North Carolina Central University
Department of Physical Education and Recreation

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Everybody PLAYS!

Did you know that the recreation, parks, leisure and tourism business is a $1.8 trillion industry in this country and that it drives the economies of most of the world's nations?

If you are the kind of person who likes working with people, why not consider recreation, parks and leisure as your profession? 

Organized recreation services have been often thought of as fun-and-games operations, concerned chiefly with providing programs of sports, games and hobbies. On the contrary, recreation administration involves major responsibility for planning and administering recreation and park programs to meet the needs and interests of the area served. Most administrators today are responsible for far more than just fun-and-games activities, they oversee the operations of entire agencies within the private and public sector, including budgeting, trend forecasting, marketing, and other promotional techniques to attract participants to their recreation programs. Recreation administration is the process that mobilizes an organization's resources, human and material, to accomplish predetermined goals to benefit the leisure time of the people served.

The course work includes study in administration and management, finance, marketing, risk management, and computers. This option culminates in an internship, a practical work experience at an approved site with expert supervision. Through this experience, students gain managerial and administrative skills as well as valuable contacts for future employment. The course work prepares students for the National Certification Exams and becoming a Certified Leisure Professional (CLP).

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is a Recreation Administrator?
This option is designed for those students who are interested in the management of recreation and leisure service agencies, designing activities in Sport Programs, Special Events, Social Programs, and Cultural Programs, which provides opportunities for individuality, creativity, and self-expression in the following areas: Art, Dance, Drama, Experiential, Intellectual, and Music.
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What type of jobs can I expect to find if I earn a degree in Recreation Administration?
A Degree in Recreation can prepare one for a number of career opportuinities. 

Recreation Supervisor	Director of Recreation and Parks	Sports Complex Center Director
Recreation Center Director	Recreation Leader	Recreation Workers
Park Planner	Amusement Park Operator	Nursing Home Activity Director
Tour Director	Group Home Counselor	Recreation & Parks Director
Home Care Counselor	Adventure Travel Coordinator	Rehabilitation Center Activity Specialist
Child Care Specialist	Aquatics Complex Manager	Senior Center Recreation Director
Facility Manager	Community Center Director	Professional coach or referee, umpire
Restaurant Manager	Fitness/Health Club Manager	Lobbyist for Leisure Concerns
Youth Counselor	Cruise Ship Social Director	Health and Fitness Center Program Director
College Professor	Convention Center Manager	Theme Park Operator and/or Program Manager
Hotel/Motel Manager	Recreation Therapist	Community Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Outdoor Activity Leader	Marketing Director	Corporate/Employee Recreation Program Specialist
Festival Director	Master of Ceremonies	Youth Ministries Recreation Program Director
Professional Athlete	Campus Recreation Director	Prison/Correctional Recreation Specialist
Athletic Coach	Children Activities Resort	Armed Forces Youth Activities Director
Sports Promotion Director	Club House Manager	Hospital Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Equipment Salesperson	Program Director/Leader	Recreation-related Retail Store Manager
Retail Sales Associate	Stadium Manager	Recreation Coordinator/Supervisor
Scout Executive	Grounds Supervisor	Condominium Social Director
Park Superintendent	Health Club Manager	Resort Recreation Program Director
Camp Counselor/Director	Recreation Center Director	Professional Sports Team Manager
Sports Announcer	Conference Organizer	Cruise Ship Activity Director
Sports Instructor	Convention Director/Planner	Nursing Home Program Director
Team Manager	Tournaments Planner	Reservations Agent
Concert Promoter	Recreation Leader	Equipment Manager
Guest Services Staff	Departmental Administrator	Resort Services Director

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What are the salary ranges I can expect with a degree in Recreation Administration?
(1993 National Comprehensive Salary and Benefits Study)
Recreation Directors - $42,675
Park Superintendents - $43,269
Recreation Superintendents - $42,510
Recreation Supervisors - $28,935
Recreation Center Directors - $27,939
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Is graduate school required before you can get a job? 
No. Most entry level positions require no more than a Bachelor's Degree.
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Is there a national examination or certification required?
A degree in Recreation prepares students to sit for a National Certification Exam. For more info on the Certified Park and Recreation Professional Exam visit the National Recreation and Parks Association web site
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Do I need to be licensed?
Most Recreation Administration jobs do not require special licensure.
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Is there an internship or field experience required, and if so, how many hours?
Yes! The internship (a practical work experience) at an approved site with an expert supervisor, is the culmination of study.  Students learn to perform various managerial tasks and administrative skills as well as make valuable contacts for future employment. All internship sites are selected by both the student and their advisor so as to provide the student with an experience that reflects their professional ambition. Internships last 400 hours (ten 40 hour weeks). 
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How long will it take to complete the program?
The Recreation Administration degree requires 125 credit hours, at 15-16 credits per semester students can complete the course work within four years.
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Is there any kind of career placement in the Dept. of Physical Education and Recreation?
Faculty of the department are committed to working one on one with students in their junior and
senior years to help them identify and contact potential employers. North Carolina Central          Univeristy also has a career placement and counseling service available at no cost to students.

Employment of recreation administration personnel is expected to grow  about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005 because of a growing number of people with an abundance of leisure time and the resources of purchase associated services: increased interest in fitness and health: and rising demand for recreational opportunities for older adults in senior centers and retirement communities.
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What types of classes are required?

All NCCU students are required to take the following 41 credit hours of CFAS courses:
 

CFAS 1110	English Composition I
CFAS 1120	English Composition II
CFAS 1130	Elements of Speech
CFAS 11X0*	Foreign Language I
CFAS 11X1*	Foreign Language II
CFAS 1220	A Science Odyssey
CFAS 1230	Proficiency in Math
CFAS 1310	Society, Behavior, and Spacial Organization
CFAS 1320	World Societies
CFAS 1410	Arts & Humanities I
CFAS 1420	Arts & Humanities II
CFAS 1521	Dimensions of Learning
CFAS 1531	Health
CFAS 1541	Wellness

*CFAS Foreign Language: 
Student must take a total of 6 cr hrs of a foreign language from the following choices:
CFAS 1140/41 Elementary French I & II
CFAS 1150/51 Elementary Spanish I & II
CFAS 1160/61 Elementary German I & II
CFAS 1170/71 Elementary Japanese I & II

All Recreation Majors must take the Recreation Core Curriculum - Total 45 credit hours

PEDU 1100	Elementary Swimming
RECR 1000	Introduction to Recreation
RECR 2120	Recreation Leadership
RECR 3100	Organization and Administration  of Recreational Sports
RECR 3250	Non-Clinical Application of  Therapeutic Recreation
RECR 3245	Practicum in Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations
PEDU 3500	Emergency Care & Safety Techniques
PEDU 3640	Administration and Management of  Aquatic Programs & Facilities
RECR 4100	Supervision and Management of  Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations
RECR 4150	Recreation and Leisure  Services Programming
RECR 4270	Advanced Concepts in Recreation  and Leisure Studies
RECR 4600	Organization and Administration  Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations
RECR 4610	Finance in Recreation  and Leisure Service Organizations
RECR 4630	Internship in Recreation and Leisure Service Organizations
RECR 4900	Computer Application in  Recreation and Physical Education

Recreation Administration Concentration Courses - Total 39 credit hours

PEDU 1XXX	Physical Education Activity Course
PEDU 1050	Elementary Golf
RECR 3120	Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation
RECR3900	Mgt of Exercise, Sport, & Rec Facilities
PEDU 4030	Psycho-Sociological Aspects of Sport, Play, and Leisure
POLS 2100	Introduction to American Government
PSY 2100	General Psychology
ENG 2200	Introduction to Public Speaking
PSY 3100	Abnormal Psychology
PSY 3310 or EDU 3010	Human Growth and Development
BEDU 3400	Business Communications
	Seven Credit Hours of Approved Electives

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