Undergraduate Course Catalog 2007-2008
College of Health and Human Services
» http://www.shhs.unh.edu/
Recreation Management and Policy (RMP)
» http://www.unh.edu/rmp/index.shtml
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Chairperson: Janet R. Sable
Professor: Lou G. Powell, Janet R. Sable
Associate Professor: Robert J. Barcelona, Ann L. Morgan
Assistant Professor: Heather E. Bowen, Joshua Carroll
Affiliate Assistant Professor: James Hilton
Clinical Assistant Professor: Patricia J. Craig, Jill Gravink
Clinical Instructor: Tom Carr, David Lee
As the fabric of life in contemporary society grows in complexity,
people are increasingly turning to leisure and recreation services to
find meaning, renewal, and enrichment. Recreation services can improve
the public health, develop a sense of community, and enhance the
quality of life of all citizens. Recreation professionals work in
diverse settings including human services, health care, natural
recreation resource areas such as parks, and commercial recreation
businesses. Graduates are employed by community recreation agencies,
resorts, conference centers, youth services agencies, hospitals,
rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities. Population and
economic projections suggest that recreation service industries will
continue to expand and thereby continue to provide numerous
professional career opportunities. The Department of Recreation
Management and Policy is nationally accredited by the National
Recreation and Parks Association/American Association of Leisure and
Recreation. The department’s curriculum supports a broad-based liberal
education and an opportunity to acquire specialized professional
knowledge and skills.
Curriculum Structure
Students entering the major may choose either: 1) program
administration, which includes the professional core and required
courses related to program administration, or 2) a specialized option
in therapeutic recreation, which includes the professional core and
required courses in therapeutic recreation.
International Study in Recreation and Leisure
A semester abroad sponsored by the American Universities International
Program is available to students pursuing a degree in recreation
management and policy. Programs in Scotland, Australia, New Zealand,
South Africa, or Belize provide discipline-related exchange
opportunities. Approval by the curriculum director is required
approximately one year before departure. Eleven transfer credits can be
granted. Other destinations can be negotiated through the Center for
International Education on campus.
Core Courses
All majors must complete a core curriculum of eight courses: RMP 490,
Recreation and Leisure in Society; RMP 501, Recreation Services for
Individuals with Disabilities; RMP 557, Recreation Services Program
Design and Planning; RMP 563, Recreation Management and Policy
Practicum; RMP 654, Professional Development and Ethics; RMP 663,
Management and Policy in Leisure Services; RMP 664 (A or B),
Professional Internship; RMP 724, Grantsmanship, Evaluation, and
Research; and RMP 772, Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services.
A supervised internship (RMP 664) is required of all
majors. The internship is designed to create a bridge between theory
and practical application. Students working with their advisers and the
internship coordinator select an appropriate setting based on their
professional and career interests. They must complete a minimum of 560
hours of supervised field study within fourteen weeks. Specific
requirements are identified in the Internship Manual available from the
Department of Recreation Management and Policy.
Program Administration Option
This option prepares students for managerial positions in commercial,
pubic and nonprofit organizations that provide recreation and leisure
services. Curriculum design emphasizes the effective and efficient
planning, delivery, and evaluation of leisure-based programs, services,
and enterprises. Applied experience is a component of most courses in
addition to a required practicum and the 14–16 week full-time
internship under professional supervision. Depending upon the RMP
electives and the career support emphasis or minor chosen, students may
expect to find employment in a broad range of settings. Recent
graduates have found employment in the areas of conference and meeting
planning, municipal park and recreation services, recreational
sports, commercial/entrepreneurial recreation businesses, youth serving
agencies, resorts, and natural resource management positions in state
and federal agencies.
In addition to the required core courses, students who pursue the
program administration option must complete the following departmental
requirements: RMP 558, Program Supervision and Leadership; RMP 665,
Applied Marketing and Communication in Recreation Services; RMP 770,
Management and Design of Recreation and Park Facilities; two RMP course
electives; CS 401, Computer Applications, or an approved equivalent;
HHS 540 or other descriptive statistics; PSYC 401, Introduction to
Psychology; FS 525, Human Development; or SW 550. Program
administration students must complete a minor or emphasis area of 18–20
credits to support their specific career goals.
Therapeutic Recreation Option
Therapeutic recreation utilizes recreation to help people with
disabilities or illnesses to develop and use their leisure in ways that
enhance health, independence, and well-being. Therapeutic recreation
recognizes the importance of quality of life and uses activities to
remediate or rehabilitate functional abilities. Therapeutic recreation
services are provided in a variety of settings including: hospitals,
long-term care facilities, residential treatment facilities, schools,
home health care, community recreation, correctional facilities,
rehabilitation centers, camp and outdoor education centers, and adult
day programs. Observation and applied experience is a component of
several courses. Students complete a 14- to 16-week full-time clinical
internship under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist (CTRS). Students must purchase personal liability insurance
for coverage for the clinical components of the curriculum. The Bureau
of Labor Statistics reports that therapeutic recreation is one of the
fourteen fastest growing occupations in the country. The occupational
outlook statistics reflect a “39 percent increase in demand for
recreational therapists with strong clinical backgrounds” for the
beginning of the twenty-first century. Upon successful completion of
this option, students are prepared to meet sitting requirements for the
National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification Examination.
In addition to the required core courses, students who choose this
option must complete the following departmental requirements: RMP 502,
Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation; RMP 503, Therapeutic Recreation
Rehabilitation Principles and Interventions; RMP 504, Therapeutic
Recreation Mental Health Principles and Interventions; RMP 603,
Assessment and Treatment Planning in Therapeutic Recreation; RMP 603L,
Clinical Treatment Lab I; RMP 604, Therapeutic Communication and
Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation; RMP 604L, Clinical
Treatment Lab II; CS 401, Computer Applications or approved equivalent;
HHS 540, Statistics, or equivalent; PSYC 401, Introduction to
Psychology; PSYC 561, Abnormal Behavior; FS 525, Human Development;
ZOOL 507-508, Human Anatomy and Physiology; KIN 652, Clinical
Kinesiology, and KIN 653A, Musculoskeletal Assessment.
Criteria for Admission and Retention
Internal transfer students interested in applying to the major must
meet with an RMP faculty member prior to receiving an application for
admission to the major. Transfer applications are accepted throughout
the year, however priority is given to applications received by October
15th for Spring and March 15th for Fall. Applications can be obtained
from the Department of Recreation Management and Policy. Students
within the major are required to maintain a minimum 2.50 semester
grade-point average every semester to retain good academic standing
within the major. In addition, student majors must obtain a grade of C
(2.00) or better in RMP courses and a grade of C- (1.67) or better in
all other courses specifically required by the department.
Child Life Minor
This interdisciplinary minor is offered to a limited number of students
by the therapeutic recreation option in the Department of Recreation
Management and Policy and the Department of Family Studies. Upon
completion of course requirements, students will be able to sit for the
Child Life Specialist exam. All students complete three core courses:
RMP 502, FS 525 and FS 623. Therapeutic Recreation students will select
two courses from the following: FS 635, FS 641, FS 709, FS 734, and FS
772. Students will complete an Internship which will entail a minimum
of 480 hours of experience and be supervised by a certified Child Life
Specialist. Therapeutic recreation majors will be assigned a minor
adviser from family studies.