CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE
Department of Recreation and Tourism Management
RTM 278: Recreation and Leisure in Contemporary Society (3 units)
(GENERAL EDUCATION SECTION E for non RTM majors)
(core requirement for RTM majors)
Description: Pre-requisite: Lower division writing requirement. Co-requisite for RTM majors to
RTM 202 and 204. Investigation of the contributions of play, leisure and recreation to the social,
psychological and economic well being of individuals and groups; incorporating local, regional,
national and international perspectives. Regular written assignments are required.
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the actively involved student will:
1. Understand the unique and interrelated contributions of play, leisure and
recreation to the psychomotor, cognitive, affective, social and spiritual
development of the individual across the life span (8.01, 8.13, 8.18, 8.20);
2. Examine the historic contributions and significance of parks, recreation and
leisure services to the identification, utilization, and preservation of open space,
historic sites, and the natural environment (8.05);
3. Analyze the contributions of parks, recreation, tourism and hospitality industries
to the economic development of communities, regions, and nations (8.03, 8.08);
4. Develop a personal philosophy of leisure participation, stewardship of natural
resources, and advocacy of a balanced lifestyle; including the paid work
environment (8.05, 8.06);
5. Become acquainted with the evolution of the parks, recreation and leisure
services profession as an outgrowth of historical and social movements (8.07,
8.09);
6. Recognize the presence and expression of parks, recreation and leisure services
as personal and community resources in the for-profit, government/public, and
non profit sectors (8.08);
7. Review the early history and philosophy of play, recreation and leisure (8.07);
8. Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of recreation, play, and leisure,
the motivation and value of participants, and trends in the overall field of
organized community services (8.08, 8.15, 8.21);
9. Discuss the dramatic shifts in population makeup, including the balance of
different age groups, restructured family patterns and great ethnic and racial
diversification in many communities (8.02, 8,04, 8.08, 8.19);
10. Understand the impact of sophisticated information technologies on the national
economy and business world and of the varied uses of these technologies to
leisure (8.35, 8.36);
11. Explore the impact of the prosperity of the early 2000s which can lead to a
growing gap between the rich and the poor, and the role of recreation in helping
all individuals pursue quality of life (8.03, 8.08);
12. Discuss such trends as the co-modification and privatization of organized
recreation programs and their impact on leisure opportunity(8.03, 8.08); and
13. Identify innovative partnership approaches which exist among agencies, and the
application of benefits-based-management to current and future leisure services
(8.13,8.29).
Course Content and Organization:
Week 1: Overview and orientation to the course. The role of play leisure and recreation as
avenues for personal expression and well-being; definitions of terms; common leisure activities
across the lifespan. Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 1.
Week 2: Basic Concepts: Philosophical analysis of play, recreation, and leisure. Read and be
prepared to discuss Chapter 2.
Week 3: Early history of play, recreation, and leisure including the 19th Century changes in
America. This includes the beginning of the recreation movement; effects of racial and ethnic
discrimination; emerging new lifestyles; public concerns about the use of leisure; major forces
promoting organized recreation services; role of the schools; impact of the Depression; and a
nation at war. Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 3.
Week 4: Recreation and leisure in the modern era: Expansion of recreation and leisure; counterculture; drives for equality by disadvantaged groups; era of austerity and fiscal cutbacks; and
expansion of other recreation programs. Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 4.
Week 5: Personal leisure perspectives; motivations, values; age groups, and demographic factors.
Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 5.
Week 6: Gender and racial/ethnic factors affecting leisure; male and female issues;
homosexuality; progress in the new millennium. Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 6.
Week 7: Social functions of community recreation (benefits): Life enrichment, improving
intergenerational and inter-group relations, special populations, culture, health and safety.
Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 7.
Week 8: MID-SEMESTER PARTICIPATORY REVIEW
Review chapters 1-7 and be prepared to participate in assignments that will require you to reflect
on and integrate the content of those chapters.
Week 9: The leisure service system: Government, non-profit, and commercial recreation
agencies. Parks in the United States and Canada. Differences and similarities among agencies
Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 8.
Week 10: Specialized leisure service areas: Therapeutic recreation service, armed forces
recreation, campus recreation, and private-membership recreation organizations.
Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 9.
Week 11: Major leisure service components: Sports, tourism, competition, religious
implication, historical evolution, moral value, abuses, travel, theme parks, cruse ships, and
marketing.
Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 10.
Week 12: Career opportunities and professionalism: Social value, public relations, professional
preparation, culture, ethics and accreditation. Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 11.
Week 13: Philosophy of recreation and leisure: Future perspectives, guiding leisure
service delivery today; future challenges.
Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 12.
Week 14: Putting a face on Recreation, play and leisure today; Magazines,
newspaper articles, internet, movies, television, and other.
Week 15: Review and catch-up.
Week 16: FINAL PARTICIPATORY CULMINATION
Review all chapters and be prepared to participate in assignments that will require you to reflect
on and integrate the content of the course.
EXAMINATION PERIOD AS SCHEDULED BY THE UNIVERSITY
Required Course Text
Kraus, R. (2009). Recreation and leisure in modern society. Sudbury, Massachusetts:
Jones and Bartlett.
Leisure Education Booklet at ASAP Printing.
Recommended Reading
Driver, B., Brown, P.J., & Peterson, G.L. (1991). The benefits of leisure. State
College, PA: Venture.
Learning Experiences
Individual and Group Activities - Students will participate in a variety of individual and group
activities. These activities will be in-class and out of class. Requisite skills include openmindedness, basic word processing, oral presentation, writing, discussion, listening, library and
field research, simple computation and working knowledge of APA Publication Manual (5th
edition). Class experiences will be primarily interactive group process activities.
New Outdoor Recreation Experience - Each student will identify, research, participate in, and
evaluate an outdoor recreation experience which they have never done before. The formal
college paper will discuss the identification, research, and participative experience as well as
evaluate the total experience. Due 4th week - 9/18.
Leisure Self Inventory - Each student will purchase and complete every exercise in the Leisure
Self Inventory Packet. The student will then complete a formal college paper using APA format
to reflect upon a minimum of 10 new things they learned about themselves in the process of
completing the exercises. The paper should be a minimum of 5 pages. Due 10th week -10/30.
Creative Oral and Written Presentation of Specialized Area of Recreation (8.09,
8.41) - Each student will find a professional who is employed in the student's area of interest.
The student will interview on site or job shadow this professional after making the appropriate
arrangements. The student should make arrangements to tour the facility. The written and oral
reflective presentations will be considered a formal college paper. The paper and presentation
should Include the following information: Name and address of the agency in which the
professional is employed, philosophy/purpose of the agency, the professional's job title and
specific duties, types of populations served, results of the tour of the facility, types of paperwork
required of the professional, types of meetings the professional must attend, the best thing about
the job, the worst thing about the job, and any other pertinent information. The student is
expected to phone the professional in advance and set up an appointment. The student is
expected to dress appropriately for this visit. Due 14th week -11/25.
Advocacy Projects (Optional for B and A course grades)
B Grade: Write a "Letter to the Editor"
Select an area of leisure and recreation to research and develop a strong position. Write a
persuasive argument regarding your position in the format of a "Letter to the Editor" (NOTE: It
is your option whether or not you wish to submit the letter to a periodical.). The letter will be
distributed to the class and the class will discuss your letter with you.
A Grade: Active Advocacy with a Legislator
Continue to develop your position from the "Letter to the Editor" and draw out the legislative
and policy implications. Prepare an informational packet of materials on the issue, including
"talking points" to be used in meeting with a legislator. Role play a meeting with a legislator
with the professor during a class session and then schedule an appointment with a legislator or
legislative aide to present your issue.
Evaluation and Grading
Grading is based on an individual contract between the student and the professor. The signed
contract is due by the end of the third week of classes September 11. Please see final page for
grade requirements and contract form.
Responsibilities of the Student
The professor is available as a resource. The student is encouraged to seek guidance and
assistance and initiate requests for individual appointments. It is the student's responsibility to do
the following: show up, be involved, meet deadlines, show respect.