Recreation and Leisure Studies Department

Recreation, leisure and sports represent the largest industry in the world. More people are engaged in recreation, leisure and sports than ever before as awareness of the healthful benefits of recreational choices become more widely accepted and documented. Billions of dollars are spent annually and millions of people daily seek to improve the quality of their lives, boost their physical, emotional and mental health and fitness by engaging in pursuits of their choice that express their preferences for the life activities they want. 

Professionals trained in recreation, leisure, sports, and tourism work in a variety of settings: community agencies, federal, state and local government agencies, state and federal parks, private commercial enterprises, sports and youth development organizations, not-for-profit organizations, hospitals and rehabilitation settings, as well as travel, hospitality and entertainment venues. Degreed professionals work with children, adults, families and communities to assure that the lives of people are enhanced and that the benefits of recreation, in many forms, are available to all who seek them and are offered by well-trained staff prepared to meet the challenges presented.

Undergraduate Programs

Undergraduate Recreation and Leisure Studies students choose from one of the following concentrations: 

Therapeutic Recreation
Community Recreation and Youth Development
Travel and Tourism
Sports Management

Graduate ProGrams

The Master of Science degree program in recreation and leisure studies is designed to prepare students for supervision, administration, and management of recreation programs and park facilities. Graduate students choose to specialize in one of the following areas:

Therapeutic Recreation
Recreation Administration

The specialization program in recreation administration will qualify graduates for certification by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The specialization program in therapeutic recreation can be designed to meet certification requirements of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).

Location

The offices of the Recreation & Leisure Studies Department are located on the west side of the campus in Office Building 1 (OB 1), near the corner of Wintergreen and Farnham, next to Granoff Medical Building and the SCSU Police Department and across the street from the Wintergreen Building. The main number for the offices is (203) 392-6388. The department secretary is Gale Massimino.