• The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Program is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). 
• The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program combines both traditional classroom experience with hands-on learning that aims to enhance students’ employability and connect students with recreation agencies within the industry. 
• Employers of OHIO alumni include the National Parks Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, U.S Forest Service, Outward Bound, NOLS, Alaska Geographic, YMCA, Camp Joy, Garden of the Gods (Colorado), Scouting USA, Naturalists At Large, Adventure Treks, Columbus Metro Parks, and many more! (Business Wire report(opens in a new window))
• The Recreation Industry continues to grow rapidly and encompasses a wide variety of sectors, services, and experiences such as fitness, community recreation, sports, tourism, festivals, and more! 
•  OHIO’s location in Athens, Ohio, offers students a scenic and college town experience that provides year-round recreational opportunities that includes hiking, cycling, backpacking, bouldering (indoor and outdoor), mountain-biking, standup paddleboarding, canoeing, camping, wildlife viewing, swimming, and much more.
•  Located in a region rich with outdoor and adventure recreation opportunities, the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program is in close proximity to nationally renowned areas for mountain-biking (Bailey’s Trail System; 8 miles), hiking (Hocking Hills State Park; 37 miles) as well as climbing and whitewater paddling (New River Gorge National Park; 149 miles).
•  The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program requires a 400 internship experience. Internship sites have included camps, national parks, state parks, forest service areas, YMCAs, parks and recreation departments, Outward Bound, wilderness therapy organizations, outdoor education centers, commercial outfitters, guide services, and ecotourism resorts. 

Mission Statement 

The mission of the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program is to enrich people’s lives by promoting excellence in the delivery of recreation and leisure services. The program will accomplish this mission through effective undergraduate and graduate education, research and scholarship, and service to the university, community, and profession.  

Vision Statement 

 The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program aspires to be a global leader in the preparation of recreation and leisure services professionals and scholars.  Such leadership will be distinguished by its interdisciplinary emphasis and its role in defining state-of-the-art practices, enriching our communities through model outreach programs and activities, and advancing scholarship that informs policy and practice. 

Program Core Values  

 The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program relies on a set of core values to guide the program as it strives to fulfill its mission and vision. These values include a commitment to:  

1. Research, scholarship, and creative activity that informs policy and practice.  
2. Strong undergraduate education that involves opportunities for learning both inside and outside of the traditional classroom.  
3. Advising, mentoring, and personal interaction among faculty and students that enhance the educational experiences of students in the program. 
4. Cultivating an appreciation for cultural and social diversity inspires students to advocate for social equity and justice through their work as practitioners in the field.
5. Consideration of the perspectives and needs of various constituent groups and stakeholders in making decisions about the direction of the program.  
6. Assessment, planning, decision-making, and continual improvement. 

Graduates from the Recreation Management major are prepared to lead and excel in their profession!

Example Job Titles:

• Director of Parks and Recreation
• Program Coordinator
• Camp Director
• Youth Sport Coordinator
• Recreation Facility Director
• Resort Manager
• Travel Consultant/Coordinator
• Festival Director
• Event Planner/Coordinator

View the Course Catalog entry for detailed requirements and curriculum.

The coursework in this major is offered within many other academic departments, such as Business, Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, Communication, and Journalism. As such, the major is very academically rigorous and allows you to customize your experience.

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The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT).

As accrediting body, COAPRT is accredited by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).COAPRT standard 2.05.05 requires programs to report aggregated data and additional evidence reflecting program academic quality and student achievement.

Results for the most recent academic year (AY 2021-2022) follow:

• Outcome 1 from Standard 7.01: Obtain a richer understanding of procedures and techniques commonly utilized for the assessment of leisure needs.
• Outcome 1 Assessment Method: As a culmination to students’ efforts in REC 4450: Research and Evaluation, students submit a comprehensive program evaluation plan. Students partner with a local recreation agency to develop an evaluation plan for one of the programs offered by their partnering agency. Development of the evaluation plan includes collecting background information on the agency, identifying program objectives, establishing clear methods for data collection and data analysis, and designing an evaluation tool that targets programmatic outcomes. The program evaluation plan serves as one indicator of students’ comprehension of the stated learning outcome.
• Outcome 1 Result: In 2021, 81% of students scored a 73% or higher on the assignment. The overall mean grade earned by students for the assignment was a 78%. 
• Outcome 2 from Standard 7.02: Understand inclusive practices as they apply to the design and operation of recreation programs, services and facilities.
• Outcome 2 Assessment Method: Working in small groups or as an individual, students create a program plan for an inclusive recreation activity program/session/series highlighting the needs of a particular identity marker that has been discussed in the course (age, race, ability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.). Regardless of their selection, all activity plans must include adaptations and plans for those individuals with physical disabilities and accessibility needs.
• Outcome 2 Result: In 2021, 100% of the students scored at or above 73% on the assignment. The overall mean grade for the assignment was a 91%. 
• Outcome 3 from Standard 7.03: Identify a variety of resources involved in managing recreation facilities that can assist a facility in becoming more financially and environmentally sustainable. 
• Outcome 3 Assessment Method: To meet the following learning outcome, students develop a comprehensive programming plan. For the following project, students create 11 weeks of programming including a week for setting up and a week for clean-up in one of three areas: 1) a summer camp 2) a regional sports facility or 3) a community recreation center. Final projects are pitched to a panel of professionals and assessed a proportion of available points in rank order.
• Outcome 3 Result: In 2021, 88% of students scored at or above 73% on the assignment. The overall mean grade for the assignment was an 87%.

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies – COAPRT Annual Report

https://accreditationcouncil.org/Portals/0/DirectoryAnnualReports/Ohio_University_2021_Annual_Report.pdf 

CHEA requires accredited institutions to inform the public about "degree and accreditation mills." Cautions concerning these are summarized in a video that can be viewed on the CHEA website.

According to CHEA, degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. "Accreditation" from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution or program. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential.

Dr. Andrew Szolosi
Program Coordinator, Recreation Management
Patton College of Education
Patton Hall 202L
Athens, OH 45701
740.597.1757
szolosi@ohio.edu