Undergraduate Course Catalog 2012-2013

College of Health and Human Services

» http://www.chhs.unh.edu/

Recreation Management and Policy (RMP)

Chairperson: Janet R. Sable
Professor: Janet R. Sable
Associate Professor: Ann L. Morgan
Assistant Professor: Patricia J. Craig, Chris Harrist, Charles Boyd Hegarty, Nate Trauntvein, Allison Wilder
Affiliate Assistant Professor: James Hilton, Cari A. Moorhead
Clinical Assistant Professor: Jill Gravink
Clinical Instructor: 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 public health and wellness, promote sustainable environments, 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 in a broad range of settings, such as 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 Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). 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 an option in program administration, which includes the professional core and required courses related to program administration, or a specialized option in therapeutic recreation, which includes the professional core and required courses in therapeutic recreation. Candidates for a degree in recreation management and policy must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major option.

Study Abroad Opportunities
The University of New Hampshire Approved Study Abroad Program list is available on the Center for International Education website: http://www.unh.edu/cie/studyabroad/programs_approved.html. This site includes a wide variety of destinations, coursework, and activities to meet the diverse needs of UNH students. Students who wish to attend a program not included in the approved list must compete a UNH One-time Study Abroad Approval Petition. Interested students in the major should consult with their Recreation Management and Policy academic advisor about sites, timing, and coursework that may be most compatible with degree requirements.

Core Requirements

All majors must complete a core curriculum of seven courses.

Core Curriculum

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
RMP	490*	Recreation and Leisure in Society	4
RMP	501	Recreation Services for Individuals with Disabilities	4
RMP	557	Recreation Services Program Design and Planning	4
RMP	563	Recreation Management and Policy Practicum	2
RMP	654	Professional Development and Ethics	2
RMP	664	Professional Internship	14-16
RMP	724	Grantsmanship, Evaluation, and Research	4

*RMP majors cannot count RMP 490 toward the University social sciences requirement.

Professional Internship

A supervised internship (RMP 664) is required of all majors and serves as their major capstone requirement. 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 14-16 week full-time internship under the supervision of a qualified professional. 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, public, 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 event planning, municipal park and recreation services, recreational sports, commercial and entrepreneurial recreation businesses, youth serving agencies, resorts, camps, 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:

Program Administration Option Requirements

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
RMP	558	Program Supervision and Leadership	4
RMP	663	Management and Policy in Leisure Services	4
RMP	665	Applied Marketing and Communication in Recreation Services	4
RMP	770	Managment and Design of Recreation and Park Facilities	4
RMP	772	Law and Public Policy in Recreation Services	4
CS	401	Computer Applications or an approved equivalent	4
SOC	502	Statistics or other descriptive statistics	4
PSYCH	401	Introduction to Psychology	4
FS	525	Human Development or SW 500	4

Two RMP course electives selected from a rotating list of specialized RMP course offerings are required. Examples of elective course topics include: recreational sport management, youth culture and programs, festival and event management, camp administration and leadership, recreation resource management, multicultural perspectives and leisure, youth development. RMP courses taken to fulfill the elective course requirement may not also be used to fulfill the emphasis area requirement unless prior approval from the student's academic advisor is obtained in unique circumstances.

Program administration students must complete a minor or emphasis area of 18–20 credits to support their specific career goals. (RMP majors specializing in natural resources recreation or parks can count RMP 511 toward their major or a Discovery requirement, not both.)

Therapeutic Recreation Option

Therapeutic recreation utilizes recreation to assist 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 14-16-week full-time clinical internship under the supervision of a certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS). The Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational outlook reports the "employment of recreational therapists is expected to increase 15 percent from 2008 to 2018, faster than the average for all occupations" (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A 2011 CNN Money report identifies recreation therapy among the top ten "best jobs for saving the world." In particular, they note the profession's high benefit to society and high personal job satisfaction (CNN Money Magazine).

Upon successful completion of this option, students are prepared to meet sitting requirements for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification Examination and are eligible for licensure in the state of New Hampshire.

In addition to required core courses, students who choose this option must meet the following departmental requirements:

Therapeutic Recreation Option Requirements

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
RMP	502	Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation	4
RMP	503	Therapeutic Recreation Rehabilitation Principles and Interventions	4
RMP	504	Therapeutic Recreation Mental Health Principles and Interventions	4
RMP	612	Therapeutic Communication and Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation	4
RMP	613	Interventions and Documentation in Therapeutic Recreation	3
RMP	614	Assessment and Treatment Planning in Therapeutic Recreation	4
RMP	615	Clinical Lab in Therapeutic Recreation	2
RMP	705	Management and Policy in Therapeutic Recreation	4

Required Support Courses

Abbreviation	Course Number	Title	Credits
CS	401	Computer Applications or an approved equivalent	4
HHS	540	Statistics or equivalent	4
PSYCH	401	Introduction to Psychology	4
PSYCH	561	Abnormal Behavior	4
FS	525	Human Development	4
BMS	507-508	Human Anatomy and Physiology	8
KIN	652	Clinical Kinesiology	4
KIN	653A	Musculoskeletal Assessment	2

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 academic year. Students within the major are required to maintain a minimum 2.5 grade-point average every semester to retain good academic standing within the major. In addition, student majors must obtain a grade of C (2.0) 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, RMP 565, and FS 525. Therapeutic Recreation students will select two courses from the following: FS 623, FS 635, FS 641, FS 709, FS 734, and FS 772. Students will complete an internship that will entail a minimum of 480 hours of experience and be supervised by a certified Child Life Specialist.

Adolescent and Youth Development Minor

This interdisciplinary minor is offered by the Department of Recreation Management and Policy and the Department of Family Studies. All students must complete two required courses: RMP 668 and FS 624. Students then select three additional courses from an interdisciplinary list of courses approved for the minor. RMP majors may use only RMP 668 to meet both major and minor requirements. Additional information and the application for the minor may be obtained from the sponsoring department offices or at Adolescent and Youth Development Minor.