Recreation and Leisure Studies Comprehensive, B.S.

Shepherd University offers a comprehensive major in recreation and leisure studies that prepares students for a variety of recreation, sport, and leisure careers. In addition to the required core courses of study, each student is required to select at least one of the following concentrations:

Athletic Coaching and Officiating

This concentration prepares students to coach and officiate football, basketball, softball/baseball, and soccer at both the recreational and high school level. As physical educators benefit from a Health Certification for Teaching, those in the coaching and recreational management need officiating certification for marketability.

Public Recreation and Park Administration (was Commercial Recreation/Tourism)

This concentration prepares students for careers in travel, tourism, entertainment, hotel/resort/spa industry, convention and visitor’s bureaus, gaming, and many private recreation endeavors.  The Public Recreation and Park Administration concentration offers an outstanding exploratory program for students to learn more about aspects of recreation, park management, and administration studies.  This concentration allows students from a variety of backgrounds and interest levels to experience new and challenging endeavors.

Sport Communication

This concentration prepares students for careers in sport broadcasting, sport reporting, free-lance sport writing, sport promotions/marketing, sport fund raising, sport information, and public relations.

Fitness/Exercise Science

This concentration prepares students for careers such as fitness instructors, personal trainers, corporate fitness managers, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports medicine and rehabilitation personnel.

Sport and Event Management

This concentration prepares students for management positions in a variety of settings including professional and semiprofessional sports, sport and recreation organizations, YMCAs, and public recreation and parks in such areas as ticket operations, stadium or facilities management, event coordination, marketing, community relations, corporate and group sales, and recreation supervision.

Sports Marketing

This concentration is designed to give students a broad background in marketing and sport-related marketing in addition to a strong foundation in recreation and sport.

Therapeutic Recreation

This concentration prepares students for the NCTRC exam, which certifies individuals as Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). Certified therapeutic recreation majors are employed by hospitals, nursing homes, health care agencies, alternative schools, group homes, camps, and other settings dealing with handicapped, disabled, and impaired individuals.

Out‑of‑Class and Progression Requirements for Recreation and Leisure Studies Majors

The following requirements must be met for graduation:

1. It is REQUIRED that each major be an active member of an approved state or national organization in his or her specialization during the academic years while pursuing this major;
2. It is REQUIRED that all recreation majors attend two or more state and/or national conferences in their concentration during the academic years while pursuing this major.
3. It is REQUIRED that each student develop a portfolio of their academic work beginning with their freshman year. Portfolio is to be completed by the student during their senior year.
4. It is REQUIRED that each student earn a minimum of C in each recreation and leisure studies core and concentration class.