"What Can I Do With A Major In Recreation & Leisure Services Management?"

This question is often asked by prospective students and their parents. The career possibilities for a person with this major are quite numerous because Recreation and Leisure Services Management encompasses a wide variety of leisure-related management services.

• Most people are aware of the leisure management services offered through their local governments (city, township, county) in what we call "municipal recreation." Municipal playgrounds and parks, seasonal sports programs, and special holiday events for families are some of the types of services offered. Majors in our department may pursue a career as a municipal park and recreation director.

Some students and parents are also familiar with leisure services provided through community youth and family agencies such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, YWCA and others. A student in our major may prepare for a rewarding management career in one of these private non-profit agencies.

Students with an interest in the outdoors may pursue several career possibilities related to outdoor recreation, that is, the provision of leisure services in outdoor environments such as camps, parks or nature centers. In such settings the individual may become, for example, a state park manager, a nature center director, a national park ranger or interpreter, a youth camp director, or an environmental education specialist.

Another career employment area in the field of Recreation and Leisure Services Management is commercial recreation. Commercial recreation involves the provision of leisure services and leisure-related products to the public for the purpose of making a profit. Employment possibilities are available at areas such as resorts, ski areas, health and fitness clubs, theme parks, and cruise lines.  Additional opportunities exist within the area of travel and tourism with convention centers, airlines, and tourism promotion agencies.

• Career possibilities are available as an employee recreation director. Employee recreation involves providing recreational activities and services for the employees of a corporation.
• Career opportunities also exist within the area of therapeutic recreation. Recreation therapists work in a variety of settings such as rehabilitation, pediatric, and psychiatric hospitals; residential facilities; long-term care facilities; or community programs. In this specialty area, recreation is used to assist a person with a disability to improve his/her level of functioning and quality of life.

Below is a sample of positions held by graduates of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Services Management:

• Youth Activities Director, Carnival Cruise Lines
• General Manager, Yachtsman Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC
• Ski School Director, Shawnee Ski Area, PA
• Cruise Director, Clipper Cruise Lines, St. Louis, MO.
• Assistant International Advertising Manager, Toys R Us Corporate Headquarters, Rochelle Park, New Jersey.
• Recreation Coordinator, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
• Outdoor Adventure Leader, San Francisco, CA.
• Executive Director of the Eastern Tennis Association, U.S. Tennis Association
• Event Manager, Atlantic City Convention Center
• Management Trainee, Marriott Corporation, Harrisburg, PA.
• Sales and Marketing, American Airlines, Philadelphia, PA
• Director of Recreation Therapy, Ashbrook Nursing Home, Scotch Plains, NJ.
• Merchandiser, Foot-Locker Corporation, New York, NY.
• Sport Club Manager, Hamlton Park Conference Center, Florham Park, NJ.
• General Manager & Regional Director, Outdoor World Resort, Lancaster, PA
• Park Ranger, Everglades National Park, Florida
• Management Trainee, Shipyard Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, SC.
• Recreation Therapist, Good Shephard Rehabilitation Center, Allentown, PA.
• Recreation Director, Marriott's Marco Island Resort, FL.
• Activities Coordinator, Employee Services and Recreation Dept., Martin-Marietta Astronautics Group, Lakewood, CO.
• Operations Supervisor, Hershey Park, Hershey, PA.
• Social Sales Manager, Hamilton Park Conference Center, Florham Park, NJ.
• Clinical Director, Horsham Clinic, Horsham, PA.
• Director of Ticketing, Somerset Patriots, Somerville, NJ.
• Park Manager, Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville, PA.
• Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator, Southampton Estates, Southampton, PA.
• Asst. Professor of Recreation, Parks & Tourism, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
• Conference Group Recreation Manager, South Seas Plantation, Captive Island, FL.
• Park and Recreation Director, Plymouth Township, Norristown, PA.
• Marketing and Special Events Coordinator, Sunday River Ski Area, ME.
• Park Ranger, Channel Islands National Recreation Area, CA.
• Interpretive Park Ranger, Lowell Historical Park, Lowell, MA
• Naturalist, Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg, PA
• Assistant Manager, Discovery Zone, Allentown, PA.
• Recreation Director, Hershey Hotel, Hershey, PA
• Director of Activities, Nursing Home, Mechanicsburg, PA
• Recreation Program Coordinator, Blue Mountain Recreation Commission, Orwigsburg, PA
• Recreation Director, Lumberton Township, NJ
• Community Manager, Big Bass Lake Community, Tobyhanna, PA
• Assistant Parks and Recreation Superintendent, Freehold Township, NJ
• Park and Recreation Director, City of York, York, PA
• Sales Manager, Doubletree Resort, Goat Island, RI.
• Recreation Director, Treasure Island Inn, Daytona Beach, FL.
• Assistant Operations Manager, Paramount's Carowinds Theme Park, Charlotte, NC.
• Vice President, Sales, Florida Travel Network, St. Petersburg, FL.
• Activities Coordinator, Employee Services & Recreation Dept., Martin-Marietta Astronautics Group, Lakewood, CO.

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Contact:

Department Chair
Recreation & Leisure Services Management Department
231 DeNike Building
East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 422-3305

Email the Department Chair, Dr. S. Elaine Rogers, at erogers@po-box.esu.edu

Click here for a campus map and guide

Or write or call:

Director of Admissions
215 Normal Street
East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 422-3542

Email the Admissions Office for More Information

Use the Electronic Admission Submission Form available on line

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Page Designed & Created by Dr. John Confer '86

Last Updated: 01/10/2007