Recreation, BA

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

What is the study of Recreation?

The purpose of recreation and leisure is to contribute to the health and well being of individuals and to enhance the quality of community life. As such, the study of Recreation is multidisciplinary, requiring understanding of the social, behavioral, physical, and environmental sciences as they pertain to helping people grow and develop in their leisure while conserving our vital natural resources. Knowledge of the arts and humanities is important as well, because leisure is one of the most fertile opportunities for self-expression and the development of community.

Why Should I Consider this Major?

Recreation and leisure contribute to the health and well being of individuals and their communities. Graduates of the Recreation Program are employed throughout the region, nation and world. They work in a variety of settings, including public recreation departments, outdoor recreation programs, hospitals, and tourism agencies. Specific jobs performed by graduates include working as recreation therapists, organizing and leading outdoor adventure trips, managing youth-serving agencies, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, supervising public sports programs, coordinating community cultural arts, operating eco-tourism trips, and serving as park rangers with state and federal agencies. Some graduates have found their degrees useful for work in fields such as social work, the ministry and law enforcement.

How to Declare:

 

Pre-major: Available. Contact the department for further information. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a Recreation Program faculty advisor for guidance before applying to the major.

Admissions: To declare, a student must have completed the following requirements:

  • 45 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or above.
  • RECR 201, Foundations of Recreation and Leisure, must be successfully completed with a minimum grade of C before starting Phase I of the Recreation Program.

How to apply: The application process consists of four parts:

  1. Complete the application for the Recreation Program (available in the Recreation Office or on the Recreation Program website). This application is separate from the application to Western Washington University.
  2. Include with your application an official or unofficial transcript of all college coursework. Include a double-spaced, three-page maximum essay (see Application for details).
  3. Schedule a 20-minute interview with a member of the faculty after all materials have been submitted.
  4. Application deadlines: The deadline for completing all aspects of the application process is the first Friday in November. Students are advised to declare at the beginning of their sophomore year.

 

Coursework

NOTE: RECR 380 is required for the therapeutic recreation option and is offered fall quarter each year.

Prerequisite

  • RECR 201 - Foundations of Recreation and Leisure

Phase I

  • RECR 271 - Introduction to Community Recreation & Leisure Services
  • RECR 272 - Introduction to Outdoor Recreation
  • RECR 274 - Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation
  • RECR 275 - Professional Practicum and Seminar
  • RECR 276 - Introduction to Program Leadership
  • RECR 279 - Introduction to Tourism

Phase II

  • RECR 372 - Management of Recreation and Leisure Services
  • RECR 373 - Recreation Programming
  • RECR 378 - Human Relations: Concepts & Skills
  • One course from:
    • RECR 370 - Outdoor Program Development
    • RECR 376 - Therapeutic Recreation Program Design
    • RECR 379 - Tourism Planning and Development
    • RECR 385 - Leisure and Aging

Phase III

  • RECR 471 - Internship I
  • and
  • RECR 472 - Internship II
  • or
  • RECR 473 - Internship III

Phase IV

  • RECR 444 - Recreation Budgeting and Finance
  • RECR 450 - Recreation Program Evaluation
  • RECR 480 - Leisure and Society
  • One course from:
    • RECR 421 - Therapeutic Recreation Trends and Issues
    • RECR 470 - Adventure-Based Programming
    • RECR 475 - Community Development and Leisure Services
    • RECR 479 - Ecotourism: Principles and Practices

 

Support Area

Recreation 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.
  Fall Winter Spring Summer
Freshman        
Sophomore     I  
Junior   II III or III
Senior IV      

 

GURs:

 

There are no courses offered within this major that may be used to satisfy GUR requirements.

I have been teaching in the Recreation Program at Western since 1980, and have witnessed some extraordinary, almost magical, moments as students discover how their beliefs and behaviors have the potential to limit or enrich the lives of others. I have read student accounts of life-changing experiences as a result of course activities that connect them with diverse people and cultures. I have heard students speak of the impact of interactive fieldtrips that, in their words, were transformational.

- Jill Heckathorn, Faculty

"Recreation is the reason I stayed at Western. That is what the Recreation Program has done for me... Here the professors know you by name and are there to help you with any questions you have, school related or otherwise. You will also meet people so passionate about what they are doing, it is quite infectious. Being a part of this program has not only given me a solid group of friends but proof that you can love what you do... To me, this program embodies what life should be about. As corny as that may sound, becoming a recreation major is the best thing I have done in my academic career and I have never questioned that. It is definitely a program worth looking into and one of the best departments Western has to offer."

- Jordy Beasley, Student

Notable Alumni

Scott Hall

Superintendent of Recreation, Pierce County

Nia Hovde

Vice President/Director of Marketing & Communications, Associate U.S. Regional Director, International Festival and Event Association

Sample Careers

 

  • Recreation Therapist
  • Outdoor Adventure Leader
  • Youth Programs Coordinator
  • Eco-tourism Operator
  • Park Ranger

Department

Contact

Recreation Program Secretary

Katey Roemmele
CV 6, 360-650-3782
Katey.Roemmele@wwu.edu

Community Recreation - Outdoor Recreation

Randall Burtz, Associate Professor
CV 6, 360-650-7572
Randall.Burtz@wwu.edu

Tourism/Therapeutic Recreation

Jill Heckathorn, Senior Instructor
CV 6, 360-650-7559
Jill.Heckathorn@wwu.edu

Recreation Program Coordinator

Outdoor Recreation/General Recreation

Keith Russell, Associate Professor
CV 6, 360-650-3529
Keith.Russell@wwu.edu

Therapeutic Recreation

Charles Sylvester, Professor
CV 107, 360-650-3541
cdsyl@wwu.edu

Related Majors

Community Health, BS
Kinesiology - Health and Fitness Specialist Specialization, BS
Kinesiology - Movement Studies Specialization, BS
Kinesiology - Pre-Healthcare Professions Specialization, BS
Kinesiology - Pre-Physical Therapy Specialization, BS
Physical Education and Health P-12, BAEd