The innovative first-of-its-kind Bowling Green State University Resort and Attraction Management program has been renamed as part of an ongoing public-private partnership between the University and the largest regional amusement park operator in North America.

The industry-regarded program will now be called the Six Flags Resort and Attraction Management program following the merger of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in July 2024. Cedar Fair was the inaugural partner of the BGSU RAAM program when it launched in 2020

“The Six Flags Resort and Attraction Management program at Bowling Green State University provides incredible learning experiences for our students,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Six Flags, which is truly an innovative partnership with co-designed curriculum and learning experiences for students. With Six Flags, our students will have even greater opportunities to participate in co-ops at parks across the nation and support in building their professional network and connections through mentorship with industry leaders. This first-of-its-kind program has grown significantly since its launch in 2020, attracting students from across the nation to Bowling Green, and we look forward to its continued success in partnership with Six Flags.”

The program underscores the University’s commitment to bolstering student success through robust regional and global partnerships with industry leaders in growing sectors. The global theme park market is valued at more than $71 billion and is expected to reach $119 billion over the next decade.

BGSU is the only university in the country to offer a Bachelor of Science in resort and attraction management, drawing significant interest from students nationwide. For Fall 2024, nearly 70% of applicants were from out of state.

The one-of-a-kind program prepares students for meaningful careers in the expanding resort and attraction industry, including theme and amusement park operations, resort management, retail, marketing, finance and more.

The average annual starting salary for graduates is more than $50,000, with some students earning as much as $80,000 within a year of graduation, said Dr. Swathi Ravichandran, professor and founding director of the BGSU RAAM program.

Within the program, students develop crucial leadership skills in addition to a broad range of industry knowledge that prepares them for supervisor and managerial roles soon after graduation. They can enroll in courses like leadership and strategic management, human resources management, risk management and safety and marketing, advertising and social.

Students earn their bachelor's degree in person at the program's standalone facility in downtown Sandusky, Ohio, near Cedar Point amusement park or through BGSU Online. They can complete paid co-ops at select Six Flags parks nationwide and may also pursue internship opportunities outside of the company.

“We want our students to get as much experience in the field as they do learning in the classroom,” Ravichandran said. “They are actively building and developing their skills in the real world while pursuing their degrees, bolstering their career prospects upon graduation.”

The Six Flags partnership enhances BGSU students’ academic and career preparation through collaborative curriculum development, industry-relevant certifications, professional development and networking opportunities that directly support students’ career readiness.

“The partnership between Six Flags and BGSU is unique in its hands-on approach,” Ravichandran said. “Six Flags is a part of our students’ everyday learning.”

As part of the University's mission to keep education accessible and affordable, BGSU offers a 10% instructional fee scholarship to full-time Six Flags employees and their dependents for undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered through BGSU Online, including RAAM, which launched in a fully online format in 2023.

Through BGSU Online, students earn a quality, comprehensive education in a flexible format taught by the same world-class faculty in the University's in-person programs. BGSU online bachelor degrees are ranked No. 2 in Ohio and No. 57 nationally, placing the University's online undergraduate programs in the top 20% in the country.