RTM has been a beloved member of SDSU's curriculum for decades. In the 1950s, SDSU launched courses in recreation administration, and, as a result of their popularity, the Department of Recreation was formed in the early 1960s as part of a Division of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER). The first bachelor's degree in recreation administration was offered during this same decade, and the Department of Recreation added courses in travel and tourism in the late 1970s to continue its growth. In 1989, the department changed its name to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism to better describe its curricular offerings and, as the program moved into the new century, the faculty continued to modify and enhance the program.