College of Allied Health & Nursing
Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services
213 Highland North
Phone: 507-389-2127
Website: Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services
Chair: James Petersen
Joy Joyner, Kristi Montandon, Ronald Nickerson, James Wise
This program prepares a graduate to become a professional leader, supervisor and/or administrator within the private for profit, private non-profit, and the public sector of the recreation and leisure services field. The program includes preparation for youth programs, community education, municipal and leisure service programs; a broad variety of therapeutic recreation settings including hospitals, long-term care, advocacy organizations, consultant services; a wide variety of commercial recreation and tourism settings, nature and historical interpretation; private and public park systems including park ranger, research, educational outreach, planning marketing, park operations; and military recreation.
The Department offers a professional core that is accredited by the NRPA/AALR with three career tracks: Leisure Planning and Management, Therapeutic Recreation, and Resource Management.
Admission to Major is granted by the department. Minimum university admission requirements are:
Contact the department for application procedures. In addition, a GPA of 2.4 in the first 12 hours of the program must be attained.
Graduation Requirements: COMS 100 intro to Computer Science (4)
Choose one of the following areas:
Choose 3 courses from the following:
Please see Dr. Wise, Advisor for Therapeutic Recreation
Each student must complete the practicum requirement. Students who are graduating on a catalog prior to the 2001-2002 catalog must enroll in RPLS 487 and RPLS 488 after completing all course work and the Professional Experience Plan. Students who are graduating on the 2001-2002 or more recent catalog are required to enroll in RPLS 495 (8 credits) after completing all course work and RPLS 484. The student must file a practicum application with his/her advisor one semester prior to enrollment in the Practicum. The RPLS faculty advisor must approve the application prior to registration.
Required Minor: None. But a minor is recommended.
Choose 9 credits of electives from one of the option areas:
GPA Policy. A 2.5 GPA in the major and completion of the field experience are required before enrolling in the practicum along with personal characteristics that, in the joint professional judgment of program faculty, are conducive to successful professionals in recreation and leisure settings. These include reliability, completion of individual and group assignments on time, consistency of performance, coping with ordinary personal problems, creativity, assertiveness, ethical performance, and a questioning, constructive, critical approach to new ideas. Evaluation of academic work, attitudes and personality must be considered by faculty to assure success in the recreation, parks and leisure services field.
P/N Grading Policy. Recreation, parks and leisure services majors and minors must take required courses for a letter grade with the exception that practicum courses must be taken on a P/N basis. Non-majors may elect RPLS courses for pass/no credit where this option is available. A student who receives more than six credits of F grades in the program automatically assumes probationary status in the major.
Transfer Policy: Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 40 semester credits of the major at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
RPLS 272 (3) Introduction To Recreation, Parks & Leisure Services
A foundation course that introduces the student to the profession of leisure services. Emphasis is placed on recreation in the student's life, the development of the profession, the community leisure service system and careers in recreation, parks and leisure services.
F, S
RPLS 274 (3) Therapeutic Recreation Services
This course is designed to be an overview of Therapeutic Recreation Services in a variety of human service settings with emphasis on the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of leisure and recreation programs performed by therapeutic recreation specialists serving persons with physical, mental, emotionalor social limitations.
S
CD-Core
RPLS 277 (3) Recreation Leadership
Through interactive classroom assignments, students develop expertise in planning, leading and evaluating a recreational experience. Foundations of leadership, group dynamics and motivation are also included.
F, S
RPLS 278 (3) Leisure and Lifestyle
This course addresses leisure wellness and incorporates leisure into life as a balancing force for healthy living. Leisure is studied in relation to: work, time and money management, stress management, healthy relationships, life choices and decisions, personal and community resources, career opportunities and in relation to current issues in politics and in the work place.
F, S
GE-11
RPLS 282 (3) Wildlife as a Recreational Resource
A broad survey course that is concerned with game and non-game wildlife species. Habitat is stressed throughout the course as a necessity for maintaining a species. Funding of wildlife programs and changing attitudes of the public are concerns throughout this course.
F, S
GE-10
RPLS 325 (3) Programming for Outdoor Settings
This course exposes the parks and recreation major to basic outdoor skills. The camping movement in America is discussed as well as progressional planning strategies for outdoor recreation.
F
RPLS 370 (3) Review of Outdoor Recreation Research
This course traces the historical development of outdoor recreation from the ancient Middle East to the present. Research efforts have resulted in many new outdoor activities, legislative mandates for land managing agencies, and the development of new equipment and attire for the participant.
S
RPLS 376 (3) Program Planning in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services
The emphasis of this course is on the program planning process-from creating the idea through evaluation of the program-and how it fits into the agency profile. Various formats such as leisure learning, tournaments, trips and outings, and special events are highlighted for a variety of leisure service agencies.
F, S
RPLS 377 (3) Public Relations
Focuses on the total planning, implementation and techniques of effective public relations.
F, S
RPLS 379 (3) Management of Parks and Recreation Facilities
This course introduces students to basic management and planning techniques for a wide variety of in-door and out-door recreation facilities.
F, S
RPLS 447 (3) Programming in Therapeutic Recreation
This course details the Therapeutic Recreation process: assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation in relation to individual treatment programs in Therapeutic Recreation Service. Emphasis is on interpreting assessment data, writing measurable goals and objectives, implementing an actual program and documenting program results in terms currently used in human service settings.
Pre: RPLS 274 F
RPLS 450 (3) Therapeutic Recreation Techniques
This course is designed to teach a wide variety of interventions and facilitation techniques used in therapeutic recreation programs to give the student knowledge, practice and ability in the implementation of leisure and recreation programs for persons with special needs.
Pre: RPLS 274 and 447 S
RPLS 465 (3) Event Management
This course introduces students to special event planning, development, budgeting, promotion and evaluation. The use, recruitment, evaluation and recognition of volunteers as well as fund raising strategies are discussed and employed.
Pre: RPLS 377 S
RPLS 471 (3) Research Design in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services
This course guides the student through the survey process including the creation and implementation of a questionnaire. The data collected are then analyzed and a formal report is prepared. Computer skills are emphasized.
F, S
RPLS 473 (3) Administration of Leisure Time Programs
Development of approaches in staffing, planning, organization, coordination, evaluation and directing programs and personnel.
Permission required from professor. F, S
RPLS 474 (2) Camp Administration
Overview of administration functions in resident camps and day camp settings.
ALT
RPLS 475 (3) Public Land Use Policies
Traces the history of public lands in the United States, their acquisition and disposal. Congressional charges to executive agencies managing national lands and state and local government responsibilities for managing nonfederal public lands. Attention is given to international oceanic resources and how the international community will manage these resources.
F, S
RPLS 476 (3) Recreation Vehicular Safety
This course covers the ever-expanding mechanized leisure experience field with emphasis upon laws and regulations governing the utilization of the resource base, legal and ethical use of equipment in today's complex society. Utilization of maintenance equipment in leisure oriented facilities is stressed.
S
RPLS 477 (3) Commercial Recreation & Tourism
This course traces the evolution of commercial recreation and tourism which has become the world's number one industry. Cultural, economic, geographic, and political forces will be examined as to their role in this rapidly expanding area.
F
RPLS 481 (3) Park Systems & Planning
Traces the history of the parks movement in the United States, selected legislation establishing parks and the enactment of funding legislation. The importance of public participation, planning and political strategies are stressed.
Pre: GEOG 373 F
RPLS 482 (3) Leisure Needs of the Aging
Leisure as an integral aspect of successful aging is the focus of this course which includes: leisure in relation to physical, intellectual, social and psychological aspects of aging and successful leisure programming in community based settings and in long term care.
S
RPLS 483 (3) Legal Processes in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services
This course investigates legislative and budgetary processes utilized in the public, non-profit, and private sectors of the leisure services profession.
F, S
RPLS 484 (1) Field Experience
Students are required to complete the Field Experience in order to be eligible to enroll in RPLS 495 Practicum. Students will contract with the advisor to complete 100 hours of volunteer or paid experience in a leisure services organization.
Written permission required from the advisor. F, S
RPLS 485 (1-3) Selected Topics
F, S
RPLS 486 (1-4) Minor Practicum
Course work set through student/advisor agreement.
F, S
RPLS 487 (6) Practicum
Students who are graduating on a catalog prior to 2001- 2002 catalog are required to complete one full semester of professional work experience. This is completed once all major classes are completed. Written permission is required from the student's advisor one semester in advance. The student enrolls in both RPLS 487 and RPLS 488 at the same time for a total of 12 credits.
Pre: Completion of the Professional Experience Plan and all RPLS major classes. F, S
RPLS 488 (6) Practicum
Students who are graduating on a catalog prior to 2001- 2002 catalog are required to complete one full semester of professional work experience. This is completed once all major classes are completed. Written permission is required from the student's advisor one semester in advance. The student enrolls in both RPLS 487 and RPLS 488 at the same time for a total of 12 credits.
Pre: Completion of the Professional Experience Plan and all RPLS major classes. F, S
RPLS 489 (3) Clinical Aspects of Therapeutic Recreation
This course is designed to develop the student's ability to function as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team and practice critical thinking, writing and oral skills related to treatment decisions, ethical issues, professional issues, and health care delivery systems.
F
RPLS 490 (2-4) Workshop
Variable
RPLS 495 (8) Practicum
Students who are graduating on or after the 2001-2002 catalog must enroll in this Practicum. The Practicum, which is one full semester of professional work experience, is completed at the end of the student's course work and requires 480 hours of service at a Department approved agency where the student works fulltime for 12 weeks. Written permission is required from the student's advisor one semester in advance.
Pre: RPLS 484
RPLS 497 (1-8) Internship
Course based on student/advisor agreement.
F, S
RPLS 498 (1-8) Internship
Course based on student/advisor agreement.
F, S
RPLS 499 (1-4) Individual Study
Course work set by student/advisor discussion.
F, S
