Health, Recreation & Community Services
A commitment to engage, serve and lead
Health, Recreation and Community Services (HRCS) covers a wide range of disciplines. Athletic training. Outdoor recreation. Public health. Tourism. Nonprofit leadership — and more.
Together, these diverse disciplines reflect a shared focus on health and human services and how they empower quality of life. These programs help shape your future success as part of a team, an organization and a community. All are built on the foundation of premier faculty, facilities and experiential learning that you can count on from HRCS.
We encourage, support and model a commitment to engage and serve. And welcome you to join us.
Undergraduate Programs
Just the beginning
For many of our students, the athletic training and rehabilitation studies degree is the first step toward becoming an athletic trainer. Interested in something else, like physical or occupational therapy? This pre-health degree can support those dreams as well.
From classes in gross anatomy to field experiences in clinical and athletic settings — including UNI’s own Human Performance Center and shared clinical and athletic training facilities — you’ll gain the knowledge you need to become the health professional you choose.
A program with purpose
Talk about variety. With a public health major, your focus could be local or global; a neighborhood or a corporation; a community or healthcare setting. Or a village halfway around the world.
Public health is a profession where you make a difference. Two emphases and an assortment of certificate options let you find your purpose in a combination that fits you. Supported by faculty committed to education and experiences that will shape your future.
Healthy lives, healthy careers
Being outdoors. Living healthy. Working with others in a meaningful way. A degree in recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership offers a foundation that can turn those varied diverse interests into careers with impact.
Coursework and experiences may guide you toward leading a mission-driven nonprofit, crafting a community tourism plan or working with adult and youth programming, including using recreation as part of therapy. The choices are yours to explore.
Just the beginning
For many of our students, the athletic training and rehabilitation studies degree is the first step toward becoming an athletic trainer. Interested in something else, like physical or occupational therapy? This pre-health degree can support those dreams as well.
From classes in gross anatomy to field experiences in clinical and athletic settings — including UNI’s own Human Performance Center and shared clinical and athletic training facilities — you’ll gain the knowledge you need to become the health professional you choose.
A program with purpose
Talk about variety. With a public health major, your focus could be local or global; a neighborhood or a corporation; a community or healthcare setting. Or a village halfway around the world.
Public health is a profession where you make a difference. Two emphases and an assortment of certificate options let you find your purpose in a combination that fits you. Supported by faculty committed to education and experiences that will shape your future.
Healthy lives, healthy careers
Being outdoors. Living healthy. Working with others in a meaningful way. A degree in recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership offers a foundation that can turn those varied diverse interests into careers with impact.
Coursework and experiences may guide you toward leading a mission-driven nonprofit, crafting a community tourism plan or working with adult and youth programming, including using recreation as part of therapy. The choices are yours to explore.
The RTNL program is a community. We have each other's backs and help support each other. We do not view ourselves as competing but rather as connection and resource.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Preparing to impact lives and communities.
Leadership in Special Initiatives
Health, Recreation & Community Services faculty-led efforts extend the department’s impact across national and even international communities. This includes:
- National Program for Playground Safety, a Center of Excellence within the College of Education led by Heather Olsen. This program advises national and international clients based on its research and understanding of safe environments for play.