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Major Requirements — Recreation Administration
Bachelor of Science
Recreation administration involves directing and managing the programs and business operating systems of recreation settings such as park districts, national parks, community recreation departments, private clubs, resorts, organized camps, outdoor centers and youth organizations. Recreation administration graduates manage the $350 billion annual revenues generated by the leisure services industry, community agencies and youth recreation organizations. The recreation administration program is accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association and the American Association of Leisure and Recreation.
The purpose of the recreation administration program is to prepare students for entry-level leadership positions in recreation settings. The program enables students to develop core values of integrity, citizenship, excellence and lifelong learning and acquire foundational recreation administration knowledge and skills. Additionally, the development of critical thinking, written and oral communication skills are addressed throughout the curriculum.
Students in recreation administration are expected to pass the national certification examination to become a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP). Students are also advised throughout the undergraduate program that recreation administration professionals must continually update their professional knowledge and skills during and after degree completion.
Two areas of specialized tracks are available to provide students with an adequate background for various services and settings: commercial and public recreation management and outdoor leadership. Students can also combine the YMCA Senior Director Certification with the Recreation Administration Major.
Recreation Administration Core, Support Courses and Service Requirements
Recreation administration majors take core professional and supportive courses and complete General Education Degree Requirements. In addition, prior to the recreation administration internship, students must provide written documentation of three different activity skill competencies. Students may fulfill the skill requirement by choosing three semester hours of recreation activity courses, skill workshops, or demonstrate skill competency with documentation of certification cards earned from external agencies such as the American Red Cross.
Required Core Program: 47 semester hours
| REC1750 | Practicum in Outdoor Living Skills (3) |
| REC1760 | Leisure and Society (3) |
| REC2000 | Introduction to Inclusive Leisure Services (3) |
| REC2220 | Recreation Leadership (3) |
| REC2750 | Professional Leadership Practicum (1) |
| REC3330 | Recreation Programming and Supervision (3) |
| REC3750 | Professional Program Practicum (1) |
| REC3990 | Issues and Ethics in Recreation Administration (3) |
| REC4080 | Leisure and Aging (3) |
| REC4340 | Political and Policy Implications for Recreation Administration (3) |
| REC4350 | Administration of Recreation and Leisure Services (3) |
| REC4370 | Facilities Management (3) |
| REC4750 | Assessment and Evaluation in Leisure Services (3) |
| REC4790 | Recreation Administration Internship (12) |
Required Support Core
The following courses are required as part of the accreditation process for all Recreation Administration specializations and may count toward General Education requirements if the courses are approved to meet General Education: 10-13 semester hours
| IDS1600 | or a course with a multiculturalism focus, chosen by the student with faculty advisor approval (3-4) |
| PSY3250 | Lifespan Development (4) |
| REC2080 | First Aid/CPR (2) or waiver based on current Red Cross Certification Community First Aid/CPR documentation |
| MTH2320 | General Statistics (3) |
Specialization Tracks: Two areas of specialized tracks are available to provide students with an adequate background for various services and settings: commercial and public recreation management and outdoor leadership. Students should complete all courses within the track.
Commercial and Public Recreation Management
Study of commercial and public recreation management as a major component of the leisure-service industry. This track combines the recreation administration major with a business administration minor. The business and recreation administration coursework included in this track provides background to help create or work in for-profit and non-profit enterprises to deliver leisure services to the public. Career targets for students in this option include athletic or private country clubs, amusement theme parks such as Disney World and Great America, resorts, travel and tourism agencies, community recreation centers, park districts, YMCAs and YWCAs.
Commercial and Public Recreation Management Required Courses
| REC3040 | Sport and Event Management (3) |
| REC4100 | Commercial Recreation Management (3) |
Completion of the Business Administration Minor (21)
| ACC2010 | Principles of Financial Accounting (3) |
| ACC2020 | Principles of Management Accounting (3) |
| BUS2010 | Legal Environment of Business (3) |
| ECN2010 | Principles of Microeconomics (3) |
| ECN2020 | Principles of Macroeconomics (3) |
| BUS2300 | Principles of Marketing (3) |
| BUS3200 | Principles of Management (3) |
Outdoor Leadership
The outdoor leadership track provides broad preparation for outdoor pursuits recreation and educational program leadership in organized camping, outdoor recreation, outdoor education, and adventure education. Career targets for this area include positions as national or state park rangers, camp directors, outdoor adventure program leaders, outdoor education center program directors, and private wilderness outfitters.
Outdoor Leadership Required Courses
| REC1060 | Beginning Rock Climbing (1) |
| REC1070 | Elementary Backpacking (1) |
| REC1080 | Bicycle Touring (1) |
| REC3400 | Philosophy and Methods of Outdoor Education (3) |
| REC4020 | Adventure Education Ethics and Methods (3) |
| REC4400 | Camp and Outdoor Center Administration (3) |
Select 3 semester hours of electives from the following:
| REC3040 | Sport and Event Management (3) |
| REC5000 | Administrative Practicum in Outdoor Experiences (3) |
| REC5430 | Programs in Outdoor Education (3) |
YMCA Senior Director Certification Combined with the Recreation Administration Major
Completion of the Aurora University YMCA Senior Director professional sequence of coursework provides the student with an opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration at George Williams College of Aurora University and the Senior Director Certification from the YMCA of the USA. These two credentials can provide strong preparation for career tracks in the YMCA and other social service organizations.
Required Courses
| REC4830 | Principles and Practices of the YMCA (3) |
| REC4790 | YMCA Internship (12) |
| Students select one course from each competency listed below: | |
| Management/Administration | |
| BUS3200 | Principles of Management (3) |
| REC4350 | Administration of Recreation and Leisure Services (3) |
| Organizational Behavior/Human Resources | |
| COM3000 | Organizational Communication (3) |
| Communication/Outreach | |
| COM3510* | Corporate and Professional Communication (3) |
| Human Development/Learning | |
| PSY3250 | Lifespan Development (4) |
| Community and Policy | |
| REC4340* | Political & Policy Implications for Recreation Administration (3) |
| Programming/GroupWork | |
| REC3040 | Sport and Event Management (3) |
| REC3330* | Recreation Programming and Supervision (3) |
| Diversity and Access | |
| REC2000 | Introduction to Inclusive Leisure Services (3) |
| Assessment/Evaluation | |
| REC4750* | Assessment and Evaluation in Leisure Services (3) |
*These courses carry prerequisites; see course descriptions for details.
Student Performance Review and Evaluation Process
Professional recreation administration education requires high standards of academic, personal and professional conduct to prepare students for a successful career in Recreation Administration. The educational program at the undergraduate level requires the student to develop professional ethics, values, knowledge and skills.
The Recreation Administration Program faculty reserves the right to maintain academic standards for admission and retention in the undergraduate program above and beyond compliance with the academic standards of the University. In addition, the Recreation Administration faculty has determined that there are professional competencies and conduct not measurable by academic achievement alone. Therefore, the Recreation Administration Program faculty reserves the right to make decisions regarding admission and retention of students based on high standards of personal and professional conduct.
For successful Recreation Administration career placement, students will complete professional pre-internship practica and internship professional field experiences. Therefore, students are expected to demonstrate high standards of ethics, values, knowledge, skills, and both personal and professional conduct throughout their academic program in class and during field placements. The Recreation Administration Program faculty utilizes the student performance review and evaluation process to give students feedback on their professional development each term. The faculty will honor not only the rights of students, but also the rights of pre-internship- and internship-partnering agencies, clients, and others to whom the student relates in a professional role. A copy of the Student Performance Review and Evaluation Policy is available in the Recreation Administration office.
Transfer Guides
- College of DuPage
- Gateway Technical College
- Madison Area Technical College
- Moraine Valley Community College
Academic information on departmental Web sites reflects the university's most current curriculum. The print version of the catalog, which is also posted online, may differ from this information.
