Recreation

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

Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies
GYM 207
415-338-2030
Chair: Ginny Jaquith

Graduate Coordinator: Patrick Tierney

Faculty

Professors—Dahl, Jaquith, Michaelis, Taylor, Tierney

Assistant Professor—Rosegard

Lecturers—Flasher, Holland, Lowe, Murphy, Schwartz

Programs

B.A. in Recreation
Minor in Recreation
Certificate in Youth and Human Services Nonprofit Agency Administration
M.S. in Recreation


Program Scope

The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies in the College of Health and Human Services at San Francisco State University envisions a California where all residents are adequately prepared and situated to realize quality in all that comprises their life's pursuits. The department missions and goals are to:

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

Students desiring to major or minor in recreation should consult with the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies where they will be directed to a faculty adviser related to their area of specific interest. Students interested in the nonprofit sector can obtain a certificate in nonprofit management and should see the American Humanics campus director for advising.

The Master of Science in Recreation is designed to qualify students for professional positions of greater responsibility in recreation and leisure services, parks, tourism, and therapeutic recreation in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Within the program, the student is able to choose from a wide range of career path options, ranging from conference and event planning to therapeutic recreation.

Students wishing to become certified as recreation therapists at either the state or national level will become eligible upon completion of the B.A. or M.S. in Recreation and specified course work, including an internship.

Students are expected to observe university requirements stated in this Bulletin and specific department requirements stated in the department student handbooks.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RECREATION

On-line course descriptions are available.

Program Units
REC 200 Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Services 3
REC 300 Leisure Leadership 3
REC 380 Developmental Play Processes 3
REC 400 Theory of Program Planning 3
REC 410 Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation 3
REC 500 Organization of Recreation and Leisure Services 3
REC 520 Park and Outdoor Leisure Resources 3
REC 550 Planning and Evaluation of Recreation and Leisure Services 3
REC 660 Seminar in Current Professional Issues 3
Units from the following: 6
 REC 230 Growth Through Adventure  
 REC 260 Leisure Travel and Tourism
 REC 330 Arts and Crafts for Leisure
 REC 340 Conference and Event Planning and Management
 REC 430 Ecology of Outdoor Recreation
 REC 440 Urban Recreation and Leisure Services
 REC 445 Recreation Therapy and the Expressive Arts
 REC 610 Therapeutic Recreation Principles and Procedures: Clinical and Community Applications
In the final semester, students complete a 12-unit Directed Field Experience in appropriate recreation or leisure services setting. A minimum of 800 hours of paid or volunteer work in recreation settings and completion of core courses are required prior to enrolling in the Directed Field Experience 12
 REC 680 Directed Field Experience in Recreation and Leisure Services (6)  
 REC 690 Directed Management Experience in Recreation and Leisure Services (6)
Additional course work is required for students seeking internships in settings which require special skills; such course work is prescribed in consultation with an adviser.
Total for major 45

MINOR IN RECREATION

Required Core Units
REC 200 Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Services or 3
 REC 420  Leisure and Contemporary Society
REC 400 Theory of Program Planning 3
REC 680 Directed Field Experience in Recreation and Leisure Studies 6
In consultation with an adviser, students should select from the following electives according to the area of interest: 8-10
General/Community
REC 330 Arts and Crafts for Leisure  
REC 340 Conference and Event Planning and Management
REC 380 Developmental Play Processes
REC 440 Urban Recreation and Leisure Services
Parks and Resources Management
REC 430 Ecology of Outdoor Recreation  
REC 520 Park and Outdoor Leisure Resources
One course selected from the following:
 GEOG 418   Management of National Parks and Natural Areas (4)
 GEOL 250   Geology of the National Parks
 BIOL 300   Nature Study
 GEOG 652   Environmental Impact Analysis
Outdoor Recreation
REC 230 Growth Through Adventure  
REC 430 Ecology of Outdoor Recreation
REC 152 Aquatic Sports (2)
REC 184 Small Boat Maintenance (1)
Therapeutic Recreation
REC 380 Developmental Play Processes  
REC 410 Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation
REC 445 Recreation Therapy and the Expressive Arts or
  REC 610   Therapeutic Recreation Principles and Procedures: Clinical and Community Applications
Commercial Recreation
REC 260 Leisure Travel and Tourism  
REC 340 Conference and Event Planning and Management
REC 460 Destination Recreation Resorts
REC 540 Administration of Private Recreation Enterprise
Minimum total for minor 20-22

CERTIFICATE IN YOUTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NONPROFIT AGENCY ADMINISTRATION

Campus Director—Ginny Jaquith

General Information

Nonprofit agencies play an important role in the development and well-being of individuals and communities. To help meet the growing need for qualified leadership in today's non-profit organizations our program inspires and prepares undergraduates for entry-level professional positions in the nonprofit sector. With the resources of American Humanics, Inc. and its national nonprofit partners, SFSU is committed to preparing quality nonprofit leaders, dedicated to making a difference in their community and in the lives of others through the Youth and Human Services Nonprofit Agency Administration Certificate.

Students take courses in a broad-based curriculum designed to develop leadership and management skills in nonprofit organizations. Students are encouraged to consult with the campus director to determine course work and co-curricular activities.

Required Core Units
REC 370 Introduction to Nonprofit Management 3
REC 570 Developing and Managing Resources for Nonprofit Agencies 3
REC 680 Directed Field Experience 6
Total for core 12
Areas of Interest
Units selected from the following with at least 1 course chosen from each area.
15
Community Organization and Group Work
HED 410 Organization and Function of Health Services  
REC 440 Urban Recreation and Leisure Services
HED 455 Community Organizing and Building for Health
REC 300 Leisure Leadership
SW 300 U.S. Social Welfare I: Past, Present, and Future
SW 301 U.S. Social Welfare II: Problems, Policies, and Programs
SW 410 Human Development and the Social Services
Management and Administration
REC 500 Administration of Recreation and Leisure Services  
MGMT 405 Introduction to Management and Organization of Business
MGMT 610 Human Resources Management
SW 660/URBS 660 Roles of Nonprofit Organizations in Urban Life
SW 302 Introduction to Social Service Organizations (2)
PA 775 Developing Nonprofit Resources
Program Planning
REC 340 Conference and Event Planning and Management  
REC 380 Developmental Play Processes
REC 400 Theory of Program Planning
HED 431 Community Health Education: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
Total for certificate 27

English Proficiency Requirement: Students must meet the English proficiency requirement by demonstrating competence through a written examination during the first semester of enrollment and the completion of a written paper.

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RECREATION

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

General Information

The program for the Master of Science in Recreation is designed to develop competencies for positions of administrative responsibility in the professional field of recreation, parts, and tourism. Maximum flexibility in choice of course work within the program enables the student both to broaden his/her knowledge of the field and to concentrate on his/her particular area of specialization. A master's degree in recreation provides opportunities in a wide range of career paths, from lifestyle and leisure coaching, adventure therapy, community leadership and therapeutic recreation. Look at the Recreation and Leisure Studies (RLS) student graduate program web site at www.sfsu.edu/~recdept/html/gradhm.htm for current information.

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 a related undergraduate degree may be required to complete indicated undergraduate courses and/or experience 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 separate departmental application. Students must also apply separately to the university. 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 and/or others deemed necessary; (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:

On-line course descriptions are available. Upper division courses are acceptable on approval of the graduate adviser.

Foundation Units
REC 710 Research Methods in Recreation and Leisure Studies 3
REC 730 Foundations of Leisure 3
REC 750 Leisure Education 3
Professional Core
REC 850 Human Resources Development in Leisure Services 3
REC 862 Management of Leisure Services 3
REC 880 Trends and Issues in Leisure Services 3
Area of Specialization
Selected courses with adviser approval (maximum of 9 units upper division courses) in areas such as tourism, therapeutic recreation, outdoor recreation, gerontology 12
Culminating Experience Option
REC 898 Master's Thesis and Oral Defense or 3
Selection of upper division/graduate recreation courses with approval of graduate major adviser and Master's Comprehensive Written Examination
Total 33

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 at an approved agency.

Examination. Those candidates not completing a thesis and oral defense 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.