Welcome to the . . .

RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES PROGRAM (RLS)
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation   

Missouri State University


Originally accredited in 1988, our curriculum represents one of only 100 recreation programs nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association in cooperation with the American Association of Leisure and Recreation. The RLS program was granted continuing accreditation in 1993,1998 and 2004.
Testimonials . . .

“The instructors in Recreation and Leisure Studies were very well-rounded and always encouraged students to combine school with work experience in the field.” – Barbara Ducey Bowden, Director, Rooms Division, The Peabody Hotel, Orlando, Florida

 “At MSU, Recreation and Leisure Studies is a great major.  It provided me with valuable working experience and professors who were easy-going, provided a camaraderie, and an interest in students that far-surpassed what I saw in other disciplines.  When I arrived in the Recreation and Leisure Studies Program there, almost immediately, I felt at home.” --- Jeanette Stoecklin Gaines, Purchasing Agent, Boeing Aircraft, Hazelwood, Missouri

 “I have friends at other recreation agencies who have had interns from Recreation and Leisure Studies at MSU, and they are head and shoulders above those from other colleges.” --- David Waddell, Pastor of Recreation, Germantown Baptist Church, Collierville, Tennessee

 “I thank the Recreation and Leisure Studies Program for assisting me in building my leadership skills.  The instructors were all instrumental in helping me look ahead to the future.” --- Mike Castulik, Director, Sherwood Forest Camp, Overland, Missouri

The RLS Degree. As a major, you may select either a "comprehensive" or a "non-comprehensive" degree. The "non-comprehensive" degree requires the completion of a "minor" in another department. The "comprehensive" degree requires you to select one of the following degree options:
Community Recreation will prepare you for management, supervisory or leadership positions in community-based programs such as municipal parks and recreation agencies; youth serving agencies (YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, Scouting, etc.); the armed forces; churches; and other similar public or semi-public providers of community recreation services.
Outdoor Recreation will prepare you for management, supervisory or leadership positions in public or private camps; outdoor education facilities; outdoor adventure settings; or federal, state or local natural resource management agencies.
Private/Commercial Recreation will prepare you for management, marketing/sales positions at private or commercial sport facilities, theme parks, hotels and resorts, convention centers, theaters, travel agencies, fairs or expositions, sport and outdoor equipment retail outlets and other providers of leisure services and products.
Therapeutic Recreation will prepare you for supervisory and leadership positions in community-based or private health care facilities providing recreation therapy for persons with various disabilities. Successful completion of this emphasis will qualify the applicant to sit for the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) Exam upon graduation.
Wellness & Health Promotion will prepare you for management, marketing, fitness instructor positions in community-based, private, or corporate fitness, and health-related services promoting the concept of wellness. Graduates may also pursue qualification as personal trainers.
Careers:  The occupational outlook has been good with practitioners perceiving RLS graduates to be well-prepared. Surveys of graduates have indicated that 75-85% of the respondents were either presently employed or have, since graduation, been employed full-time in the leisure services field. Placement has been particularly good in health care. A United States population concerned about health will continue to demand diversity of leisure alternatives for both prevention of and rehabilitation. Full implementation of ADA will increases emphasis on accessibility of leisure services for the disabled.
Graduates of our Program should secure positions in administration, management and direct delivery of recreation services addressing state-wide needs in Health Care, Business and Economic Development, and Public Affairs.  Employment in health and human services settings such as municipal parks and recreation departments, youth serving agencies, clinical and community based therapeutic recreation settings, nursing homes, fitness and wellness/health promotion program providers, natural resource management and environmental education agencies, and a multitude of tourism and recreation industry providers place graduates in a position to significantly impact the social, physical, emotional, and self-actualizing needs of the people they serve.
The public affairs mission of Missouri State University is inherently embedded in the philosophy and purpose of the broad field of leisure services. Participation in leisure activities fosters respect for individual rights, facilitates the development of a cooperative attitude, enhances communication, and engenders a sense of community pride and responsibility . . . all factors critical to "discovering solutions to the problems that we face as members of a democratic society." Faculty/student research and class projects identify and enhance community resources for recreation and tourism.
Location:  Missouri State University, with our enrollment of approximately 19,000 students, is located in the Queen City of The Ozarks, Springfield, Missouri (pop. 200,000).  Sitting atop the Ozark Mountain Plateau, Springfield is surrounded by an array of natural recreational areas.  Branson, America's second musical capital, is less than an hour from campus.  Numerous other public, private and commerical recreation resources and programs are available to students and other residents in the Springfield Area.
RLS Location on Campus:  You can find us in the Kings Street Annex near the center of campus where you'll find our faculty offices and classrooms where RLS courses are taught. This arrangement enhances daily personal interaction of our students and between students and faculty.  Stop by for a visit.
Scholarships:  Qualifying juniors and seniors may annually apply for $4,300 in scholarships from the Missouri Park and Recreation Association Charitable Trust.

Plaster Student Union Game Center

Plaster Student Union Game Center


For additional information contact:
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Missouri State University
901 S. National Ave
Springfield, MO. 65804
Phone: 417-836-5411
 

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Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For further information on Affirmative Action, please contact the Affirmative Action Office at Carrington Hall 128 - Tel: 417-836-4252.

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Last Modified: July 31, 2009