EDUCATION
By Shannon Magsam | Photos courtesy of the College of Education & Health Professions
Preparing Leaders for Arkansas’ Growing Outdoor Recreation and Sport Tourism Field
U of A launches master’s degree for professionals to explore, experience and connect to careers in the Natural State
Arkansas’ outdoor recreation and tourism economy is booming, and so are opportunities for careers in the field.
“We live, learn, work and play in the learning lab that is the Natural State,” said Jamie Cathey, coordinator of the University of Arkansas’ new Outdoor Recreation and Sport Tourism master’s program. “That creates unmatched opportunities for students to engage directly with local communities and experience real-time industry growth, and those experiences will ultimately translate into impactful careers.”
The online program, in the College of Education and Health Professions, is grounded in hands-on learning, industry partnerships and real-world experiences directly connected to professions in the outdoor recreation and tourism sector. The first classes started this fall.
Arkansas is gaining national attention for outdoor recreation, cycling, tourism and sporting events, so the U of A is uniquely positioned to help develop the professionals who will lead that growth.
“What makes ORST unique is that we’re intentionally bringing outdoor recreation, sport tourism, events and destination management together in one program,” Cathey said. “We’re preparing students to understand the entire ecosystem while developing the skills and connections to find where they fit within it.”
A Broad Scope of Career Options
The new master’s degree was exactly what Ragen Steffen-Jennings was looking for to complement her degree in organizational leadership from the U of A - Fort Smith, where she recently went back as a non-traditional student to finish her degree. She was intrigued by the program’s focus and excited to have found a great online option. She’s the mom of 10 children, five still living at home, and recently began working for Solar Under the Sun, a nonprofit that installs solar systems to help bring electricity to underdeveloped communities.
“I have been involved in outdoor recreation for most of my life as a participant, and I previously managed the basketball program for the school at my church,” she said. “I have also had children involved in various sports, so I have experience on both sides of sports tourism. My degree in organizational leadership pairs well with the management side of the ORST degree.”
Steffen-Jennings thought it might be a great avenue for a career with the state or national parks system. Now that she’s started classes, though, her eyes have been opened to other employment possibilities.
“I may have started the program with the intention of pursuing a parks position, but I now see a broader scope of options that are all exciting and I believe would be fulfilling,” she said. “I have been involved in nonprofits for years; this class has shown how important nonprofits are in the ORST industry.”
She said the coursework is compelling. “I am finding just the right mix of overlap with my previous experiences to feel like I know what I am doing, and enough new material to keep me interested and engaged,” she said.
Outpacing Growth Nationally in the Natural State
The ORST degree is part of the college’s Recreation and Sport Management program in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. The RESM program offers undergraduate and master’s degrees as well as an outdoor leadership minor.
Experiential learning is at the heart of all these sport, recreation and outdoor programs. Students can participate in sporting events, network with professionals and explore unique projects. For example, during this year’s May intersession, students connected outdoor leadership theory to practice while sailing in the Caribbean. From St. Martin to nearby islands, they learned and led in a remote setting, developing skills in facilitation, group dynamics, risk management, trip planning and adventure-based leadership.
But there are plenty of hands-on outdoor recreation and tourism learning opportunities in Arkansas — more every year.
Arkansas is outpacing the national average with 33% growth in the industry since 2019, and that momentum isn’t slowing down, Cathey said. The state has and continues to make a significant investment in outdoor recreation and tourism.
“What excites me most is that we’re not just teaching where these industries are today; we have an opportunity to help shape where they’re going next,” she said.
Analyzing Real-World Issues Facing the Industry
Since moving to Northwest Arkansas, Cathey has fully engaged with the outdoor culture. An avid cyclist, she is event director for the OZ Stage Race and project manager for the Arkansas Graveler.
ORST students will have the opportunity to participate in these types of events as part of their degree. In addition to industry-focused coursework, there’s also a required professional capstone. The capstone projects will specifically challenge students with real-world issues currently facing the industry, requiring them to analyze problems, think critically through possible solutions and present actionable solutions back to the professionals.
“Graduates can take what they learn here and apply it in communities and destinations across the country,” Cathey said.