The Recreation degree program, founded in 1947 by the Department of Public Health and Recreation, has a core accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Park, Recreation, and Tourism Related Professions (COAPRT). The degree has maintained continuous accreditation since its first awarding of this status occurred in April 1987, demonstrating the rigor and recognition of our programs. The Bachelor's degree in Recreation is a nationally accredited program comprised of a core set of classes and courses split generally between concentration courses and major electives. Graduates completing one of these concentrations are eligible to apply for national and state certification. While the general recreation degree is the most flexible in terms of choosing related electives, students may instead elect to complete a more specialized course of study in one of our two approved concentrations within the B.S. Recreation Degree: Recreation Management and Recreation Therapy. We also offer an M.S. in Recreation, which is designed to meet increasing needs and demands for recreation professionals and administrators in our growing fields of practices in public, non-profit, and commercial sectors, not only locally and regionally, but also nationally and globally.
The Department of Public Health and Recreation prepares leaders and practitioners who promote health and improve the environments in which we live, work, learn, and play. We strive to embrace a Teacher-Scholar-Practitioner Model through student, alumni, faculty, and community engagement to advance practices in public health and recreation fields. Our undergraduate curriculum in public health examines the multiple dimensions and determinants of health (physical, emotional, social, environmental, and spiritual) and the scientific and practical basis for understanding and promoting health at the population level (including epidemiology, policies, and community health) to create the optimal, meaningful conditions for health and wellness for all.
