Recreation and leisure is the largest industry in the world, and professionals in that industry -- from coaches to program administrators -- help people use their leisure time better by matching them with available resources.

Professionals in this field provide an important social service, particularly when they help injured and disabled clients get the therapy they need to lead fuller lives. Many Southern graduates work in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities, helping people with dementia, autism, or behavioral problems. Other careers are in city parks and recreation departments, community agencies like the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs, and commercial organizations like camps and ski resorts.

The work graduates do varies widely, from sports instruction to developing better therapeutic programs to managing a busy office in the recreation industry. For example, one recent Southern graduate is now the recreation supervisor for the city of Bloomfield's (Connecticut) parks department. Another is the recreation director at a veterans' hospital.

Students in Southern's department of recreation and leisure studies -- the largest such department in the state -- learn in classes that emphasize teamwork and lots of site visits to local agencies and businesses. The program stresses administrative and motivational skills, research skills, and grant and proposal writing.

Classroom projects, independent study, and internships are among the most exciting at the university. One recent student designed and planned the grand opening of the Manchester, Connecticut, section of the U.S. Greenways hiking trail that runs from Maine to Florida. Other students spend their summers working for the Montana Conservation Corps teaching visitors about preserving archaeological sites, while others work at the Neptune Naval Airstation in Maine developing summer camps and sports leagues for the families of Navy personnel who live there.

The department's curriculum includes two internships, one focusing on hands-on experience with clients and another emphasizing programming and administration.