Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, Ph.D.

A Ph.D. through the Clemson University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management gives you a solid underpinning of your topic of interest as well as the ability to plan and conduct research, and effectively and professionally use written and oral communication to share your results. You can choose to earn your doctoral degree either on campus or online, allowing you to choose the format that best suits your career and life. 

Applications wanting to be considered for fall admission to the online or on campus programs should be submitted with all required materials by February 1.

Application materials for spring admission are due by October 1.

Application materials for spring admission are due by October 1. Before you apply, however, it’s important to note that students who start their doctoral program in the spring are not eligible for assistantship funding.

Prospective graduate students are strongly encouraged to email and begin corresponding with one or more PRTM faculty in their area of interest in advance of visiting campus, attending the virtual information session, or applying.

Click here for the PRTM Faculty Directory.

All graduate applications are reviewed at the same time by graduate program faculty and administrators.  Typically, applications are reviewed and an admission decision is made within 6-8 weeks of the application deadline.  Application deadlines for Fall semester (i.e., August) and Spring semester (i.e., January) are February 1 and October 1, respectively.  

Questions about applications may be directed to grdprtm@clemson.edu. 

The following requirements must be met to be considered for admission to the either the on campus or online Ph.D. in PRTM. 

Requirements include:

• A personal statement outlining the purpose for pursuing your Ph.D. and detailing your career goals, your research interests related to any PRTM concentration, and your strengths and weaknesses as a learner (particularly if you’re pursuing the online program).
• Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic and/or job performance (one of each preferred).
• Unofficial transcripts of all previous academic work, both graduate and undergraduate. Official transcripts will be required once admission has been granted. A GPA of at least 3.0 in needed in all graduate course work.
• If English is your second language, you must also submit acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores.
• A copy of your most recent resume/curriculum vitae. Please give a clear indication of your related experience, including your job title, names of your supervisor(s) and your duties or responsibilities. 
• A writing sample, preferably in a technical or scientific style. May be a previously written paper, report or thesis. 
• Other information related to your professional and academic qualifications should be included at your discretion.

Visit Clemson University Graduate School Admissions to learn more about admission requirements, how to apply and important dates.

Click here for the Course Registration Form.

Graduate study at the Ph.D. level must maintain flexibility, so your specific study program will be directed by your advisory committee. It is anticipated that a program of study would approximate the following example: 

Minimum Course Requirements (60 hours)

• PRTM 8010 – Philosophical Foundations (3 credits)
• PRTM 8080 – Behavioral Aspects of PRTM (3 credits)
• PRTM 8110 – Research Methods in PRTM (3 credits)
• PRTM 8130 – Qualitative Research Methods in PRTM
• PRTM 9100 – Research Seminar (2 credits) or PRTM 9300 - 9320 Residency 1, 2, 3 (3 credits)
• PRTM 9110 – Professional Issues in PRTM (1 credit, for a total of 3 credits) or PRTM 9330 Higher Education in PRTM
• YDP 8080 – Grant Writing
• Research or Statistical Methods (15 credits)
• Teaching, Collateral or Industry area [focused study area selected in consultation with student's committee] (12 credits)
• PRTM 9910 – Doctoral Dissertation Research (18 credits)

All Ph.D. students must present at least twice in PRTM 9100 (dissertation proposal AND results) prior to graduation. Students must obtain Chair’s permission to schedule presentations.

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within eight (8) years from the date you first matriculate into a doctoral degree program at Clemson. This clock does not stop for leave of absence.

In exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the Graduate School for additional time with approval of the advisory committee. A student who exceeds the time limit without an extension can be dismissed from the Graduate School for failure to maintain adequate academic progress.

The student's committee must consist of at least four members and the majority of the advisory committee, including the major advisor, must be comprised of Clemson University faculty from the program offering the particular degree and who hold full-time tenure-track positions. Part-time and visiting faculty employed by Clemson may serve on this committee but not serve as chair. Persons not employed by Clemson University may serve if they have been appointed to an adjunct faculty status.

An exam is required and may be oral and/or written, as determined by the student's committee.

The exam should be designed to ascertain the general knowledge of the candidate, with particular reference to the major and collateral subjects, and the student's area of research. The comprehensive examination usually is given during a student's final semester of classes or soon thereafter.

The student must pass a final dissertation defense at least three weeks prior to the commencement at which the student plans to graduate.

To receive the doctor of philosophy degree, the student must complete at least 15 semester hours of graduate credit including research credit (9910) on the Clemson University campus in a continuous 12-month period.

Online students will meet this requirement by completing three, five-day, on-campus residencies (five consecutive days per year for the first three years of the program).  Residency dates for new students starting in Summer 2023 are May 18-22.

Tuition and Fees

Explore information on tuition and fees using the Student Financial Services’ tuition and fee calculator. If you’re considering:

• On campus study, choose the “Graduate” tab at the top of the calculator.
• Online study, choose the “Online” tab at the top of the calculator.

Financial Aid

For information regarding Financial Aid, please contact the office of Student Financial Aid.

Assistantships

All on-campus program applicants are considered for a limited number of competitive departmentally funded assistantships. No separate applications are needed to be considered for an assistantship. 

Please contact the coordinator of graduate studies at GRDprtm@clemson.edu for more information.

A formal Graduate School application must also be submitted. Please click this link for information.