Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation and Tourism Major (BS)

Description

Park and recreation management, therapeutic recreation, and tourism are some of the most exciting and diverse human service professions. The field provides opportunities to work with all types of people in a variety of settings, to strengthen communities and improve quality of life through recreation. Students are required to choose one of three concentrations.

  • Students studying park and recreation management will prepare for employment in a variety of settings including municipal parks and recreation, non-profit recreation services, and commercial recreation.
  • Students studying therapeutic recreation will prepare for employment in community agencies and clinical settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, transitional or residential centers, treatment centers, physical medicine and rehabilitation and psychiatric institutions.
  • Students pursuing the tourism management concentration will prepare for professional positions in resorts, attractions, destination marketing organizations, and wedding and event planning.

All of the concentrations provide students with academic and experiential opportunities that foster an enriching undergraduate experience and launch an exciting career.

Admission to the Program

Any undergraduate student can declare this major.

Program Requirements

Students in the Department of Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation, & Tourism pursue a Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete its requirements.

A grade of “C” or better is required for all REL courses in the major. Transfer courses graded below a “C” will not satisfy major requirements.

All students will be required to obtain valid CPR/First Aid certification and the New York State Child Abuse Reporter Training prior to graduating from the program.

Students are required to complete the following:

General Education Requirements (31-37 credits)

Major Department Requirements (42 credits)

*denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements

*Note that Therapeutic Recreation students do not need to take REL 306

Concentrations (15 credits)

Students pursue a concentration in either:

Park and Recreation Management Concentration (15 credits)

The Park and recreation management concentration prepares students for professional positions in public/municipal recreation, nonprofit sectors, and corporate and commercial recreation settings. Students pursuing this concentration must complete 15 credits from the following course list:

Tourism Management Concentration (15 credits)

The tourism management concentration prepares students for opportunities throughout the tourism industry, including resort recreation, tours and attractions, special events (e.g. wedding planning, community festivals, and corporate events), and destination marketing. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the following five courses:

Therapeutic Recreation Concentration

The therapeutic recreation concentration prepares students for positions as therapeutic recreation specialists in clinical and community settings. Students pursuing this concentration must complete the following six courses:

*Note that Therapeutic Recreation students do not need to take REL 306

Important Notes:

  • Students selecting therapeutic recreation as their concentration must be aware that Certification is administered through The National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
  • In order to be eligible for certification, NCTRC requires that therapeutic recreation students take the following electives: BIO 221 (4 cr.) or BIO 321 (4 cr.) and BIO 322 (4 cr.), PSH 334 (3 cr.) and PRO 204 (3 credits) or their equivalents.
  • Because NCTRC controls the criteria for eligibility, this college and Department cannot be held responsible for changes made by NCTRC during your matriculation and after your graduation.
  • Therapeutic recreation students are required to take REL 305 as a prerequisite for any other REL course work in therapeutic recreation.
  • Therapeutic Recreation students do not need to take REL 306

Electives (12-26 credits)

Total (120 credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate the following entry-level knowledge: a) the nature and scope of the relevant park, recreation, tourism or related professions and their associated industries; b) techniques and processes used by professionals and workers in these industries; and c) the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy. (COAPRT 7.01)
  2. Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate the ability to design, implement, and evaluate services that facilitate targeted human experiences and that embrace personal and cultural dimensions of diversity. (COAPRT 7.02)
  3. Students graduating from the program shall be able to demonstrate entry-level knowledge about operations and strategic management/administration in parks, recreation, tourism and/or related professions. (COAPRT 7.03)
  4. Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate, through a comprehensive internship of not less than 400 clock hours and no fewer than 10 weeks, the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in park, recreation, tourism, or related organizations. (COAPRT 7.04)

Council on Accreditation. Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (2019). Learning Outcomes, Standards and Assessments.

Login