Recreation Management Curriculum
High School Preparation High school students interested in a career in recreation management should acquire practical experience by participating in such activities as:
|
|
|
| Students should concentrate on courses in: | ||
|
|
|
Students should also volunteer in recreation and park agencies such as community centers, resorts, visitor’s bureaus, sport centers, golf courses, YM/YWCAs, scouts, summer camps, 4-H, city or county parks and recreation agencies, and aquatic centers.
| Recreation Management Course Requirements | ||
| General Education | 48 credits | |
| Requirements for Major in Recreation Management | 64 credits | |
The strength of this major is its innovative curriculum design. With the help of alumni and employers, faculty have crafted a management major that has both focus and breath. It focuses on the unique management needs of the recreation, tourism, and park fields. Secondly, the curriculum allows students to shift from say public municipal recreation, to non-profit , to commercial water park resort and still have assurance they have the critical management skills to perform in any one of the employment fields, As further evidence, listed below are the required courses:
| REC 150 | Foundations in Recreation | 3 credits | ||
| REC 151 | Introduction to Recreation Management | 1 credit | ||
| REC 200 | Program Leadership of Recreation Activities | 3 credits | ||
| REC 202 | Leisure, Nature, and Contemplative Experience | 2 credits | ||
| REC 300 | Program Planning in Recreation | 3 credits | ||
| REC 302 | Recreation Leadership and Supervision | 3 credits | ||
| REC 304 | Maintenance of Park and Outdoor Recreation Areas | 3 credits | ||
| REC 306 | Environmental Ethics, Outdoor Recreation, and Natural Resources | 3 credits | ||
| REC 320 | Enterprises in Commercial Recreation and Tourism | 3 credits | ||
| REC 340 | Evaluation Methods and Practices | 3 credits | ||
| REC 351 | Civic Engagement in the Recreation Profession | 3 credits | ||
| REC 400 | Planning for Park and Recreation Facilities | 3 credits | ||
| REC 401 | Management in Park and Recreation Resources | 3 credits | ||
| REC 402 | Risk Management in Leisure Service Organizations | 3 credits | ||
| REC 404 | Budgets in Recreation Enterprise | 2 credits | ||
| REC 420 | Commercial Recreation Management | 3 credits |
- Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or greater to enter the program.
- All majors, prior to enrollment in REC 449 (Internship/Professional Preparation) majors must complete two 50-hour professional experiences. These non-class field experiences at recreation management agencies.
- Before enrolling in internship (REC 450) all
required REC and RTH courses must be completed
with a grade of "C" or better; and the student
must have a cumulative UW-L GPA or at least 2.5.
| REC 449 | Internship/Professional Preparation | 1 credit | |
| REC 450 | Internship | 16 credits | |
| Interdisciplinary Requirements: | |||
| POL 102 | State and Local Government | 3 credits | |
| MTH 145 | Elementary Statistics | 4 credits | |
| ECO 110 | Microeconomics and Public Policy | 3 credits | |
| ENG 307 | Writing for Management, Public Relations and the Professions | 3 credits | |
| ACC 221 | Financial Accounting Principles | 3 credits | |
| or | |||
| ACC 235 | Survey of Accounting | 3 credits | |
Click here to see the UW-L Course Catalog.
Minor in Recreation Management The Recreation Management minor is open to students in all colleges and schools within the university. Students majoring in Therapeutic Recreation, however, have different requirements than students in other majors.
Recreation Management Minor Requirements:
| 19 credit minimum | ||||
| Required Courses: | Prerequisite | Credits | ||
| REC 150 | Foundations of Recreation | 3 credits | ||
| REC 151 | Introduction to Recreation Management | 1 credit | ||
| REC 200 | Program Leadership of Recreation Activities | REC 150 or concurrent enrollment | 3 credits | |
| REC 300 | Program Planning in Recreation | 150,REC 200 REC or concurrent enrollment | 3 credits | |
| Elective Courses (choose 9 credits from the following list): | ||||
| REC 202 | Leisure, Nature, and Contemplative Experiences | REC 150 | 2 credits | |
| REC 302 | Recreation Supervision and Human Resource Management | REC 150, Jr. Stdng | 3 credits | |
| REC 304 | Maintenance Of Park and Outdoor Recreation Areas | Jr. Stdng | 3 credits | |
| REC 305 | Operation and Management of Swimming Pools and Spas | Jr. Stdng | 2 credits | |
| REC 306 | Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources | 3 credits | ||
| REC 320 | Enterprises in Commercial Recreation and Tourism | 3 credits | ||
| REC 340 | Evaluation Methods and Practices | MTH 145 | 3 credits | |
| REC 351 | Civic Engagement in the Recreation Profession | Jr. Stdng; RM major or consent of instructor | 3 credits | |
| REC 375 | Workshop in Recreation Management (repeatable/max 6xs) | 1-3 credits | ||
| REC 400 | Planning for Park and Recreation Facilities | REC 300 | 3 credits | |
| REC 401 | Management in Park and Recreation Resources | REC 302 or RTH 319 | 3 credits | |
| REC 402 | Risk Management in Leisure Service Organizations | REC 401 or concurrent enrollment | 3 credits | |
| REC 404 | Budgets in Recreation Enterprise | REC 401 or concurrent enrollment, Econ 110 | 2 credits | |
| REC 420 | Commercial Recreation Management | REC 320 and ACC 221 or 235 | 3 credits | |
| REC 481 | Outdoor Pursuits | 1-3 credits | ||
| REC 491 | Workshop in Recreation Management (max 6 cr in REC 375, RTH 490, REC/RTH 491) | 1-3 credits | ||
| REC 495 | Independent Study in Recreation (repeatable for cr-max 6) | Jr. Stdng | 1-3 credits | |
| REC 497 | Special Projects in Recreation Management (repeatable, max 6 crs) | Jr. Stdng, REC 300 or RTH 456 | 1-3 credits | |
| REC 499 | Seminar in Recreation and Parks (repeatable, max 3 crs) | Sr. Stdng, 2.75 GPA | 1-3 credits | |
| RTH 325 | Inclusive Recreation | REC 200 | 2 credits | |
| REC 351 | Civic Engagement in the Recreation Profession | Jr. Stdng; RM major or consent of instructor | 3 credits | |
Click here to see the UW-L Course Catalog.
Recreation Management minor for Therapeutic Recreation majors:
| 18 credit minimum | ||||
| Required Courses: | Prerequisite | Credits | ||
| REC 150 | Foundations of Recreation | 3 credits | ||
| REC 200 | Program Leadership of Recreation Activities | REC 150 or concurrent enrollment | 3 credits | |
| REC 401 | Management in Park and Recreation Resources | REC 302 or RTH 319 | 3 credits | |
| RTH 319 | Leadership and Supervision in Therapeutic Recreation | Jr. Stndng | 3 credits | |
| Elective Courses (Choose 6 Credits from the following list): | ||||
| REC 202 | Outdoor Recreation Skills | REC 150, no cr in RTH 203 | 3 credits | |
| REC 300 | Program Planning in Recreation | 150,REC 200 REC or concurrent enrollment | 3 credits | |
| REC 304 | Maintenance Of Park and Outdoor Recreation Areas | Jr. Stdng | 3 credits | |
| REC 305 | Operation and Management of Swimming Pools and Spas | Jr. Stdng | 2 credits | |
| REC 306 | Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources | 3 credits | ||
| REC 320 | Enterprises in Commercial Recreation and Tourism | 3 credits | ||
| REC 340 | Evaluation Methods and Practices | MTH 145 or 250 | 3 credits | |
| REC 351 | Civic Engagement in the Recreation Profession | 3 credits | ||
| REC 375 | Workshop in Recreation Management (repeatable/max 6xs) | 1-3 credits | ||
| REC 400 | Planning for Park and Recreation Facilities | REC 300 and ENG 307 | 3 credits | |
| REC 402 | Risk Management in Leisure Service Organizations | REC 401 | 3 credits | |
| REC 404 | Budgets in Recreation Enterprise | REC 401 | 2 credits | |
| REC 420 | Commercial Recreation Management | REC 320 and ACC 221 or 235 | 3 credits | |
| REC 481 | Outdoor Pursuits | 1-3 credits | ||
| REC 491 | Workshop in Recreation Management (max 6 cr in REC 375, RTH 490, REC/RTH 491) | 1-3 credits | ||
| REC 495 | Independent Study in Recreation (repeatable for cr-max 6) | Jr. Stdng | 1-3 credits | |
| REC 497 | Special Projects in Recreation Management (repeatable, max 6 crs) | Jr. Stdng, REC 300 or RTH 456 | 1-3 credits | |
| REC 499 | Seminar in Recreation and Parks (repeatable, max 3 crs) | Sr. Stdng, 2.75 GPA | 1-3 credits | |
Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or greater to enter the program.
Click here to see the UW-L Course Catalog.
Recommended Minors for Recreation Management Majors
The Business Administration minor (www.uwlax.edu/ba/undergrad/MINORS.doc) provides additional business management skills and the Public Administration minor (www.uwlax.edu/PoliSci/pa_degrees.htm) provides additional communication and public organizational skills that are highly recommended that complement the Recreation Management Major.
Recreation Management Internships Internship experiences provide students with a means of making a smooth passage from academic life into their chosen profession. It allows students and professionals to form mutually beneficial relationships. Students bring the latest knowledge from the academic arenas and professionals provide critical hands-on knowledge, the kind of knowledge that can never be duplicated in the university setting. Mutually beneficial bridges are built between the academic and professional arenas.
Within this structured environment and under the mentorship of a qualified professional, the student makes the best transition possible into the professional world. In this work/learning environment, the student works within a supervised environment without fear of repercussions for the small mistakes everybody makes as they begin their careers. In addition, the student proceeds to his/her first employer with new professional knowledge and previously acquired hands-on work experience that can help enhance the employer's business.
In preparation for internships, students take a pre-internship course to learn about internships and make applications to possible internship sites. Once a site offers them a position, they complete the required paperwork to receive final approval from both the internship site and the university. The course is taken during either the Fall or Spring semester. Students doing Spring internships take the pre-internship course in the Fall. Those doing a Summer or Fall internship take the pre-internship course in the Spring. For example, a student doing an internship in the Fall must have site approval at the end of Spring semester. Students and internship sites must plan well ahead of time to provide more time for both parties to plan the internship experience. Internships can be secured in the following agencies of Recreation Management:
- National, state, county, or city parks and recreation agencies
- Commercial resort businesses
- Camping agencies
- University and intramural recreation
- Convention centers and visitors bureaus
- Military MWR recreation (civil service) Theme Parks Camping Agencies Sports Centers Golf Facilities Aquatic Centers YMCA/YWCA