Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Management

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James MacGregor
CHAIRPERSON
Office Building 1
(203) 392-6388 – Fax (203) 392-6147
macgregorj1@SouthernCT.edu
Department Secretary: (203) 392-6388

Mary Jo Archambault, Assistant Professor
Raymond Cotrufo, Assistant Professor
Lee deLisle, Professor
Michael Dodge, Associate Professor
James MacGregor, Associate Professor
Kevin McGinniss, Assistant Professor
Deborah Smith, Associate Professor

MAJOR PROGRAM

The department offers a B.S. degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies and a B.S. degree in Sport Management.  The department also offers minors in Leadership Development and Event Management.

B.S., RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES

The B.S. in Recreation and Leisure Studies curriculum is designed to provide the student with a broad foundation of professional preparation in the recreation and leisure industries. Recognition is given to the wide diversity of recreation and leisure career opportunities by providing emphasis in professional areas through which the student will obtain orientation to specific careers. Students direct their career aspirations through the selection of a concentration area of study. These areas of concentration are: therapeutic recreation; community recreation and youth development; and tourism, hospitality, and event management.

The professional emphasis focuses on planning, leading, administering, managing, and evaluating in a variety of settings and program fields. A minimum of 123 credits is required for graduation. The choice of electives is available for the individual needs of students.

Students interested in pursuing career options in therapeutic recreation may elect that emphasis area in order to facilitate their eligibility for certification as a therapeutic recreation specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). This area of emphasis includes successful completion of REC 231, REC 331, REC 391, REC 431, and REC 441 as well as an approved field experience in therapeutic recreation (REC 433). These credits are taken as part of the 123-credit program.

Any student majoring in recreation and leisure studies receiving a grade lower than a "C" in any recreation course must repeat that course within two semesters. Students receiving grades of "C" or lower in more than one recreation course may be dismissed from this major.

B.S., SPORT MANAGEMENT

The major in Sport Management is designed to prepare students for positions within all sectors of the sport industry, including professional organizations, college athletics, scholastic sports, recreational sport, and sport events and facilities.  Coursework includes instruction in program planning and development, business practices, financial management principles, human resource management, marketing and sales, event and facility management, as well as the ethical and legal aspects of sports.  Students gain industry experience through internships arranged with professional sports teams, college athletic departments, public and private facilities, sport and convention centers, sports marketing companies, and municipal, non-profit, and commercial sports organizations. 

MINOR IN EVENT MANAGEMENT

Students learn the management skills necessary for the planning, organization, direction, and assessment of special events. Included are festivals, sports, tourism, fundraising, meetings, conferences, cultural programming, destination and venue management, and related experiences. Theoretical information is supplemented by event-based service learning projects and practicum experience.

MINOR IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The minor consists of 18 credits and is designed to provide students with foundational and contextual leadership principles and practice that expand their ability to exercise leadership in their private, professional, and civic lives.