What Can I Do With a Major in... Leisure Studies

A bachelor's degree in Leisure Studies with specialization in therapeutic recreation qualifies the student to sit for the National Therapeutic Recreation Certification examination.

Recreational therapists work in both clinical and community-based settings with a wide variety of populations. The most frequent groups that therapeutic recreation professionals work with are: persons with mental illness, spinal cord and brain injuries, frail older adults, substance abuse and youth at risk, and persons with developmental disabilities.  Clinical settings tend to focus on rehabilitation, where the therapist works with a team of allied health professionals, or long-term care, where the therapist provides services that enhance quality of life of residents in nursing homes, assisted living centers, or respite care agencies. Community-based therapeutic recreation is the fastest growing area of practice and the most varied. Community-based recreational therapists may be affiliated with community recreation departments, school systems, semi-independent living situations, special park districts, and community mental health agencies. The goals of therapeutic recreation in community-based settings tend toward enhancing quality of life, health promotion, and integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities in regular recreation programs.
General Career Information
 
Sample Job Titles

Entry Level

  • Camp Personnel
  • Fitness Specialist
  • Recreation Programmer

Education + Experience

  • Park Ranger
  • Recreation Leader
  • Recreation Specialist
  • Superintendent

 

Show All Job Titles

These job titles are not an exhaustive list, but rather, represent the types of positions most widely recruited for.

  • Activities Director
  • Adventure Travel - Coordinator, Guide
  • Camp Director
  • Camp Personnel
  • Cruise Ship Activity Director
  • Director of Parks and Recreation
  • Events Planner
  • Facility Manager
  • Fitness Specialist
  • Flight Attendant
  • Leisure Time Specialist
  • Military Recreation
  • Nature Interpreter
  • Outdoor Education Specialist
  • Outdoor Specialist
  • Park Attendant
  • Park Ranger
  • Professor
  • Recreation Leader
  • Recreation Programmer
  • Recreation Specialist
  • Resort Manager
  • Social Worker
  • Superintendent
  • Teacher
  • Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
  • Tour Guide
  • Wildlife Specialist
  • Youth Worker
 
Employment Areas
  • Academia
  • Government
  • Private Corporations
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Publicly Traded Corporations
 
Job and Internship Listings
Professional Organizations

 

 
Organizations That Have Hired UI Students and Alumni
  • NAVY Morale Welfare and Recreation Internship Program
  • Reach for Your Potential
  • The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  • Two Rivers Soccer Camp
  • Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

This is only a partial list - to view a complete list of organizations that recruit UI students and alumni, please visit: www.careers.uiowa.edu/students/uirecruit.html

 
Additional Resources
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