San Francisco State University
Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies
Graduate Courses

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The following is an overview of RPT graduate level courses most frequently offered.

700: Orientation and Professional Development in Recreation and Leisure Service(3)

Students undertake a supervised comprehensive self-assessment of current professional career status. Each student would develop a plan for professional growth, using feedback from two mentors, an existing recreation graduate student and a professional in their chosen professional area.

720: Developing Collaborative Leaders (3)

The course examines leadership behaviors and principles associated with creating and/or guiding a leisure service organization's efforts to develop collaborative leaders. Emphasis is on creating an organizational environment with a diverse work force where shared leadership is valued and practiced.

730: Foundations of Leisure (3)

Seminar in the concepts of leisure, recreation, play and related areas such as time, work, tourism, etc. Selected readings in cultural, philosophical, behavioral and social scientific literature related to the above.

740: Leisure and Aging (3)

Trends, concepts, challenges of aging related to leisure. Focuses on issues of lifespan, retirement, changing roles, and lifestyle adjustment. Applications and implications for leisure service delivery in a variety of clinical, custodial/long-term care, and community organizational settings.

810: Research Methods (3)

Prerequisites of RPT 700 and RPT 730. Introduction to general research approaches, design, and methodology, with emphasis on research design and methods used in recreation and related fields. Review of pertinent literature.

840: Startup and Sustainable Operations of Tourism, Event and Recreation Enterprises (3)

Prerequisites RPT/HTM 390 or instructor consent and graduate status. Startup and administration of tourism, event and commercial recreation enterprises; industry trends; consumer behavior with implications for entrepreneurs and managers; managing and marketing principles applied to industry; development of enterprise plan; assessment of financial feasibility (paired class with RPT 540).

850: Human Resources Development (3)

Seminar in supervision including including volunteer management, situational leadership; coaching and counseling personnel, performance appraisal, and personnel management systems.

862: Management of Leisure Services (3)

Prerequisite: RPT 500 or 550 or equivalent. Organization and management of services in public and private leisure service agencies. Emphasis includes legal issues, fiscal resources, management trends, political issues, community involvement, organizational effectiveness, and current problems and issues affecting leisure service agencies.

880: Trends and Issues (3)

Prerequisites: RPT 700, RPT 720 and RPT 730. Intensive study of selected trends, issues and problems in recreation.

891: Independent Research (1-3)

Prerequisite: graduate advisor approval and REC 810. Independent, original research investigations supervised by a graduate advisor. Normally taken during the semester you take a comprehensive exam. Not required for students doing a thesis. Does not count toward 34 units master's degree requirements..

895: Applied Research Project (3)

Prerequisite: Approved culminating experience forms, RPT 810 and RPT 880, both with B or better. Thorough investigation of recreation, parks or tourism issue or problem based on original analysis; writing of professional paper based on project results.

896: Directed Readings (3)

Prerequisite: Approved culminating experience forms, RPT 810 and RPT 880, both with B or better. Readings/tutorials focussed on integrating information in recreation and leisure studies and significant related issues. Required of those M.S. candidates who have completed all required course work for the master's and who plan to take the comprehensive exam.

898: Master's Thesis (3)

Prerequisites: advancement to candidacy for the Master of Arts; RPT 810 and consent of graduate major adviser. An approved Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement form must be on file in the Graduate Division before registration. Conducting an intensive research project and writing a formal thesis.

899: Special Study (3-6)

Prerequisites: consent of division graduate coordinator and supervising faculty member. Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the school. Open only to graduate students of demonstrated ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition.