Recreation Management
This program is designed to give you the first two years of a Bachelor’s degree.
What You'll Learn
Lead recreational programs that encourage engagement, inclusion, and community impact.
Study the principles of leadership, program design, and community engagement as you prepare for a career in recreation services. Employers in parks, nonprofits, and youth organizations seek professionals who can create meaningful, inclusive programs. Through applied learning and collaboration, you’ll gain the tools to promote wellness and enrich lives through recreation.
Where You’ll Go
Recreational Therapists
- Instruct patient in activities and techniques, such as sports, dance, music, art, or relaxation techniques, designed to meet their specific physical or psychological needs.
- Conduct therapy sessions to improve patients' mental and physical well-being.
- Plan, organize, direct, and participate in treatment programs and activities to facilitate patients' rehabilitation, help them integrate into the community, and prevent further medical problems.
- Observe, analyze, and record patients' participation, reactions, and progress during treatment sessions, modifying treatment programs as needed.
Entertainment and Recreation Managers
- Administer first aid in emergency situations.
- Assign tasks and work hours to staff.
- Calculate and record department expenses and revenue.
- Clean equipment and areas of amusement park, cruise ship, or other recreational facility.
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Consult with customers to determine objectives and requirements for events, such as meetings, conferences, and conventions.
- Review event bills for accuracy and approve payment.
- Coordinate services for events, such as accommodation and transportation for participants, facilities, catering, signage, displays, special needs requirements, printing and event security.
- Confer with staff at a chosen event site to coordinate details.
Salary information presented are estimates and can be different for each individual based on education, experience, and the specific employer. Labor market data is based on 2021 estimates derived from Lightcast (Career Coach | Lightcast)
The careers listed above are just a starting point. Our programs mix together important concepts and hands-on skills—but that doesn’t mean your future has to follow the same script. Find out more at Career Exploration & Support.
Program Requirements
To graduate [ 63-69 credits + 2.0 GPA or higher ]
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL098 | Accelerated Writing Skills for ENGL 100 | 3 | |
| MATH017 | Skills & Support Quantitative Reasoning | 1 | |
| or MATH020 | Skills & Support for College Algebra | 2 | |
| or MATH029 | Skills & Support for Statistics | 3 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL100 | Academic Writing I | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | A student exempt from ENGL100 must substitute a three-credit unrestricted elective. The course should be in consultation with the student’s advisor | ||
| PSYC103 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| or PSYC103H | Introduction to Psychology-Honors | 3 | |
| or SOCI101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| or SOCI101H | Introduction to Sociology-Honors | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Students in the Therapeutic Recreation Track should take PSYC 103. | ||
| RECR110 | Introduction to Recreation | 3 | |
| RECR163 | Teambldg & Group Initiative Activities | 1 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Unrestricted Elective (1 cr) | 1 | |
| SUNY GE #3 Mathematics | Mathematics | 3 - 4 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL101 | Academic Writing II | 3 | |
| or ENGL101H | Academic Writing II-Honors | 3 | |
| HLTH205 | First Aid and Safety Education | 3 | |
| or FITN102 AND FITN216 | Swimming II AND Lifeguard Training | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Students who can provide a current Lifeguard and CPR Certification OR a First Aid Certification of Responding to Emergencies or higher OR a Wilderness First Aid Certification (or higher) and an Adult, Child, and Infant CPR Certification or higher can substitute an unrestricted elective. A waiver request form must be submitted and approved. Therapeutic Recreation and Coaching students should take HLTH205. | ||
| SUNY GE #4 Natural Sciences | Natural Sciences | 3 - 4 | |
| or GENERIC | Students interested in Therapeutic Recreation or Coaching should take BIOL 101 and BIOL 102 or BIOL 104. A Lab Science should be considered based on the requirements of the student’s selected transfer institution. | ||
| ACCT101 | Financial Accounting | 4 | |
| or BUAD204 | Principles of Marketing | 3 | |
| or BUAD208 | Principles of Management | 3 | |
| or CRJU105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | |
| or ECON120 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| or ENVS101 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 | |
| or HRMG100 | Introduction to Hospitality Industry | 3 | |
| or PSYC209 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | |
| or PSYC209H | Abnormal Psychology-Honors | 3 | |
| or PSYC263 | Development Across the Lifespan | 3 | |
| or RECR112 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 3 | |
| or RECR130 | Foundations of Coaching:Princ & Theories | 3 | |
| or RECR276 | Outdoor Recreation Field Adventure | 3 | |
| or RECR201 | Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation | 3 | |
| or RECR274 | Outdoor Recreation Pursuits | 3 | |
| or RECR240 | Wilderness First Responder | 3 | |
| or RECR270 | Wilderness and the American Culture | 3 | |
| or SPMT150 | Foundations of Sport Management | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | 2 Restricted Electives, 6 credits - Choose ACCT 101, BUAD 204, BUAD 208, CRJU105, ECON 120, ENVS101, HRMG100, PSYC 209, PSYC 263, RECR112, RECR130, RECR276. RECR201, RECR274, RECR240, RECR270, or SPMT150 (if not taken above) - Students interested in Therapeutic Recreation should take RECR201 and either PSYC 209 or PSYC 263. - Students interested in Coaching should take RECR112 and RECR130 - Students in the Business Management track should choose from ACCT 101, BUAD 204, BUAD 208, or ECON 120. | ||
| SUNY GE #7 The Arts | The Arts | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Business Management students should take ART 124. | 3 | |
| RECR280 | Recreation Programming and Leadership | 3 | |
| RECR ELEC | Recreation Leadership Elective | 3 | |
| or FITN ELEC | Fitness Elective | 1 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL102 | Approaches to Literature | 3 | |
| or ENGL102H | Approaches to Literature-Honors | 3 | |
| or RECR270 | Wilderness and the American Culture | 3 | |
| RECR150 | Play Across Diverse Cultures | 3 | |
| RECR210 | Diversity and Inclusion in Recreation | 3 | |
| ENGL201 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| or ENGL201H | Public Speaking - Honors | 3 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Unrestricted Elective: - Students interested in Therapeutic Recreation should take BIOL 101 and 102 and then BIOL 131 or 201. - Students in the Business Management track should choose ACCT 101, BUAD 103, BUAD 204, BUAD 208, or ECON 120. - Students in the Coaching Track should take FITN 240 or SPMT 150. |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits | Minimum Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCT101 | Financial Accounting | 4 | |
| or BUAD204 | Principles of Marketing | 3 | |
| or BUAD208 | Principles of Management | 3 | |
| or CRJU105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | |
| or ECON120 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 | |
| or ENVS101 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3 | |
| or HRMG100 | Introduction to Hospitality Industry | 3 | |
| or PSYC209 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 | |
| or PSYC263 | Development Across the Lifespan | 3 | |
| or RECR112 | Introduction to Kinesiology | 3 | |
| or RECR130 | Foundations of Coaching:Princ & Theories | 3 | |
| or RECR276 | Outdoor Recreation Field Adventure | 3 | |
| or RECR201 | Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation | 3 | |
| or RECR274 | Outdoor Recreation Pursuits | 3 | |
| or RECR240 | Wilderness First Responder | 3 | |
| or RECR270 | Wilderness and the American Culture | 3 | |
| or SPMT150 | Foundations of Sport Management | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | 2 Restricted Electives, 6 credits - Choose ACCT 101, BUAD 204, BUAD 208, CRJU105, ECON 120, ENVS101, HRMG100, PSYC 209, PSYC 263, RECR112, RECR130, RECR276. RECR201, RECR274, RECR240, RECR270, or SPMT150 (if not taken above) - Students interested in Therapeutic Recreation should take RECR201 and either PSYC 209 or PSYC 263. - Students interested in Coaching should take RECR112 and RECR130 - Students in the Business Management track should choose from ACCT 101, BUAD 204, BUAD 208, or ECON 120. | ||
| RECR285 | Recreation Field Work | 3 | |
| SUNY GE #10 World Languages | World Languages | 3 | |
| SUNY GE #8 US History | US History | 3 | |
| UNRE ELEC | Unrestricted Elective | 3 | |
| or GENERIC | Unrestricted Elective: - Students interested in Therapeutic Recreation should take BIOL 101 and 102 and then BIOL 131 or 201. - Students in the Business Management track should choose ACCT 101, BUAD 103, BUAD 204, BUAD 208, or ECON 120. - Students in the Coaching Track should take FITN 240 or SPMT 150. |
| Transfer School Sort descending | Transfer Program |
|---|---|
Transfer School: Syracuse University |
Transfer Programl: College of Professional Studies |