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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
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Courses |
Leisure StudiesDirector, Division of Interdisciplinary Programs: Lauren RabinovitzCoordinator: Kenneth Mobily Professors: Benjamin K. Hunnicutt (Leisure Studies/Literature, Science, and the Arts), Richard D. MacNeil (Leisure Studies/Aging Studies), Kenneth E. Mobily (Leisure Studies/Integrative Physiology), Michael L. Teague (Leisure Studies/Community and Behavioral Health) Professor emeritus: John A. Nesbitt Adjunct instructors: Wayne Fett, Michael Moran, Emily Mozena Lecturers: David Gould, Kathy Walter Undergraduate degree: B.S. in Leisure Studies Undergraduate nondegree program: Minor in Leisure Studies Graduate degree: M.A. in Leisure Studies Web site: http://www.uiowa.edu/~interdi/leisure/ Leisure plays an important role in all of our lives. The Leisure Studies Program contributes to the education of students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences by providing opportunities to study the phenomenon of leisure. In courses offered by leisure studies, students learn how to use their unobligated--or free--time to enhance the quality of their lives. The program also provides professional preparation for careers in the expanding fields of therapeutic recreation and recreational sport management. The Leisure Studies Program offers courses that students may use to complete the General Education Program, including courses approved in the humanities area and in the social sciences area. The undergraduate and graduate programs offered in leisure studies prepare professionals to work in community, commercial, campus, and therapeutic recreation settings. The populations served by recreation professionals include the general public; students, colleges, and universities; and persons with disabilities or chronic conditions. Undergraduate ProgramThe program offers a Bachelor of Science and a minor in leisure studies.Bachelor of ScienceThe Bachelor of Science in leisure studies requires 53 s.h. in the major. Its emphasis is therapeutic recreation.Therapeutic recreation is a health-oriented field in recreation and leisure services professions. It involves the use of recreation services to improve or maintain the physical, mental, emotional, and/or social functioning of persons with disabilities and/or special needs. Therapeutic recreation also helps individuals pursue meaningful lifestyles. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination in therapeutic recreation. Typically, graduates find employment in clinical or community settings. Comprehensive therapeutic recreation services involve a continuum of care, including treatment that uses activities to remediate or rehabilitate functional disabilities; leisure education that uses instruction to help individuals acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes that facilitate an independent lifestyle and avocational competence; and recreation that uses activities to enhance health, growth, development, and independence through intrinsically rewarding leisure behavior. Populations most commonly served by certified therapeutic recreation specialists include persons with physical, cognitive, emotional, or developmental disabilities, and persons who are incarcerated, chemically dependent, or socially disadvantaged. Therapeutic recreation professionals are commonly employed in settings such as skilled nursing facilities, community recreation departments, state and community mental health institutions, general medical hospitals, physical rehabilitation centers, special recreation districts, correctional facilities, senior citizens' community-based programs, facilities for the mentally delayed, facilities for the emotionally disturbed, and substance-abuse programs. Students interested in leisure studies often begin by taking one of the program's courses approved for the General Education Program. Students can indicate their interest in leisure studies when they are admitted to The University of Iowa or any time after that, but application and admission to the major is required. To be admitted to the therapeutic recreation emphasis, students must complete a minimum of 24 s.h. at The University of Iowa, including the following. All of these:
One of these:
Students must have a g.p.a. of at least 2.50 for all University of Iowa course work and a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 2.50. Transfer students must meet the same requirements (including the same sociology, statistics, anatomy, and psychology courses), except that they must have completed a minimum of 12 s.h. at The University of Iowa. Students who have a University of Iowa or cumulative g.p.a. lower than 2.50 may apply for exceptional admission. For application forms, visit the Leisure Studies Program web site or contact the Division of Interdisciplinary Programs. Applications must be completed and submitted for consideration to the department's therapeutic recreation admissions committee by October 15 for admission the following spring semester or by March 15 for consideration for admission the following fall semester. Once admitted, students should plan on a course of study of about two years. In addition to courses required for admission to the program, students must complete the following course work. Therapeutic Recreation FoundationThese courses are required (22 s.h.).
Therapeutic Recreation ElectivesStudents must complete 18 s.h. of electives chosen from these.
or
InternshipStudents must complete both of these (13 s.h.).
Four-Year Graduation PlanThe Four-Year Graduation Plan is not available for the B.S. in leisure studies. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to develop an individual graduation plan.HonorsThe honors program is designed for superior students. It gives participants some research experience and a perspective on some aspects of graduate study. To be eligible for honors, students must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33. For honors program application forms, contact the Leisure Studies Program.To qualify for a degree with honors in leisure studies, students must successfully complete 169:194 Honors Readings and 169:195 Honors Problems, for which they must complete a reading or research project under the supervision of a leisure studies faculty member and write a paper summarizing the project's results. Honor students also must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 throughout the rest of their degree work. Contact the University of Iowa Honors Program for more information about honors study at Iowa. MinorThe minor in leisure studies requires a minimum of 15 s.h. in leisure studies course work, including 12 s.h. earned in advanced (100-level) courses at The University of Iowa, with a g.p.a. of at least 2.00. Students choose courses according to their interests and the recommendations of the leisure studies coordinator. No courses accepted toward the minor may be taken pass/nonpass.Graduate ProgramThe program offers a Master of Arts in leisure studies. Undergraduate preparation in leisure studies is not required for successful completion of the graduate program; students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. However, students may need to fulfill prerequisites specific to their specialization areas.Master of ArtsThe Master of Arts in leisure studies requires a minimum of 33 s.h. of graduate credit with thesis, or 36 s.h. of graduate credit without thesis. Students choose one of two specialization areas: therapeutic recreation or recreational sport management. All M.A. students must complete a common group of core courses and work in their specialization area.CORE REQUIREMENTSAll M.A. students must take these courses.
Specialization AreasTHERAPEUTIC RECREATIONThe therapeutic recreation emphasis prepares students to meet the challenges of outpatient- and community-based health care service delivery. The program stresses research and business skills that will enable graduates to find the best jobs in the field.Therapeutic recreation specialists are increasingly called upon to deliver preventive outpatient services, such as programs designed to prevent secondary impairments in persons with disabilities (e.g., arthritis exercise to manage pain, fall prevention for older adults); education for individuals with negative lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking, substance abuse); programs designed to restore meaning and purpose to life following traumatic events (e.g., following a spinal cord injury); and initiatives to help communities and businesses make services accessible to persons with disabilities. Iowa's therapeutic recreation program emphasizes business skills and innovation in delivery of services. Economics and Financing (169:252) and classes in entrepreneurship and new business formation prepare students to enter the workforce ready to build therapeutic recreation businesses that are self-supporting or profitable. Students also acquire research skills that they can apply directly to therapeutic recreation practice, for example, to assess the effectiveness of specific interventions or the demand for varied services among older adults in a community. In addition to the M.A. common core requirements (above), therapeutic recreation emphasis students must complete the following.
Nonthesis students also take an additional 6 s.h. of electives; thesis students complete 6 s.h. of 169:398 M.A.: Thesis. Therapeutic recreation students must complete a practicum (169:289 Graduate Practicum in Therapeutic Recreation) to sit for the National Certification Examination. RECREATIONAL SPORT MANAGEMENTThe recreational sport management emphasis prepares students for positions in public and private recreation and sport management. Students typically find employment in community or municipal recreation programs, campus recreation programs, or commercial recreation and sport operations.In addition to the M.A. common core requirements (above), recreational sports management emphasis students must complete the following.
Nonthesis students also take an additional 6 s.h. of electives; thesis students complete 6 s.h. of 169:398 M.A.: Thesis. InternshipsInternships, available in several areas, are strongly recommended for graduate students.Certification ExaminationM.A. students specializing in therapeutic recreation or in recreational sport management are eligible to take professional certification examinations. Consult a graduate advisor for guidance toward professional certification.AssistantshipsThe program offers a limited number of teaching assistantships; applications should be made directly to the leisure studies academic coordinator. Teaching assistants support General Education Program courses offered by the Leisure Studies Program.Courses
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