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 brings a focus to these goals through dedication to learning, career development, and professional growth. 

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. Specialize in outdoor education and leadership. Support your community and visitors through various civic, social, and charitable organizations.

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. 

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 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. The choices are yours to explore.

Recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership

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 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. The choices are yours to explore.

Recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership

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.

Megan Beaman
Class of 2023

STUDENT SUCCESS

Preparing to impact lives and communities

national program for playground safety

Community Impact

The Department of Health, Recreation & Community Services has an impact across local, national and international communities:

  • The UNI Office of Community Engagement, directed by Julianne Gassman, professor of recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership, connects faculty and students with community projects and volunteer opportunities.
  • National Program for Playground Safety, a Center of Excellence within the College of Education, advises national and international clients based on its understanding of safe environments for play.