Recreation, Adventure Education and Leisure Management

Program Codes: RECR
Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Recreation, Adventure Education and Leisure Management (RECR) prepares leaders for professional positions in the field of participatory nature-based tourism. The RECR program seeks to develop students who can plan, conduct and assess ecologically and economically-sustainable outdoor pursuits programs within public or private settings committed to global sustainability. Within RECR coursework students will develop critical thinking, management, organization, problem-solving, decision making, communication, collaboration and leadership skills that will be transferable to any professional context. The RECR program addresses wholesome recreation that supports and improves the health of local and global ecosystems, economies and human cultures.

Students in the Recreation, Adventure Education and Leisure Management (RECR) program will have exposure to all of the
following knowledge areas:

  • Principles of Sustainability, Recreation, and Nature,
  • Cultural and Global Relationships,
  • Management and Administration, and
  • Outdoor Pursuits Programming and Leadership, in conjunction with a strong liberal arts foundation.

Students will also be required to develop and articulate an Emphasis along with its outcomes as part of their course of study. According to their Emphasis within RECR, graduates can be excellent candidates for outdoor pursuits, activity leadership (guiding) positions, recreation resource management positions in public and private parks and reserves, and for positions involving the administration of adventure travel and ecotourism programs and trips. RECR programs of study are highly individualized, building upon the particular interests and career goals of each student, and drawing upon the full array of courses of the Paul Smith's College curriculum. All students are strongly urged both to consult with RECR program advisors and to review planning guides found on the Paul Smith's College website planning individual schedules, in order to ensure their timely progress toward degree completion.

At the end of the program students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate foundational wilderness travel and camping skills according to the Leave No Trace philosophy.
  • Identify and exhibit fundamental management principles and industry standards relevant for leading a sustainable nature-based recreation business or agency.
  • Apply principles of quantitative problem solving, ethics, and sustainability to leadership and management decisions.
  • Respectfully exemplify facilitation and leadership skills through effective individual and group communication with diverse audiences in written, graphic and oral form.
  • Assess, design, deliver and evaluate safe, ethical, recreation pursuits that meet and develop the leisure interests of diverse audiences.
  • Analyze the effect of nature based tourism and recreation in different cultural, historical and environmental contexts.
  • Effectively select and use technology and equipment to meet programming, problem solving and communication needs.
  • Deliver and evaluate best recreation professional practices in a given professional setting or context

Degree Requirements:

The minimum number of credit hours necessary to meet degree requirements for the RECR program is 120. A minimum of 60 credits of the total shall be drawn from the Liberal Arts and Sciences. At least 45 credits shall be 300- or 400-level courses.

Contact the Department Chairperson

Semester 1

Semester 2

3
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3-4
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ELECTIVE
3-4

Select any course.

Semester 3

3-4
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3-4
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__ __
ELECTIVE
3-4

Select any course.

Semester 4

3-4
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__ __
ELECTIVE
3-4

Select any course.

Semester 5

3
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3
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3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 6

3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 7

3-4
Click here to see elective courses.
3
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4
Click here to see elective courses.

Semester 8

3
Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
3-4

Select any Upper Division (300 or 400 level) Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) course.

Click here to see elective courses.
Total Credits 120

Contact Information

Environment & Society

Dr. Karen Edwards

Pickett Hall 107

518-327-6387

kedwards@paulsmiths.edu


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