Undergraduate Programs: CMU RPL

CMU offers the first professionally accredited major in the field of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Service Administration in the State of Michigan.
Our Department's national accreditation has been received under the auspices of the National Council on Accreditation (by the National Recreation and Park Association and the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation respectively).

We offer four concentration areas for RPL Majors:

Commercial Recreation & Facility Management		Outdoor & Environmental Recreation
To prepare those working in the tourism industry and other commercial ventures (theme and amusement parks, entertainment and sports venues, resorts, multi-purpose recreation centers)		To prepare those seeking employment in camp administration, nature interpretation, and county, state, and/or national parks

Community Leisure Services Administration		Therapeutic Recreation
To prepare those seeking a career in a public or quasi-public agency (YMCA, Girl/Boy Scouts, or city/county/township/village parks and recreation departments)		To prepare those desiring a career working with persons of all ages having illness or physical/mental disabilities by utilizing recreation activity as a therapeutic or treatment intervention. Students obtaining degrees in Therapeutic Recreation may be employed within hospitals (rehabilitation, psychiatric, substance abuse), residential facilities, geriatric agencies and/or community recreation and parks departments

Regardless of the concentration selected, students majoring in recreation and leisure services will be required to enroll in a common core of courses that will emphasize the philosophical framework of the profession.
Students will acquire professional competencies to effectively design, organize, implement, manage, administer, and/or evaluate recreational programming assuring it effectively meets the diverse needs of the individuals or community serviced. The department places a strong emphasis on the practical aspects of a student's training by offering an extensive internship program which is completed following the completion of professional coursework. The combination of the professional internship and our curriculum provides the student with the competencies necessary to direct and/or administer leisure services supporting individual, family, and community wellness assuring an enhanced quality of life for all.

We also offer three Minor degrees:

Recreation Minor		Outdoor & Environmental Education Minor
For those with Majors in other departments.		For those with Majors in other departments.

Leadership Minor		Event Management Minor
Interdisciplinary program to educate students for and about leadership and prepare them to acquire leadership positions in their community and profession.		Interdisciplinary program to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful as an event manager in a range of event planning settings.