their Junior Year.  Students will fulfill Minor and Concentration requirements, as well as a General Education course or two.  Students should plan to take RM _____ before going abroad as it may not be offered on a semester program.

Course Considerations: 

 Some RMPE courses must be completed at Appalachian. These courses include RM______, ________, _________.  

Students looking to participate in a semester or non RMPE faculty-led program can also look to satisfy General Education requirements.  It is suggested that students save 1 or 2 LSE requirements for their study abroad program. It may be possible to satisfy an ILE, Science Inquiry, or Quantitative Literacy course but this requires more advanced planning.  


Advising: 

Students should contact the BCHS Office of Advising and Academic Support schedule an advising appointment.

Key questions to ask?

  • What are my remaining degree requirements?
  • How many upper-division credits do I still need to complete for my degree?
  • How many elective credits (lower vs. upper division) do I have left to complete my major?
  • What remaining prerequisites must I fulfill, and how will study abroad impact my progress?
  • Which of my remaining degree requirements could I complete abroad? Are there any that I cannot take abroad?
  • Can I receive academic credit for an internship abroad?
  • Are there any in-residence requirements I need to be aware of before I go abroad?
Programs

RMPE majors are able to participate on department faculty-led programs,  summer partner programs, and on semester programs.  Listed below are some possible options.

Program Type Information

Faculty-led

All faculty-led programs for fall 2021 have been suspended due to the ongoing pandemic. Please check back beginning in summer 2021 for updates about faculty-led programs for Spring Break and Summer I & II 2022.

Below are examples of previous faculty-led programs.

 

Canadian Rockies Backcountry Ski Expedition (Not offered in 2020)

  • Available Terms: Spring Break
  • Country: Canada
  • Unique Feature: 3 credits of RM 3545 Expeditioning in Canada

Exploring Youth Sexual Health Culture and Sexuality Education

  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Unique Feature: 3 credits of HPE 4545

Short-term

AIFS Limerick 

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Ireland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: HPE
  • Unique Feature: Past course offerings have included Developing Self as a Health Care Practitioner Through Celtic Spirituality and Active Body Active Mind: Integrating Theory into Practice

SAI Florence University of the Arts

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Italy
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings have included Health and Fitness in the Mediterranean, Intro to Nutrition, Lifetime Nutrition Wellness and Physical Activity, Food Health and Wellness in Italy, Sport Marketing, International Tourism, Sport Event and Facility Management

USAC Reggio Emilia

  • Program Type: Affiliate 
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Italy
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: HPE, NUT
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings have included Nutrition Across the Lifespan, Physical Activity and Wellness Across Cultures, Health and Wellness Communication, Contemporary Issues in Public Health

USAC Thailand Khon Kaen

  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Thailand
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PE, PH
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings include Comparative Studies in Global Healthcare, Thai  Dance and Music, Global Health Issues, Muay Thai, Aging Well the Sociocultural Context of Health, Public Health Communication

Semester

Asia

ISEP The Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Hong Kong
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Cantonese and Mandarin language coursework. 
  • Concentrations: CSD, ES, PE, PH, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of PE classes such as Teaching Volleyball, Teaching Handball, Individual Sports, Sociology of PE and Sports, Foundation of Phy Ed and Sports, Teaching Swimming, and a variety of PE courses like Taekwondo and Handball.  Normally offer several Tourism related courses each semester. 

Kristu Jayanti

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: India
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: TOUR
  • Unique Feature: In addition to Business students can normally find 2 Tourism courses each semester such as Tourism Products of India, Tourism Marketing, Fundamentals of Tourism Management, Sustainable Tourism. 

Madras Christian College

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: India
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: HPE, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Tourism courses have included Fundamentals of Tourism, Geography of India, History and Heritage, Tourism Marketing and Management, Facets of Tourism, Tourguiding and Resource.  PE courses have included Fundamentals and Principles of Physical Education and Sports, Drill and Marching/Calisthenics/Light Apparatus/Minor Games, Rules Regulations and Officiating in Sports, Anatomy Physiology and Health Education, Track Events, Exercise Physiology and Sports Injuries, Fundamentals of Statistics and Computer Application in Physical Education, Kinesiology and Biomechanics, Field Events, Sports Training, Adapted Physical Education, First Aid and Nutrition, and more. 

Burapha University

  • Program Type: Full Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country:Thailand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers coursework taught in English
  • Concentrations: PE, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: PE offerings include Swimming, Basketball, Tennis, Badminton, Dance, Self Defense.  Students are also able to select from Tourism courses such as Tourist Behavior, Information Technology for Hospitality and Tourism, Cultural Diversity Study for Hospitality and Tourism, Tourism Destination Management, Food and Beverage Management, Entrepreneurship, Tour Guiding, MICE Management, Sustainable Tourism, Health Tourism, Sport Tourism, Agro Tourism, Sustainable Transportation, Wildlife and Nature Based Tourism, and more.

ISA Mahidol

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall
  • Country: Thailand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: PE, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Fall offerings have included Badminton, Self Defense, Soccer, Tennis, etc.  Students are also able to select from Tourism courses such as Tourism Guide, Sustainable Tourism Studies, Economics of Tourism, Sales and Marketing for Travel Industry, Finance for Travel Industry and more.

Duy Tan University

  • Program Type: Partial Exchange w/Internship
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: TOUR (internships available)
  • Unique Feature: In addition to Business courses Duy Tan offers Hospitality courses that may work for TOUR majors such as Overview of Hospitality, Intro to Restaurant Operations, Intro to Food Production and Service, Intro to Hotel Operations, Room Services and Practices, Restaurant Management, Management of Hotel Facilities, and more. 

Europe

Management Center of Innsbruck

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms:Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Austria
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Spring course offerings include Alpine Tourism I plus Alpine Tourism II (3 credits), ETourism Management (1 credit), International Destination Management (1.5 credits), International Tourism Management (1.5 credits), Sustainable Tourism Development (.5 credit)

HOWEST

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange
  • Available Terms:Fall, Spring
  • Country: Belgium
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: HPE (Fall), TOUR (Spring)
  • Unique Feature: HOWEST offers two tracks that may be of interest to students.
  • Fall semester Applied Health and Lifestyle Science program covering such topics as Trends and Entrepreneurship (3 credits), eHealth (1.5 credits), Prevention@work (1.5 credits), Trainer-coach@work (1.5 credits), Personal Development and Group Processes (1.5 credits), Health and Lifestyle Coaching (6 credits), Individual Movement Skills (1.5 credits), Sport and Game Design Teamsports (3 credits).  
  • Spring semester Tourism Project Management program offering courses such as Current Issues in Tourism (1.5 credits), Visitor Attractions (1.5 credits), E-commerce (1.5 credits), Meeting Flanders Today (1.5 credits), Integrated Project (3 credits), Project Management for Creatives (1.5 credits), Event Management (1.5 credits), Digital Project Communication Video (1.5 credits)

AIFS Limerick

  • Program Type: Affiliate 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Ireland
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, HPE, NUT
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of PE courses such as Pedagogy of Outdoor and Adventure Education, Pedagogy of Invasion Games, Gaelic Games, Instructional Alignment in Physical Education,Pedagogy of Dance and Gymnastics, Adapted Physical Activity and Physical Education, Qualitative Biomechanics for Physical Education, Coaching Science and Performance, Pedagogy of Striking Fielding Net Games, Physical Activity Behaviour Promotion and Health, Gaelic Games, Coaching and Science Performance, Exercise and Fitness, Endurance Sports, Strength Sports.

SAI Florence University of the Arts

  • Program Type: Affiliate 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Italy
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: HPE, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Possible course offerings include Health and Fitness in the Mediterranean, Italian Soccer Experience, The Physical and Emotional Art of Walking, Sport Marketing, International Tourism, Sport Event and Facility Management.

Universite d’Angers

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: France
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers French language coursework and courses taught in English.
  • Concentrations: TOUR (offers many regional Tourism courses)
  • Unique Feature: Offers a range of tourism courses such as Tourism and the European Union, Tourism Outlooks, Getting to Know a Tourism Destination, Tourism and Transport, Sports and Tourism, Regional Tourism, Loire Valley Castles, Marketing Wine and Related Products and more.  Courses need to be grouped together as many are 1 or 2 credits.

SAI CETT Tourism and Hospitality

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers coursework in English and Spanish language classes
  • Concentrations:  TOUR 
  • Unique Feature: Offers a wide range of Tourism & Hospitality coursework such as Sustainable Management of Tourism Destinations, Tourism Service Companies, Analysis of Tourism Destinations, Geography and Tourism, Tourism Marketing and more.  Also offers other Business related coursework. 

Universidad de Alicante

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers coursework in English and a Spanish language class.
  • Concentrations: TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Relevant spring offerings have included Cultural Heritage, Tourist Territorial Resources, Sociology of Tourism, Anthropology of Tourism, New Technologies in Tourism and Destination Management in addition to many Business offerings. 

Universidad Europea de Madrid

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange 
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers coursework taught in English
  • Concentrations: Offers some coursework in ES and PE, as well as Sports Science.
  • Unique Feature: Past offerings have included Athletic Training, Basketball, Sociology and Deontology of Sports, Quality Control and Customer Service in the Field of Sports. 

University of Lincoln

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, HPE, NUT, PH, RM, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Offers a wide range of relevant course work such as Exercise Instruction, Exercise Prescription for Health, Personal Training, Health Promotion and Behavioral Change, Fundamentals of Teaching and Coaching, Sociological Issues in PE and Sport, Policy in Sport Development and Physical Education, Fitness Testing and Training, Contemporary Issues in Physical Education, Inclusive Sport and Physical Activity, Critical Issues in Coaching, Foundations of Sport Management, Commercial Sports Club Management, Research Methods for Tourism Sports and Events, Enterprise and Strategic Management, and more Sports Management coursework.  Also offers a Tourism major in the Business School. 

University of Sunderland

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: 2nd Semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, HPE, NUT, PH
  • Unique Feature: Past offerings have included Coaching Leadership, Motivating Physical Activity, Theory and Practice of Sports Coaching, Exercise Testing and Prescription, Adaptive Physical Activity. 

ISEP Plymouth

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Standing: Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, NUT, TOUR, PH
  • Unique Feature: Tourism options include Special Interest Tourism, The Tourism Industry, Introduction to Sustainable Tourism Management, Tourism Development and Culture, Tourism Venture Creation, Crime and Sustainable Tourism, Cruise and Maritime Operations, Cruise Operations and Passenger Services, and more.

Latin America

Veritas Universidad

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers Spanish language coursework and courses taught in English.
  • Concentrations: Offers several courses related to Health Sciences and Business. Normally offers an Ecotourism course. 

Universidad de las Americas Puebla

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Mexico
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language Requirements: None.  Many courses are taught in English. Students can study Spanish language. 
  • Concentrations: TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Business coursework taught in English.  Normally offers 1-3 Hospitality/Tourism related courses such as Strategy in Hotels and Restaurants, Electronic Commerce and Tourism, and Selected Topics coursework.  Students can also study Spanish language and take English taught courses in other departments. 

Universidad de Quintana Roo

  • Program Type: Full Exchange
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Mexico
  • Standing: 2nd semester Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language Requirements: Advanced Spanish (lowever leverl students may be able to complete and intensive Spanish language program before the start of the semester)
  • Offers Hospitality and Tourism coursework in Spanish on their Cancun, Cozumel, and Chetumal campuses.  Interested students may be able to arrange hotel and tourism internships. 

North America

ISEP Thompson Rivers

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Canada
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, RM (Outdoor), TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings have included Ski Tour, Rock Climbing, Avalanche Safety, Adventure Tourism, Kayak, Emergency Situations, Community and Cultural Issues in Tourism, Tourism Policy and Planning, and more.

Oceania

University of Canberra

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, HPE, NUT, PH, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Relevant course offerings include Sports Medicine, Sport and Performance Psychology, Strategic Sport Management, Sport Event and Venue Management, Sport Business, Tourism and Communication, Event Development, Contemporary Issues in Tourism and Events, Exercise Programming and Prescription I, Sport Management and Development, Introduction to Events and Tourism, Tourism Policy, Tourism and the World Economy.

La Trobe University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: CSD, ES, HPE, NUT, PH, RM (Outdoor), TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings include Inclusive Sport Coaching, Skill Development in Sport, Exercise Fitness and Health, Sport and Skill Analysis, Sports Marketing, Sport Management, Sport Media, Sport Governance and Strategy, Outdoor Environments, Australian Culture and Land, Leading Groups in Outdoor Environments, Field Experience, River Environments Flat Water, Winter Alpine Environments, River Environments White Water, and more.

Southern Cross University

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: Australia (Lismore and Gold Coast)
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: CSD, ES, NUT, PH, TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Previous course offerings include Tourism Theories and Practice, Sustainable Tourism, Tourism and Hospitality Sales and Promotion, Cruise Business (GC), Management for Sport and Exercise, International Tourism Destinations (GC), Tourist Behaviour and Interactions, Special Interest Tourism. 

Ara Institute

  • Program Type: Basic Exchange, Fee Paying
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: ES, NUT, RM (Outdoor), TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Offers courses such as Adventure Tourism, Applied Outdoor Leadership, Practical Leadership Pursuits Vertical, Practical Leadership Pursuits Water, Advanced Practical Whitewater, Advanced Practical Back Country, Rock, Sea Kayak, Adventure Therapy, Philosophy and Ethics of Environmental Education, Surf and Beach Education, Implementing Sustainable Practice, Policy and Planning, Intro to International Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Principles and Impacts of Tourism, People and Place Culture and Nature, Contemporary Issues in Tourism and Hospitality, Implementing Sustainable Practice.

ISA Auckland University of Technology

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: CSD, ES, RM (Outdoor), TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Course offerings include Leadership in Sport and the Outdoors, Outdoor Leadership, Outdoor Philosophy, Sport and Recreation in Society, Maori and Tourism, Sustainable Sports Event Management, Travel and Tourism Marketing. 

ISEP Exchange/Direct NMIT

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: RM (Outdoor), TOUR
  • Unique Feature: Offers an Adventure Tourism semester in addition to coursework on the main campus with offerings such as Exercise Sport and Recreation Training,  Sport Exercise and Recreation in Aotearoa NZ, Exercise Sport and Recreation Issues in Society, Legal Issues for Sport and Recreation. 

ISEP Massey and USAC Massey

  • Program Type: ISEP Exchange, ISEP Direct, Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Concentrations: CSD, ES, HPE, NUT, RM
  • Unique Feature: PE offerings have included Intro to Physical Education, Fitness Assessment, Sport Coaching, Current Issues in Health and Physical Education, An Integrated Model of Physical Education, Fitness Assessment, Training Principles and Practice, Fitness and Athletic Conditioning. 

Internships

CEA Shanghai Study plus Internship

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: China
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers coursework in English and Spanish language classes
  • Concentrations: TOUR
  • Internships available in Tourism.

USAC NZ Disaster Risk and Emergency Management

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: New Zealand
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Unique Feature: This unique experience pairs a two-week National Expedition field study (earning 15 Massey credits) with a four-week professional internship placement, also worth 15 Massey credits.
  • Students in the Communication Marketing track will delve into how successful the brands and images of the New Zealand tourism industry are at capturing the attention of people new to the country and culture. You will examine the identity of the service-providing organizations and brands you encounter, assess the company's image, and identify how effectively they appear to communicate what they offer.

CEA Seville Study plus Internship

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Internships available in Exercise, Health, Sports Science, and Tourism.

CEA Barcelona Study plus Internship

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Country: Spain
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language: Offers coursework in English and Spanish language classes
  • Concentrations: Internships available in Tourism.

African Impact Eco-Tourism Internship

  • Program Type: Affiliate
  • Available Terms: Summer
  • Country: Zanzibar
  • Standing:  Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Language Requirement: None.
  • Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania, is a beautiful tropical island and tourist hot-spot due to its stunning beaches, turquoise waters and vibrant history. Ticking swimming with dolphins off the bucket list is also why many venture to this exotic paradise. Yet, prominent research shows the harmful effects of mismanaged interactions and this form of tourism on marine mammals. The answer is never simple – considering the local community’s reliance on this income – but, as part of this Marine Eco Tourism Internship abroad you will become part of a positive solution.