The recreation and leisure studies program at the University of Tennessee is one of 100 programs in the nation and one of two undergraduate programs in the state of Tennessee that is accredited. Graduation from an accredited program or from an institution where there is an association with an accredited program may potentially increase opportunities for our graduates. One of the unique features of the program is a heavy emphasis on an experiential education approach to academic preparation. Students graduating from this program will gain a tremendous amount of practical experience to accompany their academic degree.
Students enrolled in the recreation and leisure studies program are urged to prepare for and take the professional certification examinations offered by the National Recreation and Park Association and The National Council For Therapeutic Recreation. In light of the fact that many public, quasi-public and nonprofit recreation and leisure services employers are mandating professional certification as a condition of employment, obtaining certification is a must. Courses in the RLS degree program prepare the student to do so. The primary purpose of certification is to ensure that personnel employed in recreation, therapeutic recreation and leisure services meet high standards of performance. Practice exams and study sessions provide students with ample opportunities to successfully pass the certification examination. Our graduates are eligible to take the Associate Park and Recreation Professional (APRP), Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and the National Council For Therapeutic Recreation (NCTRC) exams.
Accreditation is a status granted to an institution or a program that meets or exceeds stated criteria of educational quality. In the United States, accreditation of professional preparation curricula is conferred by non-governmental bodies, which are often closely associated with professional associations in the field. The NRPA/AAPAR Council on Accreditation, sponsored by the NRPA and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR), is such a body. The NRPA/AAPAR Council on Accreditation is a member of both the Council on Higher Education (CHEA) and the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA) and continues to be recognized, now by CHEA.
Applications to the program are taken on a year round basis. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a 3.0 GPA during the senior year of undergraduate study is required for admission. Applicants must first be admitted to the University of Tennessee as a graduate student, and then be admitted to the recreation and leisure studies graduate program. Applicants must submit all college transcripts, a university application, a Department of Exercise, Sport, and Leisure Studies application, three rating forms and a writing sample.
The professional discipline that comprises recreation and leisure studies prepares students for management and leadership positions in many public and private recreation and leisure related enterprises. The core curriculum provides an understanding of the role and impact of leisure in achieving and sustaining socio-economic growth and political order in an increasingly culturally diverse society. Leisure is central to balancing physical and mental health and sustaining economic growth. Some sectors of the leisure industry have outperformed the market as a whole and are positioned to flourish as the economy becomes more leisure service-oriented.
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(Non-Thesis Option)
The therapeutic recreation concentration prepares students for employment in management and leadership positions with agencies that deliver health care services. Students are successful in gaining employment in physical rehabilitation hospitals, children’s programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and treatment centers, programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities, long-term care and assisted living facilities, and in community, outdoor and school-based therapeutic recreation programs. Graduates of the program fulfill the requirements for national certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) and have been successful in completing the national exam.
(Thesis Option)
* Must meet national certification requirements
(Non-Thesis Option)
* Must meet national certification requirements
