Recreation Management & Leadership

The purpose of recreation and leisure is to contribute to the health and well-being of individuals and 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.

Nationally accredited since 1986 by the Council on Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the Recreation Program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation. The major offers concentrations in tourism, community recreation, outdoor recreation, and therapeutic recreation. The department and faculty goal is to help students become knowledgeable, competent, and virtuous professionals — the sum of which is a foundation for professional excellence.

The Recreation curriculum prepares students to design, implement, manage, lead, and evaluate recreation programs and services. The program is designed as four sequential 15-16 credit hour phases, which students move through as a cohort group. Students enter Phase 1 of the program during spring quarter, typically during their sophomore or junior year.

The Health and Human Development Department is part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Each student in the Recreation Program must complete 240 hours of leadership prior to beginning their internship in Phase III of the program.  That equates to an average of 10,000 hours of student service per year to organizations that serve individuals, families, communities, and the environment in Bellingham and throughout Washington.  In recent years, our students have served the YMCA, the Max Higbee Center, Boys and Girls Club, Arne Hannah Aquatic Center, Whatcom Humane Society, and Northwest Therapeutic Riding Center to name just a few. In addition, students complete a 400-hour, ten-week internship experience.