Recreation

College of Health and Human Services
Interim Dean: Don Taylor

Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies
HSS 307
415-338-2030
Web Site: www.sfsu.edu/~recdept
Chair: James F. Murphy

Undergraduate Coordinator: Erik Rosegard
Graduate Coordinator: Patrick Tierney

Faculty

Professors—Dahl, Jaquith, Murphy, Taylor, Tierney

Assistant Professor—Rosegard

Lecturers—Flasher, Holland, Lowe, Mirviss, Neu, Pon, Rifkin, Schilling, Somers

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 at San Francisco State University, in existence since 1956, has established a reputation for excellence. The faculty members represent a broad range of skills and interests. They are well qualified professors and scholars with many years of practical field experience in diverse leisure service agencies. A bachelor of arts degree in recreation is offered through the department and is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR) Council on Accreditation. Accreditation provides broader recognition in the academic community and professional field. Employers can be assured that graduates of accredited programs are fully qualified for entry-level positions. Students from accredited programs are immediately eligible to sit for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional Examination (CPRP) certification—an increasingly recognized credential in the field.

The recreation major is designed to provide students with the skills necessary for successful entrance into the profession and specialty area of choice. The major can be supplemented with appropriate electives to prepare students for specialized careers within the leisure service delivery system. Students continue through the curriculum requirements until fully qualified for placement as full-time interns during the last semester. Upon successful completion of the internship, students graduate and become employable. The program also includes academic work that focuses on the latest marketing management, clinical, leadership, and programming skills, and the latest computer applications in the recreation field.

The program's most important resource is the diversity and vitality of the San Francisco Bay Area. It's unduplicated myriad of agencies, institutions, and leisure enterprises makes it truly a focal point for international tourism, recreation, and a living laboratory for leisure. Located in this prime area, the program provides opportunities to create professional networks with hundreds of SFSU graduates now in the field, which creates an additional competitive edge in today's job market. The university's extensive library resources complement the department curriculum.

SFSU offers other programs of study in recreation. An undergraduate minor program is designed to complement majors in such diverse fields as child and adolescent development, business, education, psychology, theatre arts, geography, and biology. A graduate program is available for students with experience who wish to pursue advanced training in the areas of community building, leadership, and management. The department and university recognize their responsibility to provide an opportunity for all students to acquire leisure skills. As a service to the students, the department offers a variety of courses that provide skill development and instruction activities such as sailing, camping, arts and crafts, staff supervision, planning cooperative games, adventure activities, and other recreation pursuits. The department also recognizes its responsibility to provide for the general education of the campus community. To that end, it offers several General Education courses in Behavioral and Social Sciences, Humanities, Creative Arts areas, and Segment III.

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 mission and goals are to:

• Foster an innovative learning community among students, faculty, university and the recreation, parks, and tourism professions through a foundation of quality education, service, and research.
• Provide students, faculty, and professionals competency and theoretically-based instruction through experiential and community service learning.
• Advocate the importance, values, and benefits of recreation, parks, and tourism in society through stewardship, civic engagement, social responsibility, public policy and awareness, and professional participation.
• Develop and strengthen relationships/partnerships with the recreation, parks, and tourism professions through the communication, dissemination, and application of research and state of the art knowledge.

Students desiring to receive a master's degree, bachelor of arts degree, 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.

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

Career Outlook

Every year, millions of people spend an increasing abount of time in pursuit of beneficial leisure and recreation experiences. As the world's leading industry, recreation and leisure spending accounts for approximately one trillion dollars a year. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the overall employment in the leisure and hospitality industry will grow by 17.8 percent,. The arts, entertainment, and recreation division will grow by 28 percent and add 497,000 new jobs by 2012. Job growth will stem from public participation in arts, entertainment, and recreation activities—reflecting increasing incomes, leisure time, and awareness of the health benefits of physical activity.

Full-time, trained recreation professionals are needed to develop, organize, and implement programs for the public and nonprofit sector, park districts, municipal recreation agencies, and marinas, private camps, event-planning organizations, and theme parts employ recreation professionals. Agencies serving people with disabilities and the elderly hire recreation therpists to assist their clients. Boys and Girls Clubs, and YM/YWCA are semi-public, nonprofit organizations that account for many of the job opportunities in the field of recreation. Thus, the recreation profession offers diverse employment opportunities for people who are enthusiastic, enjoy working with people, and have acquired the necessary professional skills.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN RECREATION

On-line course descriptions are available.

MINOR IN RECREATION

CERTIFICATE IN YOUTH AND HUMAN SERVICES NONPROFIT AGENCY ADMINISTRATION

Campus Directors—Ginny Jaquith, Erik Rosegard

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.

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, Murphy, Rosegard, Taylor, Tierney

General Information

The mission of the Master of Science in Recreation is to serve as a catalyst for the development of emerging entrepreneurial leaders who will advance the recreation, parks, and tourism profession and society by providing a foundation of quality education, service, and research that bridges the gap between theory and practice, cutting edge knowledge, and creative and critical thinking. The program 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 knowledge of recreation and leisure services through experience and/or training, 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. A personal interview is recommended. Students must also apply separately to the university.

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 420, 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:

• 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 24 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.

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

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.