Recreation Management (REC) - Courses

+REC 150 Cr.3

Leisure, Quality of Life, and Well Being

This course will focus on the knowledge and skills necessary for integrating the major elements of well-being (physical, emotional, spiritual, environmental, intellectual, social, and occupational) through the lens of a leisure perspective into a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle throughout one's lifespan. Course content will include theories and methods related to leisure as the foundation for enhancing overall wellness, building coping strategies, and negotiating a balanced, fulfilling life. Additionally, this course will explore philosophical and historical aspects of leisure and recreation. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

REC 201 Cr.3

Introduction to Outdoor Skills & Leadership

In this course, students gain knowledge about the history and philosophy of outdoor leadership. The foundational elements related to outdoor recreation leadership is explored through learning technical skills and facilitation techniques. Students also learn about the interrelationship between leisure behavior and the natural environment; administrative functions such as staffing, risk management, and transportation; and trip planning for outdoor settings. Prerequisite: REC 150. Offered Fall - Even Numbered Years.

REC 204 Cr.3

Introduction to Outdoor Education

This course introduces students to the regional ecology and engages them with specific ecological niches, e.g. wetland, forest, prairie and riverine, which frequently serve as outdoor recreation contexts. Students learn about regional native and non-native plants, fauna, and associated natural history while developing ecological observational and recording skills for the purpose of applying this information to outdoor recreation and education programming. Offered Fall - Odd Numbered Years.

REC 215 Cr.3

Introduction to Community Recreation

This course provides an overview of community-based recreation including municipal and non-profit recreation agencies. The course will focus on the histories, functions, and unique roles recreation holds for diverse communities. Offered Spring.

REC 301 Cr.3

Introduction to Recreation Programming and Event Management

This course provides practical knowledge and experiences on the essential elements and design concepts of recreation programming and event planning. Emphasis is placed on student involvement in planning, directing, and evaluating programs that enhance well-being for diverse populations in a variety of physical settings. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 304 Cr.3

Maintenance of Recreation Facilities

An introduction to the maintenance of recreation facilities, parks, and outdoor recreation areas. Offered Occasionally.

REC 305 Cr.2

Operation and Management of Swimming Pools and Spas

This course explores the efficient operation and management of swimming pools, spas, and other aquatic facilities, including the promotion of attractive aquatic programs. Prerequisite: junior standing; REC major/minor or ESS-sport management major. Offered Occasionally.

REC 306 Cr.3

NatureRx: Environmental Ethics and Behaviors in Recreation and Tourism

This course provides an overview of the natural resources used for outdoor recreational pursuits and nature-based tourism. Students analyze leisure, recreation, and tourism activities dependent on natural resources, present issues associated with recreational land use, and develop environmental awareness and a personal environmental ethic. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 310 Cr.3

Youth Development in the Recreation Profession

This course provides an overview of the theories and processes that form the foundation for youth services in the field of recreation in the United States. The course explores the history of youth development with an acute focus on the theories and practices necessary for implementing strategic and effective youth development recreation programs. Offered Fall.

REC 317 Cr.3

Experiential Facilitation in Recreation

This course provides students with an overview of techniques necessary for effective facilitation of recreation and leisure experiences. Students learn and apply techniques related to program leadership, understanding and managing group dynamics, and processing and debriefing experiences. Prerequisite: REC 301 or concurrent enrollment. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 320 Cr.3

Introduction to Tourism

This course provides an introduction to tourism through the examination of tourism as a system of interconnected parts. The topics include the history of tourism, destination mix, tourist motivation and behavior, destination marketing, and destination management. It explores the role of natural and built environments in creating tourism, economic implications for travelers and local communities, and social and cultural connections. Students gain an understanding of event and non-event based tourism. Offered Spring.

REC 325 Cr.3

Leisure in a Diverse Society

This course explores the increasingly diversified nature of society and its impact on individuals' experiences of leisure. A focus is placed on the experiences of members of minority populations including issues related to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, social status, age, and disability. Students are introduced to factors that influence the experience of leisure and leisure service delivery. Offered Spring.

REC 330 Cr.3

Principles of Recreational Land Management

Students explore the interactions between natural resources and users specific to facilitating outdoor recreation. Students learn to assess natural resources of regional public lands using carrying capacity, limits of acceptable change, or other relevant land management frameworks. Methods for monitoring recreational impacts and approaches to managing resource quality and recreational opportunities are addressed. Offered Spring - Odd Numbered Years.

REC 335 Cr.3

Environmental Interpretation

Based on experiential education and interpretive principles, students learn methods and materials for effectively teaching environmental concepts in schools, communities, nature centers, camps, and parks. Students also explore history, theory, philosophy, and goals of environmental interpretation programs. Offered Spring - Even Numbered Years.

REC 340 Cr.3

Evaluation Methods and Practices

This course is designed to provide students with foundational skills necessary to evaluate existing recreation, tourism, and leisure research. Students develop relevant and appropriate evaluations of such services and apply these techniques in practice. Students are exposed to both qualitative and quantitative evaluation approaches. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 345 Cr.3

Ecotourism

Students will examine theories, policies and practices specific to nature-based tourism. We will consider both the tourist and host community perspectives as we explore opportunities and constraints related to ecotourism development including social, environmental and economic outcomes. Offered Occasionally.

REC 350 Cr.3

Experience Design, Promotion, and Communication

This course introduces students to the experience design process. A focus of the course is placed on how to promote services offered to both customers and supporting stakeholders with the overall experience in mind. Students learn how to create engaging content and enhance communication during all phases of an experience. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 351 Cr.3

Civic Engagement in the Recreation Profession

Recreation professionals need to be leaders in their communities and advocates for quality recreation and leisure. This course explores the recreation profession's role in civic engagement and identifies ways the general citizenry can be brought into public discussion on issues about recreation programs and facilities. Prerequisite: REC 340; REC major/minor; junior standing. Offered Occasionally.

REC 360/505 Cr.3

Sustainable Tourism

This course explores the role of sustainability in tourism. Students learn about tourism planning and development from a sustainability perspective. The course covers factors that influence tourism sustainability and strategies tourism organizations can utilize to become more sustainable. The course content is covered in one of a variety of contexts, including a broad focus on sustainable tourism, through a focus on Wisconsin freshwater-based sustainable tourism, or in an international setting. Offered Spring.

REC 375 Cr.1-3

Workshop in Recreation Management

This is a group study of various recreation, leisure, or tourism topics. University professors and/or visiting lecturers will conduct the workshops. Repeatable for credit under different subtitles. Repeatable for credit - maximum 6. May require field trip. Prerequisite: REC or RTH major/minor. No student may earn more than six credits in REC 375, RTH 490, REC 491, and RTH 491. Offered Occasionally.

REC 390 Cr.3

Principles of Management in Recreation

Study of theories and techniques in leadership, group dynamics, and personnel management as they relate to programming and staff supervision in recreation agencies. Emphasis on personnel management techniques, including job analysis, recruitment, selection training, motivation, career development, and evaluation of paid staff and volunteers. Course includes issues common to full-time entry-level professional positions in recreation. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 400/500 Cr.3

Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Facility Planning

This course is designed to equip the student with the basic knowledge necessary to understand and implement the planning process in the development of parks, recreation, and tourism facilities. Students learn about federal, state and local statutes, and other related documents. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: REC major/minor; junior standing. Offered Fall.

REC 402/502 Cr.3

Risk Management in Leisure Service Organizations

This course identifies the primary components of risk management and detail legal aspects of tort liability, waivers, and indemnification agreements in leisure service organizations. The course equips students with basic knowledge and skills necessary to appropriately manage legal liability and risk exposure associated within various professional leisure and recreation contexts. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 404/504 Cr.3

Budgeting in Recreation Services

Emphasis is placed on budget development, implementation and management decision-making within the recreation and park enterprise. This course introduces students to various contextual operational budgets within governmental and non-profit enterprises. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: REC major/minor; junior standing. Offered Fall.

REC 415/515 Cr.3

Camp Administration

This course provides an overview of the history of the camping movement and its evolution over time. In addition, the course provides foundational knowledge necessary to successfully operate a camp facility including administration, day-to-day operations, staffing, camp counseling, and program activities. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Spring.

REC 420/520 Cr.3

Revenue Management in Recreation, Tourism, and Events

This course covers prices and pricing from both managerial and behavioral perspectives in recreation, tourism and event settings. While the managerial aspects of pricing include pricing policy/strategy and revenue management (defined as selling perishable service products to the right customer at the right time for the right price), the behavioral aspects include the psychology of pricing, price fairness, price perceptions, and willingness-to-pay for activities and experiences. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall.

REC 440 Cr.1

Professional Wellness in Contemporary Leisure Services

A reflective practice and an ethic of care toward self and others is essential for recreation professionals to meet the diverse demands of contemporary leisure services effectively and successfully. This course allows students to explore personal and professional well-being, self-care, and reflective practice as they prepare to complete their program of study and begin their professional career. The course focuses on well-being and self-care from a variety of perspectives, and activities and practices in which students can develop reflective skills necessary for meaningful engagement with contemporary professional concerns while reducing stress and enhancing both short- and long-term well-being. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 445/545 Cr.3

Advanced Event Planning and Management

This course advances students' understanding of the event planning and management profession. The course is intended to expose students to planning and management aspects in the areas of meetings, conventions, and other special events, while gaining an understanding of how special events impact tourism. Students further develop the professional skills necessary to plan, manage, and evaluate the success of a meeting, convention, or large-scale special event. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students have additional course requirements/expectations. Prerequisite: REC 301 or RTH 456; junior standing. Offered Fall.

REC 449 Cr.1

Internship/Professional Preparation

In-depth coverage of the requirements for REC 450 internship and preparation of students for a smooth transition to the recreation management profession. Prerequisite: REC major; senior standing; and completion or concurrent enrollment in all remaining 300 and 400 level REC required courses except for REC 450. Consent of instructor. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 450 Cr.12-16

Internship

Internship with a university approved recreation business or agency. An on-site practitioner and university faculty supervisor closely supervise the student's progress. The student experiences a smooth transition from university academics to the recreation management profession. Approved sites include public sector (e.g., parks and recreation agencies, public schools and universities); non-profit/private sector (e.g., voluntary and youth agencies, church organizations); and for-profit sector (e.g., fitness/sport centers, hospitality, tourism, and retail businesses). Prerequisite: REC 449; REC major; senior standing; 2.50 cum UWL GPA; all required REC courses completed. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

REC 481 Cr.1-3

Outdoor Pursuits

This course provides skill development and leadership techniques in outdoor recreation activities commonly associated with wilderness and roadless areas. Emphasis on backcountry ethics and safety will be stressed. A field trip will be required. Examples: backpacking, canoeing, bicycling, rock climbing, fishing, camping, and/or cross country skiing. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Occasionally.

REC 491/591 Cr.1-3

Workshops in Recreation and Parks

Group study of varying recreation and parks topics. University professors as well as visiting lecturers will be invited to address the students and conduct specialized phases of the workshops. This course is taught largely at an undergraduate level. Graduate students will have additional course requirements/expectations. Repeatable for credit under different topics. Prerequisite: junior standing; REC or RTH major/minor. No student may earn more than six credits in REC 375, RTH 490, REC 491, and RTH 491. Offered Occasionally.

REC 495 Cr.1-3

Independent Study in Recreation

Individualized study of areas not available in existing courses. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: junior standing; REC or RTH major/minor. Consent of instructor. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 497 Cr.1-3

Special Projects in Recreation Management

Individualized study of areas not available in existing courses or independent study. Program Project: planning, implementation and evaluation of a project. These projects will be completed under the supervision and direction of a staff member with permission from the student's advisor within the department. Examples include Camp Placement Day, Riverfest, and Oktoberfest events. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: RTH 493; junior standing; REC or RTH major/minor. Consent of student's advisor. Consent of department. Offered Fall, Spring.

REC 499 Cr.1-3

Seminar in Recreation

Intensive study of some specific area of interest in recreation. Repeatable for credit - maximum 3. Prerequisite: minimum 2.75 GPA; senior standing; REC or RTH major/minor. Offered Occasionally.