CMU offers the first professionally accredited major in the field of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Service Administration in the State of Michigan.
Our Department's national accreditation has been received under the auspices of the National Council on Accreditation (by the National Recreation and Park Association and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation respectively).
Regardless of the concentration selected, students majoring in recreation and leisure services are required to enroll in a common core of courses emphasizing the philosophical framework of the profession.
Students acquire professional competencies to effectively design, organize, implement, manage, and/or evaluate recreational programming, assuring it effectively meets the diverse needs of the individuals or community serviced. The department places a strong emphasis on the practical aspects of a student's training by offering an extensive internship program undertaken following the completion of professional coursework. This combination of internship and curriculum provides students with the full range of competencies necessary to support individual, family, and community wellness assuring an enhanced quality of life for all.
We offer four concentration areas for RPL Majors:
To prepare students for careers in the tourism industry and other commercial ventures (theme and amusement parks, entertainment and sports venues, resorts, multi-purpose recreation centers).
To prepare students seeking employment in camp administration, nature interpretation, and county, state, and/or national parks.
To prepare students seeking a career in a public or quasi-public agency (YMCA, Girl/Boy Scouts, or parks and recreation departments).
To prepare students interested in working with individuals of all ages who have illnesses or physical/mental disabilities by using recreation activity as a therapeutic or treatment intervention. Students obtaining degrees in Therapeutic Recreation may be employed within hospitals (rehabilitation, psychiatric, substance abuse), residential facilities, geriatric agencies and/or community recreation and parks departments.
We also offer four Minor degrees for students with Majors in other
departments:
Interdisciplinary program to prepare students to acquire leadership positions in their community and profession.
Interdisciplinary program to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful as an event manager across a spectrum of settings and environments.