Is this a gorgeous major option, or am I a little too starstruck?

[Kelsey MacAilbert]

What I'm looking at is a double major, the majors being Parks, Tourism & Recreation with the Recreation Resources Management Option, and Wildland Restoration with the Terrestrial option.

My goal is to go to work with the Forest Service (perhaps as a park ranger) or a private outdoor recreation company after I get my dual Bachelor's, while working towards turning my Recreation Resources Management degree into a Master's, through either night school or online school. After I have my Master's, I want to work in wildland restoration, but I want to use the know how from my other degree whenever I'm dealing with people who have an interest in the restoration work my organization is doing (such as journalists, environmentalists, students, tourists in parks being worked on, and so on).

I see it as good, but I'd really appreciate some outside opinions.

[Andrew Turner]

IMO: The BS degree is only useful in getting the job, the rest of what will actually be useful comes from internships and the the important handful of senior level electives you take. The MS is laudable, but I'm not sure it will open any other doors for you, unless you really want an academic position or a senior organizational management position (which means exactly what it sounds like it means--very little field work and lots of office work).

[Kelsey MacAilbert]

So, do I need an MS at all if I want to be a field scientist working on restoring damaged ecosystems?

I was looking at the parks/rec degree because Forest Service or private wildlands rec experience sounds very useful in getting a research job later on down the road, and if I can make my job here one as a park ranger I would be very happy.

[BigNorseWolf]

Its nice work if you can get it.

There are a lot of cutbacks going on though.

Be prepared for a fair number of unpaid/slave wage internships with no guarantee of landing a job.(I had one at a wolf center, and one catching bats)

Park Jobs are government jobs. Government Jobs run more on a who you know than a what you know basis. At the park where i worked it was an open secret that certain jobs were being offered specifically for someone and posting it was a legal requirement song and dance.

Almost every posting i see wants a masters degree.

[Burgomeister of Troll Town]

Mama Kelsey, haven't you figured this shiznit out yet?!?

It seems like just last year I was giving you the same advice:

School sucks. Drop out.

Spoiler:

Srly, though, good luck!