Recreation

College of Health and Human Services
Dean: Donald P. Zingale

Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies
GYM 307
415-338-2030
Chair: Don Taylor

Graduate Coordinator: Rene Dahl

Faculty

Professor—Michaelis

Associate Professors—Dahl, Severin, Taylor, Tierney

Programs

B.A. in Recreation
Minor in Recreation
M.S. in Recreation

Program Scope

The Bachelor of Arts prepares students for full-time, multi-optional public and private sector careers in leisure services, one of America's largest industries. Students majoring in this program are expected to actively participate in appropriate professional organizations.

Students desiring to major in recreation are encouraged to consult with the Department of Recreation-Leisure Studies as soon as possible. Transfer students should consult with the department upon initial enrollment at the university.

Students desiring to minor in recreation are encouraged to consult with the Department of Recreation-Leisure Studies as soon as possible. They will be directed to a faculty adviser related to their area of specific interest.

The Master of Science in Recreation is designed to qualify students for professional positions of greater responsibility in leisure service management in both the public and private sectors. Within the program, the student is able to choose from a wide range of career path options. Students wishing to become certified as recreation therapists at either the state or national level will become eligible upon completion of the M.S. in Recreation and specified course work, including an internship.

Students are expected to observe requirements stated in this Bulletin and specific department requirements.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RECREATION

Online course desriptions are available.

MINOR IN RECREATION

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RECREATION

Graduate Advisers—Dahl, Michaelis, Jaquith, Taylor, Tierney

Admission to Program

Students interested in this program ordinarily must have received a baccalaureate degree in recreation. However, a degree in a related major (e.g., creative arts, natural science, physical education, psychology, business, special education, public administration, park planning, social welfare, etc.) may be accepted provided such applicants demonstrate through experience and/or training a knowledge of recreation and the ability to program and organize recreation in a variety of settings.

Applicants lacking successful field experiences, professional preparation, full-time paid experience, or an appropriate undergraduate degree may be required to complete indicated undergraduate courses and requirements to become eligible for consideration.

To be considered for admission, applicants must have a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 units of undergraduate work, and submit the following documents to the department: three letters of recommendation, transcripts of all academic work, and a departmental application. A personal interview is recommended.

Classified Status

Students admitted to the department under "conditionally classified status" may achieve fully classified status after meeting the conditions set by the department for admission to classified status. Such conditions vary by student experience and undergraduate degree and may include: (a) prerequisite course requirements, such as REC 400, REC 410, REC 500, and REC 520, or judged equivalents; (b) full-time work experience in the field, or judged equivalent, within a specified time frame; and/or (c) a grade of B or better in two graduate courses.

Written English Proficiency Requirement

Level One: students must take the Graduate Essay Test (GET) or petition the department's graduate faculty to approve an equivalent demonstration, either prior to or during the first semester of enrollment. In no case will a student be advanced to candidacy until this requirement is met. Level Two: assessment of writing proficiency takes place near the end of the student's course of study, and is based on performance on either the written comprehensive examination or the thesis. An independent literacy assessment, separate from other proficiency standards and requirements, is carried out for either culminating experience requirement.

Advancement to Candidacy

Besides meeting all general requirements, applicants must:

• Complete at least twelve units of post-baccalaureate work with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
• Have developed an approved plan and made substantial progress toward meeting work experience requirements as specified by the department.
• Have fulfilled conditions set by the department for admission to classified status.
• Have prepared and filed a Graduate Approved Program (GAP). Students are expected to have the GAP prepared when they have completed twelve units of the program requirements. The GAP is determined in conjunction with the student's graduate adviser, and is subject to approval by the graduate coordinator of the department.

Online course descriptions are available. Upper division courses of the department are acceptable on approval of the graduate adviser.

NOTE: Total units may exceed 33 units for students with an interest in therapeutic recreation. Students with an interest in therapeutic recreation must complete all requirements for the M.S. in Recreation. If the student desires a state and/or national certification in therapeutic recreation, provision is made for course work and an internship of three to six (3-6) units at an approved agency.

Examination. In addition to the oral defense required of all students, those candidates not completing a thesis must pass a comprehensive written examination. This written examination broadly assesses the student's integration and synthesis of required foundation and professional core content. The comprehensive written examination may be attempted a total of two times.