Program Overview

Recreation Management and Leadership, BA

Introduction

A degree in Recreation Management and Leadership (RML) is more than just a line on a diploma — it’s a transformative experience. Our cohort-based program fosters hands-on learning and meaningful, community-centered work that prepares students to make a real impact in their careers. RML graduates don’t just enter the workforce; they create spaces and programs that inspire connection with nature, emphasize fun and personal growth, and cultivate belonging and inclusion.

Why Consider a Recreation Management and Leadership Major?

A Unique, Cohort-Based Learning Experience

The structure of the RML program sets it apart. Students progress together through the program as a cohort, following a carefully sequenced and scaffolded curriculum. Coursework in inclusive leadership, management, human relations, program planning, budgeting, and evaluation provides practical skills applicable to any career, while specialized classes in outdoor recreation, community recreation, sustainable tourism, and therapeutic recreation open doors to diverse and rewarding professional paths.

Beyond the classroom, the RML experience is enriched by a strong sense of community and built-in opportunities for real-world engagement. Students know that their experiences and ideas matter. Faculty form close connections with students, offering personalized mentorship and advising. The program incorporates intentional community-building opportunities, such as quarterly retreats.

Hands-On Learning That Makes an Impact

The RML program emphasizes applied learning through partnerships with local organizations and nonprofits. Students gain hands-on experience by:

• Planning and leading a day camp for adults with disabilities
• Attending professional conferences organized by the Washington Parks and Recreation Association and the Washington State Therapeutic Recreation Association
• Engaging in internships that provide valuable industry experience
• An overnight Leave No Trace certification training
• Community-based sustainable tourism with the Makah First Nation in Neah Bay

And it works! For over 50 years, the RML cohort model has produced graduates who form a vibrant, global professional network, contributing daily to the health and well-being of individuals and their communities. Graduates of Recreation Management and Leadership are employed throughout the region, nation, and world in a variety of settings, including public recreation departments, outdoor recreation programs, hospitals, and tourism agencies. Community and outdoor recreation graduates find employment in federal and state recreation and park agencies, county and community recreation departments, non-profit agencies, camp and adventure programs, wilderness therapy, and commercial recreation settings. Therapeutic recreation graduates find employment in hospitals; skilled nursing facilities; mental health agencies; adaptive outdoor recreation programs, community recreation departments; and federal, state, and private agencies serving persons with disabilities or other adapted recreation needs. Graduates prepared in sustainable tourism find employment with tour companies, resorts, ecolodges, and convention and visitor bureaus.

Recreation Management and Leadership and its Therapeutic Recreation Concentration are nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).

Requirements (63 credits)

• RECR 375 - Assessment and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation and RECR 376 - Therapeutic Recreation Program Design are required for the therapeutic recreation option and are offered fall quarter each year.
  • Prerequisite:
    • RECR 201 - Foundations of Recreation and Leisure (Credits: 4)
  • Phase I:
    • RECR 261 - Inclusive Recreation Leadership (Credits: 6)
  • Three courses from:
    • RECR 271 - Introduction to Community Recreation and Leisure Services (Credits: 3)
    • RECR 272 - Introduction to Outdoor Recreation (Credits: 3)
    • RECR 274 - Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation (Credits: 3)
    • RECR 279 - Introduction to Tourism (Credits: 3)
  • Phase II:
    • RECR 360 - Professional Preparation Seminar for Therapeutic and Recreation Settings (Credits: 3)
    • RECR 372 - Management of Recreation and Leisure Services (Credits: 5)
    • RECR 378 - Human Relations: Effective Communication in Therapeutic and Recreation Settings (Credits: 4)
    • One course (5 credits minimum) from:
      • RECR 370 - Outdoor Program Development (Credits: 5)
      • RECR 377 - Community Recreation Programming (Credits: 5)
      • RECR 379 - Sustainable Tourism Program Planning (Credits: 5)
      • RECR 380 - Therapeutic Recreation Principles, Practices and Techniques (Credits: 5)
      • RECR 385 - Leisure and Aging (Credits: 4)
  • Phase III:
    • RECR 472 - Internship II (Credits: 12)
  • Phase IV:
    • RECR 444 - Recreation Budgeting and Finance (Credits: 4)
    • RECR 450 - Recreation Program Evaluation (Credits: 4)
    • RECR 480 - Leisure and Society (Credits: 4)
    • One course from:
      • RECR 421 - Therapeutic Recreation Trends and Issues (Credits: 3)
      • RECR 470 - Adventure-Based Programming (Credits: 3)
      • RECR 475 - Community Development and Leisure Services (Credits: 3)
      • RECR 479 - Reconstructing Tourism: Issues in Travel Ethics (Credits: 3)

Support Area

Recreation Management and Leadership majors must develop a 25-credit support area. Support areas may range from traditional minors (e.g., sociology, environmental studies, business, and other fields) to interdisciplinary studies incorporating courses from a broader spectrum of University course offerings. The interdisciplinary support area is designed under the guidance of the student’s faculty advisor and must have the advisor’s final approval.

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement

Career Opportunities

• Recreational Therapist
• Outdoor Adventure Leader
• Youth Programs Coordinator
• Eco-tourism Operator
• Park Ranger
• Parks and Recreation Agencies
• Campus Recreation
• Camp Director
• Inclusion Specialist

Admission Criteria

First priority is given to students who have submitted applications by the first Thursday in November during fall quarter. After this date, consideration is given to applicants on a case-by-case basis. However, the major is popular and the number of students admitted is limited, so students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline. Students must have completed 45 quarter unit credits, including approved transfer credits, before starting Phase I. The deadline also applies to transfer students.

Accreditation

Recreation Management and Leadership and its Therapeutic Recreation Concentration are nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).