Health, Recreation & Community Services
A commitment to engage, serve and lead
Enhancing people’s lives. Building community. Improving quality of life. The Department of Health, Recreation and Community Services' dedication to learning, career development and professional growth brings a focus to each of those goals.
As a student of recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership, you’ll be part of extending education to the outdoors and across your communities. A wide range of careers awaits. Contribute to healthy lifestyles through programming in summer camps, parks, local agencies, sports and health centers. Support your community and visitors through various civic, social and charitable organizations. Specialize in outdoor education and leadership.
Whether an undergraduate or graduate student, you’ll have access to engaged faculty, premier facilities and experiential learning opportunities.
We share with our students our commitment to serve and engage others. Join us on this journey and discover how you, too, can make a positive impact on the world.
NOTE: As of July 1, public health and athletic training-related programs transitioned to new departments in the new School of Health and Human Sciences in the College of Social and Behavioral Health.
Undergraduate Programs
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.
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.