Recreation Management & Recreational Therapy
Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation Department (REC/RTH/MIND)
- Recreation management major: community-based recreation emphasis - BS
- Recreation management major: generalist emphasis - BS
- Recreation management major: outdoor recreation emphasis - BS
- Recreation management major: tourism and event management emphasis - BS
- Recreational therapy major - BS
Dual degree programs
- Dual degree in recreation management: community-based recreation BS and recreation management MS
- Dual degree in recreation management: generalist BS and recreation management MS
- Dual degree in recreation management: outdoor recreation BS and recreation management MS
- Dual degree in recreation management: tourism and event management BS and recreation management MS
- Dual degree in recreational therapy BS and MS
Want to learn more about one or more of our majors? Expand the boxes below.
Program Highlights
Why Recreational Therapy (RT) at UWL?
To start, it is one of only a few college or university independent major recreational therapy programs in the nation. Students choosing the RT program have a passion for helping persons with disabilities or illnesses improve their functioning and quality of life. You’ll learn how to use recreation activities to develop and implement therapeutic programs. Take a look at some of the experiences RT students are gaining in and out of the classroom, and follow the course catalog link at the top of this page if you want to know more about the program and coursework.
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During the testing period January 2017 – November 2017, 100% of UWL students & alumni who took the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) exam passed! |
In the Classroom
Lindsey Kirschbaum, an associate lecturer in the Recreation Management and Recreational Therapy Department, oversees students in her therapeutic recreation class working with residents in a La Crosse manor. Read more about A New Kind of Student
Why Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management?
A degree in Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management opens the doors to a wide variety of opportunities that can connect your passion(s) to a career. Not sure what emphasis is right for you? The generalist option gives you the opportunity to take electives from the community, outdoor, and tourism emphasis. Explore various interests or simply try something new! Check out why you should choose a career with meaning.
A Career with Meaning
In (but out) of the Classroom
Students in REC 400: Planning for Parks & Recreation Facilities visit an area beach to assess inclusion for people with disabilities. Learn more about their goal to assess accessibility of outdoor spots across the Coulee Region.
Playing in the park, spending time after school at the Boys & Girls Club or YMCA…Sound like a part of your childhood? Students choosing the community recreation emphasis do so because they want to work for a public or nonprofit organization that provides people opportunities to enhance their quality of life, often for an organization that has played a significant role in their own life. Whether this means operating an aquatic center, running a sports league, hosting a summer camp, or maintaining a neighborhood park, community rec professions enjoy making quality recreation opportunities possible.
In (but out) of the Classroom
Students in REC 301 held the now annual log rolling event at Mitchell Hall's pool. The event was even covered by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel!
REC 301 students host a spring event in collaboration with the La Crosse Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department.
Students in REC 304: Maintenance of Recreation Facilities helping members of the Outdoor Recreation Alliance do trail work on Lower Hixon Forest.
Why Outdoor Recreation?
It’s simple really. You are probably considering an outdoor emphasis if spending time outdoors is your passion. Maybe you feel like yourself when you are in nature, or you couldn’t participate in your favorite recreational activities without a particular natural setting. Outdoor recreation professionals want to facilitate those experiences for others. Take a look at some of the experiences outdoor recreation emphasis students are having in and out of the classroom, and follow the course catalog link at the top of this page if you want to know more about career opportunities and coursework.
In (but out) of the Classroom
Explore The Depths of the Mississippi
Learn about Recreation and the Natural Environment
Students in REC 306 (Environmental Ethics, Outdoor Recreation & Natural Resources) participate in a class activity in fall semester 2015. Most students in the course are in UWL’s Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation program either as a major or minor. They also get the opportunity to learn about Leave No Trace.
Why Tourism & Event Management?
Think of tourism as recreation away from home, and event management as an opportunity to bring people together and create memorable experiences. Like recreation, tourism professionals have a passion for creating and facilitating enjoyable experiences for others. Those people might just not be from the area. It doesn’t hurt that students in this emphasis often have a passion for travel themselves. Take a look at some of the experiences tourism & Event management emphasis students are having in and out of the classroom, and follow the course catalog link at the top of this page if you want to know more about career opportunities and coursework.
In (but out) of the Classroom
REC 445: Meetings, Conventions, & Event Planning students held a press demo ahead of the 2nd annual Lederhosen Games hosted by the class at Oktoberfest La Crosse.
Parks and Recreation Salaries Reported by NRPA
For a full breakdown of Parks and Recreation career salary information and additional employment benefits check out NRPA's full Salary Survey here.