The PhD is an academic degree that is awarded for high attainment of the study of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Courses of study that lead to the PhD assist students in developing competence in research and they involve in-depth inquiry into topics within, and related to, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. The PhD program consists of a major in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, an area of concentration, and a research core that includes dissertation research. A PhD in PRT requires a minimum of 67 semester hours of study beyond the masters degree. The exact number of hours and the specific courses to be taken are based on the needs of individual students, taking into account such factors as interests, future aspirations, academic history, and degree of exposure to the study of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. The PhD program requires approximately three full years of study beyond the master's degree.