Leisure and recreational activities programs are generally administered under the trades or vocations departments of colleges and universities. Leisure and recreational activities programs prepare students to help others achieve high levels of fitness or to coordinate recreational programs for people of different ages.
Leisure and recreational activities degrees teach students the knowledge required to succeed in different careers associated with recreation and fitness. The curriculum may vary depending on the institution administering the program, but many of the classes remain the same. Some of the courses taught in a leisure and recreational activities degree program include:
Leisure and recreational activities degrees are available at all levels of the educational spectrum. The amount of schooling a student undertakes mainly depends on their career goals. Degrees in leisure and recreational activities are available at the Certificate, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate degree level.
The Certificate program requires a one-year commitment while the Associate's degree requires two years to finish. A Bachelor's degree in leisure and recreational activities takes about four years to complete. The Master's degree requires two years on top of the Bachelor's degree to finish and the Doctorate requires three years of study.
A leisure and recreational activities degree teaches students a variety of skills. Many of these skills are specific to the field of leisure and recreational activities, but others are quite useful outside of your career and in your personal life. Some of the skills that a leisure and recreational activities degree teaches are:
Leisure and recreational activities degrees are offered through many different colleges, universities and educational programs. They can be earned at community colleges as Associate's degrees. Higher levels of degrees are generally attained through four-year colleges and universities. Leisure and recreational activities degrees can also be obtained online. An online degree is extremely convenient for students who plan to work while getting an education or desire a flexible schedule for other reasons.
Students who complete a leisure and recreational activities degree program have a number of career options available. Leisure and recreational activities degree graduates can find employment as fitness trainers, recreational therapists, and coaches. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of fitness trainers was $29,210 in May 2008. Recreational therapists earned an annual salary of $38,370 while coaches earned $28,340 on average.