Recreation, B.S. (Online)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Recreation, B.S. Program (120 units)

Program Description

The Recreation degree prepares students for leadership positions in public recreation and leisure services agencies. Such work enhances the quality of life for millions of people each day across the nation. Specializations available in the degree include the Sustainability Concentration, Youth Development Programming Concentration, and a Recreation Therapy Concentration that prepares students to sit for the state RT licensing exam.

Potential jobs in this rewarding field include program coordinators, supervisors and directors in a variety of areas including day camps, sports, youth, teen and older adult activities and classes and naturalist, park ranger positions. Many graduates from our program are leaders in leisure services organizations including Concord, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Ramon, and the East Bay Regional Park District.

The Recreation Therapy Concentration is designed to prepare students to work as allied health professionals with people who have special needs in clinical, residential, and community-based agencies. This option is specifically designed to meet the standards developed by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification for Recreation Therapy. Successfully completing this curriculum will provide students with knowledge competencies necessary to qualify for both the National and State Therapeutic Recreation Certification Exams.

Many graduates of this option are leaders in Recreation Therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area. They work in varied locations such as rehabilitation hospitals, drug treatment programs, mental health clinics and inpatient programs, state hospitals, long term care facilities, prisons and schools.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate with a B.S. in Recreation will be able to:

Explain effective and sustainable solutions based on evidence to address challenges faced in the provision of recreation programs and services, management of facilities and stewardship of natural resources.
Identify effective leadership and teamwork strategies, management skills, methods to evaluate service quality and meet consumer needs in recreation management.
Articulate clearly in both written and oral formats the ethical, philosophical, historical, and administrative foundations of the recreation profession.
Identify techniques that contribute to a culture of dignity and respect in the recreation management profession.

Students who graduate with a B.S. in Recreation Management with a Recreation Therapy Concentration will be able to:

Explain stages of human development, principles of behavioral change, and models for delivery of recreation therapy programs and services.
Identify effective leadership and teamwork strategies, standards of practice, assessment techniques and documentation requirements in recreation therapy.
Articulate clearly in both written and oral formats the ethical, philosophical, historical, and administrative foundations of the recreation therapy profession.
Identify techniques that contribute to a culture of dignity and respect in the recreation therapy profession, based on principles of access, inclusion, and independence.

Program Roadmaps

These program roadmaps represent recommended pathways through the program. Please see an advisor to create an education plan that is customized to meet your needs.

4-Year Freshmen Roadmaps

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

A baccalaureate of science degree requires a total of 120 units:
- The major requirements consists of 60-74 units;
- General Education (GE) & Graduation Requirements (GR) consists of 57 units;
- Free Electives may consist of 0-3 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program advisors for information.

Recreation Major Requirements (60-74 units)

HRT Foundational Core (23 units)

The 23 units of HRT Foundational Core represents the core coursework that every undergraduate student in the Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism department must complete in addition to their Major Core, Electives, and Concentration units.

HOS 100 - Professional Preparation Units: 2
HOS 300 - Marketing in Hospitality, Recreation, Recreation Therapy, and Tourism Units: 3
HOS 400 - Introduction to Finance in Hospitality, Recreation, Recreation Therapy, and Tourism Units: 3
HOS 450 - Data-Driven Decision Making in Hospitality, Recreation, Recreation Therapy, and Tourism Units: 3
REC 100 - Introduction to Recreation and Recreation Therapy Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-D1-2; Diversity
REC 200 - Serving Diverse Populations in Hospitality, Recreation, Rec Therapy and Tourism Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-D1-2; Social Justice
REC 325 - Leadership, Management and Ethics in Hospitality, Recreation, Rec Therapy, and Tourism Units: 3
REC 400 - Law, Risk and Regulation in Hospitality, Recreation, Rec Therapy, and Tourism Units: 3

Recreation Major Core (9 units)

The Recreation major core is 9 units of specific courses that lay a broad foundation in the recreation/leisure industry.

REC 215 - Special Events in Recreation Units: 3
REC 230 - Introduction to Youth Development Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-D1-2
REC 425 - Strategic Positioning in Recreation Units: 3

Concentrations

To complete the Recreation major students must choose either one (1) of the following concentrations or pre-approved electives:

Recreation, B.S. (Online) (pre-approved electives) (21 units)
Recreation, B.S.: Recreation Therapy Concentration (Online)
Recreation, B.S.: Sustainability Concentration (Available Online) (21 units)
Recreation, B.S.: Youth Development Programming Concentration (Available Online) (21 units)

Capstone Requirement (7 units)

The Recreation B.S. degree requires students to take an Internship Placement course as a capstone experience, including a 400 hour internship. Students taking the Recreation Therapy Concentration will have a 600 hour internship to complete.

Take one of the following pairs of courses, as appropriate to the concentration:

REC 475 - Internship Placement Units: 1
REC 480 - Internship Units: 6
OR
REC 476 - Recreation Therapy Internship Placement Units: 1
REC 481 - Recreation Therapy Internship Units: 6

Additional Coursework

Students opting out of the formal concentrations must take 21 additional units of coursework needed to meet the required units for the major. Elective courses to be approved by your advisor.