The curriculum includes courses selected to provide an understanding of the role leisure plays in people's lives, leisure service management, and a variety of specialty areas within leisure services.
The undergraduate degree in Recreation includes:
The undergraduate curriculum is designed to prepare men and women for positions of supervision and administration in public recreation and parks, therapeutic recreation, outdoor education, camp administration, voluntary youth and adult services, travel and tourism, and commercial recreation. See Career Choices for more information on career opportunities in leisure services.
The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies offers a program of graduate studies leading to the Master of Science degree in Recreation Administration. The program helps prepare professional personnel who are managers leading private and public agencies and programs and who conduct research and evaluations of recreation services. Unusually fine opportunities exist in the Long Beach area this for interaction with recreation agencies of all kinds. The graduate degree, Master of Science in Recreation Administration, is 30-36 units. Applications are accepted for Fall semester admission only.
The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies offers certificate programs to enable students to focus their talents and resources on specific leisure field. Certificate programs are open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
Therapeutic recreation has been identified as one of the fastest growing fields of employment. Recreational therapists work in clinical and community settings using recreation as a tool to assist in post injury rehabilitation and to improve quality of life for people with disabilities. State and National Certification in therapeutic recreation is often required for employment in this field; the curriculum of this certificate program prepares students for the California Board of Recreation and Park Certification exam and for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam. A baccalaureate degree, which may be awarded concurrently, is required for completion of this certificate program.
Therapeutic Recreation Certificate:
Students may pursue the certificate as a 'stand-alone' program and it prepares students for gainful employment in a "recognized occupation." The U.S. Department of Labor Standard Occupational Code (SOC) for Therapeutic Recreation is 29-1125. To find out additional information about this professional field, please visit www.onetonline.org and search the SOC code of 29-1125 to read the occupational profile for Therapeutic Recreation. Or go directly to the profile by following this link: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1125.00
Program Costs
Cost information is based upon completion of the “stand-alone” Therapeutic Recreation certificate program within the normal time frame of five semesters.
Tuition & Fees* $18,765
Books & Supplies $4,140
Program Cost $22,905
Non Resident Tuition** $19,716
Nonresident Program Cost $42,621
*Based upon Tuition/Fee rates as of 7/1/11
**Using Non-resident Tuition rate of $372 per Unit, as of 7/7/11
Nonprofit organizations require trained professionals to meet the demands of managing and administrating effective organization and programs. The Volunteer Manager must be prepared to meet the requirements of an agency, its staff and its volunteers. These create dynamic administrative challenges. This certificate program provides instruction in the staff and volunteer management, finance, legal issues, and administration. Elective courses in Business Management, Communications, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Science, Journalism, Political Science, Social Work, and Sociology, may be applied to this certificate with apporoval by the certificate advisor. The certificate may be earned through continuing education by students not regularly enrolled at the University.
Students may only pursue the certificate program in combination with a CSULB degree program.
Outdoor recreation includes both the provision of recreation programs in the outdoors and the management of the parks and public lands that serve as the settings for these recreation experiences. Recreation program management and land management are distinct fields that must work cooperatively. This certificate program prepares students for careers in these interrelated fields. The curriculum includes courses selected to provide an understanding of outdoor recreation behavior, outdoor education, resource management policies, and an introductory understanding of natural science.
Students may only pursue the certificate program in combination with a CSULB degree program.
Travel and tourism is a very large and growing field in which there are usually many opportunities for well-trained individuals. This certificate program provides instruction in the history and theoretical bases of tourism, including its economics, psychology, and sociology as well as the political and legal aspects. The fundamentals of business, food and food service technology, the performing arts, and resource management are themes throughout the program.
Students may only pursue the certificate program in combination with a CSULB degree program.
Campus Recreation and Student Services are growing fields in elementary, secondary and higher education, supporting co-curricualr programs in both public and private institutions. There are numerous entry-level positions in thousands of educational institutions throughout the United States. Millions of students, faculty and staff are served in these Recreational Sport Programs nationwide.
Students may only pursue the certificate program in combination with a CSULB degree program.
Leisure and recreation experiences add quality and enjoyment to life. When individuals experience significant changes in their lives, often through retirement or disabling injuries, they may need counseling to identify and develop leisure skills appropriate to their new life situations. This certificate program prepares students to use counseling techniques to enhance quality of life through leisure.
Students may only pursue the certificate program in combination with a CSULB degree program.
Students desiring information on undergraduate or graduate degrees or certificate programs in Therapeutic Recreation, Administration of Volunteer Services, Administration of Outdoor Recreation, and Travel and Tourism should contact the department office for referral to one of the faculty advisors.
