“When you are a student in the PRTM Master’s program, you have me for life.”
Over the past 40 years, Tom O’Rourke has spent every day of his working career in the management or administration of parks, recreation and tourism in the Charleston, South Carolina region. Between directing two large park systems and his service as a Board Member of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, he’s seen and managed it all.
Tom applies that on-the-ground knowledge and expertise to two classes in the Clemson University Master of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management (PRTM) program: Innovative and Creative Funding Strategies in PRTM (PRTM 8210) and Enterprise Development in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors (PRTM 8240). He also provides strategic planning support to the department.
Tom recently answered a few questions for us about the program, his experiences in the community recreation field and the future of the profession.
Tell us a bit about what you see as your most significant contribution to the online MS program.
As Executive Director of the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission I oversaw the agency through its most significant growth. What separated CCPRC’s growth from most others is that we accomplished this with very little reliance on tax subsidies. As our profession advances into the future, it is clear that we will need to create entrepreneurial opportunities and business management principles that will ensure its sustainability. My contribution to the master’s degree program is to work with the students and other faculty members to institute programs and services that can financially sustain themselves into the future.
What knowledge and skills do you feel are most important for our MS students to have in order to advance in the field?
The skills necessary to advance the field of parks, recreation and tourism into the future will be grounded in creativity. A department’s end goal of making communities and the people in them better doesn’t change. What will be completely different is how we do it. Graduates should leave our program understanding how to fund their parks and programs without relying on the government to fund their operations.
The future leaders in parks and recreation will be managing more than doing. Our students learn the contractual skills necessary to protect their community, while controlling the activities that take place in their department.
Our program also focuses on innovation. Government is changing, parks and recreation is changing, and so are people and society. Our students will learn through innovation the skills necessary to lead our profession into the future.
What do you enjoy most about teaching in the MS online program?
What I enjoy most is my relationship with the students. Most of our MS students are currently working in the field. The personal relationship I have with the students extends far beyond the learning outcomes of each class.
I want to be the type of professor that is always there for the students not only in class, but beyond the class and even after they graduate. Education does not stop after the student leaves Clemson. When they contact me, I don’t want to give answers, I want to ask questions so that the student can reach the answers themselves. When you are a student in the PRTM Master’s program, you have me for life.
What advice do you have for potential students who will be taking this program while working full-time?
I actually think it is better to enroll in the program while working full-time. The advantage is that you have faculty resources for the problems that you are undertaking at your immediate disposal.
Our current method of teaching is designed to consist of discussion topics and group work. This forces students to get to know each other. The other students provide a professional network that will last well beyond graduation. When we discuss current issues, students that are currently working full-time always offer the best and most current examples.
How is this program a good value for students? Or who do you think would benefit most from this credential in your field of expertise?
The knowledge gained in the MS program will benefit a student even if they choose to switch fields. Gaining knowledge in strategic planning, funding and working in political environments is essential, whatever you are doing. Most advanced senior management positions currently require a master’s degree. Having one with an emphasis in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship separates our program from any other.
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About the Master of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Clemson University is among the nation’s top universities in graduate education in the fields of parks, recreation, tourism and related disciplines. Research shows that the average annual salary of a person holding a M.S. in the PRTM field is $16,000 more annually or $480,000 more over a 30-year career. The top 25% of people in the field with a M.S. make $88,000 or more annually.
Students learn from a mix of leading university faculty and world-class practitioners and take 10 classes over two years (one class at a time), meeting online in the evening once a week with faculty and fellow graduate students – making sure you can continue to work full-time while earning your Master’s degree.
Visit Clemson Online to learn more about the MS Online (non-thesis) program in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, including how to apply for either a spring or fall program start.
Hannah Snider is a senior at Clemson University, getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a concentration in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management. She is the daughter of Brian and Rebecca Snider and the sister of Rachel Snider. She is also the fiancé of Dillon Gums.
Ellerslie McCue is a senior majoring in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a concentration in Travel and Tourism and an interest in Agriculture. She is very grateful to all of the professors and administrators in both PRTM and CAFLS for four amazing years and for encouraging her to be the best that she can be. She wishes to thank them (virtually) for going above and beyond for their students and making a huge impact in their lives that continues after they leave Clemson University.
Cait Henry is a master’s student in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and originates from Saint Louis, Missouri. She works as a Project Coordinator and Master’s Research Assistant in the Parks Solutions Lab, where she has had the opportunity to network with other highly motivated and passionate social scientists. She was accepted into the Ph.D. program at Kansas State University under Dr. Jessica Fefer in the department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, and will move back to the Midwest after graduating this May. Her hobbies include: hiking and backpacking along the Blue Ridge Parkway, reading at coffee shops, discovering new craft breweries and slowly turning her cats into Adventure Cats.
Kaitlin Mueller is a proud Clevelander with a passion to live in a world where one day all people have access to recreation therapy services. She completed her undergrad in RT at Slippery Rock University and finished her master’s studies at Indiana University in RT. After graduating from Slippery Rock University, Kaitlin worked as a recreational therapist in geriatric, sub-acute rehabilitation in Cleveland for five years. Kaitlin is now a 2nd year Ph.D. student in RT with hopes of becoming a future academic. Kaitlin’s research interest is currently transitional care for older adults when moving into a new senior facility. Kaitlin enjoys all the quality time she can get with her husband and almost one-year-old son, preferably at Clemson baseball or softball games. Go Tigers!
John is currently in the final semester of his master’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at Clemson University where he works as a research assistant for Dr. Matt Brownlee in the Park Solutions Lab. Through his assistantship, he has helped to write four extensive visitor management reports for national parks across the country, conducted visitor surveys in three additional parks, and drafted five research articles for submission to peer reviewed journals this spring. His thesis focuses on integrating emotional affect into bear management and bear safety education. Prior to coming to Clemson, John received his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology and Statistics from the University of Montana. Between programs, John worked as a veterinary technician in Texas, interpreter at a grizzly bear sanctuary in Montana, and a panda behavior intern in China. John and his fiancée, Emma, will get married in May and he hopes to continue on towards a doctoral degree in wildlife biology and work in grizzly bear research and management.
Suk is a fourth-year graduate (Ph.D.) student in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with a research focus on the development of disability sport through corporate social responsibility. He has put forth significant effort to find ways for firms, as well as sport organizations, to make a social impact and address community priorities, especially for the communities of persons with a disability.
Brian completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of San Diego, and he completed his master’s degree at the University of Utah. His doctoral research focuses on advancing spatiotemporal research of visitor travel patterns within parks and protected areas. His dissertation is comprised of research conducted at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Ali Dubin is a graduate student from East Greenbush, New York. She is working towards her Ph.D. in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management. After high school, Ali spent eight summers working at Girl Scout Camps in NY and VA, sparking her interest in camp and camp administration. Her research focuses on issues in camp administration, with a specific focus on children with severe food allergy and the constraints to participation that they face. She has had the opportunity to use her formal education and camp skills to teach many classes at Clemson University including Finding Your Voice, Camp Administration and the Writing Mentor Program. When Ali is not talking or thinking about camp, which is rare, she likes hiking with her dog Ari and spending time by the lake. Her other hobbies include wine tasting, reading cheesy romance novels and crafting: she hopes to have more time to do these things after finishing her dissertation.
Donna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy at the University of Maryland. She earned an MBA from the Pennsylvania State University and is currently working toward her Ph.D. at Clemson University. She is the Chief of Recreational Therapy at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. She has managed interdisciplinary treatment teams and has clinical experience working with a variety of patient populations including individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injuries. Her interests include program development, process improvement, and research related to the health and well-being of at-risk populations.
Jennifer Kinch Garcia is finalizing her 2nd year as a doctoral student with the Clemson University Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management program. Her focus lies mostly within Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management with an emphasis in youth development. Jennifer is working towards the evaluation of nature based free play, and how communities can support the spaces and policies that surround the concept of free play. After graduating with a B.S. in Biology from West Texas A&M University, she began her career within the world of zoos and aquariums at the Amarillo Zoo in Amarillo, Texas. She started her role at the Greenville Zoo as the Education Coordinator in 2012. Since moving to Greenville, South Carolina she has earned her M.Ed. for Curriculum Development and through her work, has been fortunate to be a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Nature Play initiatives along with the Children and Nature Network’s family nature clubs, to encourage communities to get outdoors. Jennifer looks forward to promoting play through more equitable access to parks and community engagement.
Wright Garrett is a Junior from Fountain Inn, South Carolina. He is honored to receive the Award for Excellence in Professional Golf Management because he is very passionate about the sport of golf and what it has taught him and what it has done for so many others. As an aspiring PGA professional, Wright hopes to continue to inspire others through the game that has helped shape him into the person he is today.
Rachel Knauer is a junior from Sumter, South Carolina. She found out about Recreational Therapy from a friend, fell in love with the mission and ended up transferring to Clemson University in order to get involved in the Department of PRTM. Because of her experience in EDGE, Rachel became an EDGE Mentor, which enriched her education through leadership training and professional development.
Aysia is a senior PRTM major with an emphasis in Travel and Tourism from Greer, South Carolina. Aysia’s active spirit and mind has manifested itself into a love for running, traveling and hiking. This Summer she will serve as the City of Greenville Special Events intern, and upon completion will graduate in August. After graduation she hopes to pursue a career in community development.
Ryan Piller is from Greenville, South Carolina. She is a PRTM major with a concentration in Parks and Conservation Area Management and a minor in History. She’s currently a junior, but is a senior in academic standing. She is a founding member and current secretary for the club, Young Women for America at Clemson, a place for women to discuss politics and religion freely.
Bryson Smith grew up playing on his grandfather’s land in Pauline, South Carolina. There he found his passion for the outdoors, spending every free moment out in the woods or on the pond. A love of nature led him to Clemson University and a major in PRTM with a concentration in Parks and Conservation Area Management. He plans on making a career out of preserving the outdoors so that others can enjoy it like he has.
Melina Alberti is a senior from Greenville, South Carolina. She is studying Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a concentration in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management. Melina has two loving parents, one of which graduated from Clemson University and an older brother who also graduated from Clemson University in 2016. Melina is an avid sports fan, her favorite sport being Clemson Football, of course. She has her own photography business called Melina Alberti Photography and she would love to pursue photography as a career in the future.
Growing up just down the road from Clemson University in Anderson, South Carolina, Mackenzie has always considered herself a big Clemson Tiger fan. She loves going to any Clemson sporting event. She definitely belongs to a Clemson family, as both of her parents graduated from the university and her twin sister currently attends the school with her. She has an older half-brother and a younger half-sister in addition to her dog, Jolly, and her cat, Tripp. She really enjoys traveling and discovering new places. The coolest place that she has ever traveled to is Tanzania, Africa, where she got to hike part of Mount Kilimanjaro and enjoyed a safari on the Serengeti. She cannot wait to see where her life takes her, as she is sure she will travel to other unique locations in the future.
Julia Bragg, from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is a PRTM major with a concentration in travel and tourism. She is currently finishing her senior year at Clemson University and scheduled to graduate in May 2020. She has loved every class and every professor throughout her Clemson experience. She is currently finishing her 400-hour internship at Greenville Country Club as the Membership Director and plans to move to Greenville and continue her career at Greenville Country Club after graduation.
Robin Bridgers is a rising senior from Beaufort, South Carolina. During her time at Clemson she has studied travel and tourism management and minored in business. After graduating she hopes to work for a Convention and Visitors Bureau and be an advocate for sustainable tourism.
Katie is from Duluth, Georgia and loves living in metro Atlanta. Her hobbies include cooking, baking, playing with her dogs, shopping and reading mysteries. Katie has two adorable dogs, both golden retrievers. She loves to spend time with her family and friends. She has a passion for ministry, and hopes to inspire and lead others into a growing relationship with Jesus.
Kat is a PRTM major with minors in Environmental Science and English. She was born in Munich, Germany, but attended high school in Greenville, South Carolina. A member of the Tiger Band for four years, she also played intramural soccer.
Sammy Griffith, from Anderson, South Carolina is a PRTM student with a concentration in Parks and Conservation Area Management. His hobbies include running, hiking, kayaking and swimming. A team captain of the Clemson Running Club, he has run a marathon in the Clemson Experimental Forest and several half marathons. He enjoys hiking in the mountains and traveling and has been to Spain, Ireland and Europe with extensive travel in the US. He loves visiting national and state parks with his favorite being Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.
Laura Jarriel is currently a junior at Clemson University, majoring in Recreational Therapy and hoping to pursue a minor in American Sign Language. Laura wants to become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) after graduation and hopes to work with the older adult population. Laura is from Anderson, South Carolina and grew up a Clemson Tiger fan. She has two older sisters, two brothers-in-law, an 8 month-old nephew and a 5 year-old Golden Retriever. In her free time, Laura loves going on walks, listening to music, working Sudoku puzzles, playing card games and playing the harp.
Marissa, from Chicago, Illinois is a junior in Community Recreation, Sport and Camp Management. Some of her interests include attending workout classes, dancing, reading and exploring all of the hiking trails and waterfalls around the Clemson area. Her favorite Netflix shows are Altered Carbon and Jeopardy. In regard to athletics, her favorite sport to play is beach volleyball and her favorite sport to watch is hockey.
Logan McLaughlin is a PRTM major concentrating in Travel and Tourism. She is from Greenville, South Carolina where she lives with her Mom, Dad, younger sister and their two cats. In her free time she likes to spend time with friends, go to Clemson games and work out. After graduation Logan is hoping to get a job doing something with sports.
Ethan Meetze is a senior PRTM major from Travelers Rest, South Carolina. His concentration is in Parks and Conservation Area Management. Ethan has made the President’s List twice since being at Clemson. His goal is to be an Interpretation Ranger at a national park where he will be able to share his love for the outdoors and natural resources with people from every walk of life. He loves to spend time out in nature, whether it is hiking up to Black Balsam Knob or growing fruits and vegetables in his garden. One of his favorite experiences while in PRTM was the semester he spent abroad in England, which allowed him to travel to nine other European countries. Ethan is also the proud dad of his dog Beau, who is also always down to be outside. Ethan would like to thank his family for providing all the support he has needed to achieve his goals in college and in life.
Christina is a senior PRTM major with a concentration in Recreational Therapy. She is from Shillington, Pennsylvania and is on the Clemson All-Girl Cheerleading team. After graduation, Christina plans on attending graduate school for Occupational Therapy.
Macie Southern is a senior majoring in Recreational Therapy with a minor in Youth Development from Simpsonville, South Carolina. She has been a lifelong member of the Clemson family as her father is a Clemson University alumnus and her mother is an employee at Clemson University. Macie has enjoyed volunteering within the special needs community from a young age, so she chose to pursue a career in Recreational Therapy to continue her passion of serving others. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling and spending as much time as she can with friends and family.
Kaylin Woods is a senior Recreational Therapy major, currently doing the 4+1 Master’s program. Her dream is to open her own equine-assisted therapy farm to work with individuals of all different diagnoses, and is so excited to be able to research and complete her thesis based off of this interest. She is the President of the Recreational Therapy club, the Senior Editor for Her Campus Clemson, an active member of Pi Beta Phi and one of the biggest Clemson fans there is!
Shaina Wynne is a junior PRTM major with an emphasis in Recreational Therapy. An only child from Asheville, North Carolina, she loves the outdoors, is on the Clemson University all girl cheerleading team and is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha. She can’t believe that she’s almost a senior and is counting the days until football season starts. Go tigers!
Conner Haberman
Meredith Powell
Ryan Schuchmann
Aurora Graichen