EKU: Department of Recreation and Park Administration; FAQ

Related Links: Home About the Department Faculty and Staff Student REC Council Professional Societies Frequently Asked Questions		*Frequently Asked Questions:* What kinds of agencies hire persons with this degree? The field of recreation, parks and leisure and tourism services is a very broad field ($1.8 trillion industry) with full-time job opportunities in the following areas of employment: (examples) Tourist Resorts City/County Parks and Recreation Departments State Parks and Federal Outdoor Recreation Agencies Commercial Outdoor Recreation Businesses Nonprofit Community Agencies (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, YWCA, 4-H) Clinical Therapeutic Recreation in Hospitals, Clinics, and Rehabilitation Centers Community Therapeutic Recreation in Urban Areas Campus Recreation in Colleges and Universities Recreation Sponsored by Businesses for Employees and Families Outdoor Residential Centers What kind of salaries can I expect? Depending on your area of expertise and skills, salaries in the field of parks, recreation and leisure/tourism services can vary widely.Fringe benefits are typically very good and include health and insurance, savings plan, and professional liability insurance. Some examples of jobs and salaries posted in the NRPA career center are: Park Superintendent, Pearland Texas, $45-$55,000 Recreation Facility Superintendent, Des Peres, Missouri, $43,387-$58,936 Assistant Park Manager, Lansing, Michigan, $35, 496-$43,448 Recreation Leader II, Oakland, California, $13.68-$16.79 per hour Assistant Aquatics Director, Farmington, New Mexico, $2,560-$3,033.54 per month Resort Park Manager, Kentucky State Parks, $3,353-$4,442 per month Parks & Recreation Director, McKinney, Texas, $74,423-$104,192 Park Ranger, Red Rock State Park, Sedona, Arizona, $32,140-$45,026 Aquatics Supervisor, Dublin, Ohio, $40,428-$60,641 Waterpark Manager, Palm Beach County, Florida, $39,120-$59,332 Recreation Therapist, San Antonio, Texas, $16.00-$21.00 per hour Recreation Therapist, Forest Park, Illinois, $35,000-$40,000 Recreation Specialist/Adventure Programs, Durham, NC, $25,504-$30,604 Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, Univ of South Florida, $29,000-$31,000 YMCA Executive Director, Oakland, California, $80,000-$90,000 YMCA Aquatics Director, Frankfort, Kentucky, $25,000-$28,000 YMCA Director of Camping Services, Newton, New Jersey, $46,000-$54,000 Outdoor Pursuits Coordinator, Ohio University, $28,000-$30,000 Adventure Trips Coordinator, Middle Tennessee State Univ, $30,150-$36,180

What job responsibilities are required of persons working in this field?

Persons that work in this field need to be creative workers with lots of enthusiasm for providing recreation programs and facilities for people of all ages and ability level. To be an effective worker, a person should be knowledgeable about a wide variety of recreation programs. Skills in budgeting and resource development are essential. Providing a safe and risk free recreation activity is paramount to customer satisfaction and overall job success. The supervision of recreation and park facilities is another responsibility of persons working in the field. Educating others about the benefits of leisure and recreation participation is a goal of all professional workers. Workers are obligated to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and facilities. The results are utilized for providing a safer and more enjoyable leisure experience for persons participating in sponsored activities.

Is an undergraduate curriculum option required for all students?

All students enrolled in the B.S. degree program must select one of the undergraduate curriculum options offered by the Department. The B.S. degree curriculum options are:

Tourism and Resort Recreation

Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation

Therapeutic Recreation Option

Public/Non-Profit Recreation Services

Does the Department require fieldwork courses?

All undergraduate students must complete three fieldwork courses. REC 163 is a one-credit hour fieldwork course designed for students to gain exposure to the provision of recreation programs and agency operations. Students must complete 45 hours of field-based experience. REC 263 is a two-credit hour fieldwork course designed to give students an opportunity to plan, organize, conduct, and evaluate an agency-sponsored program. Students must complete 90 hours of field-based experience. REC 463 is an twelve-credit hour practicum course designed to prepare senior students for a full-time entry-level position in the field of recreation, parks, and leisure services. REC 463 is typcially the last class students take before graduating. Students must complete 480 clockhours and a minimum of 12 continuous weeks. Co-op opportunities are also available.

Will course work from other universities transfer to EKU?

Most transfer students discover that pervious general education coursework from other universities does transfer to EKU. Furthermore, the Department will review previous recreation, parks, and leisure services coursework for transferability to the core and option required courses.

Does a "C-" or higher grade have to be obtained in all required REC courses?

A grade of "C-" or higher must be obtained in all required REC courses.

How long will it take me to earn a degree?

The B.S. degree curriculum in Recreation and Park Administration will take four years to complete for students with uninterrupted and continuous semesters of full-time student enrollment. Transfer students with 60 hours or more will typically graduate in 2-2 ½ years after starting the degree program at EKU.

Where is EKU?