Recreation and Leisure Studies: Live Well
RCLS educates tomorrow's leaders in parks, recreation, tourism, and recreational therapy as well as provides scholarship and leadership to the region, state, and nation.
FROM: Dr. Deb Jordan, Professor and Chair
Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RCLS)
TO: Graduate Curriculum Committee
DATE: 12 December 2013
RE: MS, Recreation and Park Administration (RPA) Catalog revisions
By way of this memo, the graduate faculty of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RCLS) and the Graduate Faculty of the College of Health and Human Performance have voted on and approved several course and catalog changes related to the Master of Science degree in Recreation and Park
Administration (RPA).
In July 2013, the Master of Science degree in Recreational Therapy Administration (RTA) was discontinued due to concerns related to ongoing ‘low productivity’ in student enrollment and graduation rates within the
UNC specified time periods. Nonetheless, department faculty continue their commitment to a graduate degree that incorporates recreational therapy. Thus, we wish to revise the MS degree in Recreation and
Park Administration (RPA) by distinguishing two concentrations to accommodate students who have professional aspirations in recreational therapy administration as well as in recreation and park administration.
The two proposed concentrations (RTA and RPA) will share a common 12 s.h. core with additional differentiating coursework. To ensure that the focus of a student’s degree is clear, we request that the selected concentration be noted on student transcripts. This is particularly important for recreational therapy state licensure and national certification.
Below delineates specific changes. In summary, the department graduate faculty requests:
1. The creation of an concentration in Recreational Therapy Administration and a concentration in
Recreation and Park Administration in the existing Master of Science in Recreation and Park
Administration.
2. Delineations of course content for each concentration.
3. Substitution of RCLS 6300 for DSCI 6123 in both RCLS 6501 and RCTX 6502.
4. Modification of course titles to be inclusive of the two options in the following courses: RCLS 6000,
6110, 6120, 6601, 6801, 6802, 6803.
5. Modification of course title to include “Recreation and Park Administration” for courses in the
Recreation and Park Administration concentration to accurately reflect the concentration. Course titles are affected for RCLS 6210 and RCLS 6501.
6. Minor editorial modifications in course titles and descriptions for RCLS 5111, 6000, 6110, 6210,
5. In the course catalog, the course descriptions removed the notation “Formally RCLS XXXX”…. The word
“formally RCLS” was removed as the course numbering was revised in curriculum actions prior to this request and was no longer applicable. This applies to the following courses: RCTX 5000, 5001. 6001,
6002, 6003, 6310, 6320, 6330, 6502.
Summary of Requested Changes

Revise core: - 12 s.h.
Current: Core: RCLS 6000, 6100, 6110, 6120, 6210, 6220 – 18 s.h.
Proposed: Core: RCLS 6000, 6110, 6120, 6300 – 12 s.h.
Rationale: RCLS 6100 is offered infrequently and is regularly substituted; it will be banked. RCLS 6210 and 6220 are moved to the RPA concentration, thereby facilitating additional coursework in the specified concentration areas. RCLS 6300 becomes the statistics course required of all students.
Revise concentration – 12 s.h.
Current: Generalist: MGMT 6102; MKTG 6162, 6642
Recreational Sports Management: RCLS 5111, 6005; Choose 3 s.h. from: EXSS 6445; PADM
6120; PSYC 6445; RCLS 5100, 5101.
Proposed: Recreation and Park Administration: RCLS 6210; 6220; plus 6 s.h. from RCLS 5100, 5111,
6100, 6005, 6501, PADM 6120, MKTG 6162
Recreational Therapy Administration: RCTX 6310, 6320, 6330; plus 3 s.h. of approved electives.
Rationale: These changes will meet the needs of students in both interest areas; the concentration identified on student transcripts will provide appropriate notice of coursework focus.
Revise Thesis or Non Thesis Options – 12-15 s.h.
Recreation and Park Administration concentration
Current: Thesis option: MKTG 6642; RCLS 7000 - 9 s.h.
Non-thesis option: RCLS 6501; 12 s.h. of approved electives - 15 s.h.
Proposed: Thesis option: RCLS 7000 - 6 s.h.; 6 s.h. of approved electives – 12 s.h.
Non-thesis option: RCLS 6501; 12 s.h. of approved electives – 15 s.h.
Recreational Therapy Administration concentration
Current: Thesis option: BIOS 7021, 7022; RCLS 7000 - 12 s.h.
Non-thesis option: BIOS 7021; RCTX 6502; 9 s.h. of approved electives - 15 s.h.
Proposed: Thesis option: RCLS 7000 - 6 s.h.; 6 s.h. of approved interventions-based electives - 12 s.h.
Non-thesis option: RCTX 6502; 6 s.h. of approved interventions-based electives and 6 s.h. of approved electives– 15 s.h.
Rationale: Revision of course listings increases flexibility in addressing professional development needs of the student and issues with course availability. Additional emphasis on interventions is added to the RTA concentration.
Revise courses:
Rationale: Course revisions align the course titles and descriptions with the proposed degree concentrations.
Current: RCLS 6000. Philosophical and Social Foundations of Leisure Services (3)
Proposed: RCLS 6000. Social Science Foundations of Recreation Services and Interventions (3)
Current: 6110. Research Methods in Recreational Therapy and Recreation and Leisure Services (3)
Proposed: RCLS 6110. Research Methods in Recreation Services and Interventions (3)
Current: RCLS 6120. Seminar in Recreation, Leisure, and Recreational Therapy Administration (3)
Proposed: RCLS 6120. Seminar in Recreation Services and Interventions (3)
Current: RCLS 6210. Management and Program Development in Recreation and Leisure Services (3)
Proposed: RCLS 6210. Management and Program Development in Recreation and Park Administration (3)

Current: RCLS 6501. Capstone Experience in Recreation and Leisure Services Administration (3)
Proposed: RCLS 6501. Capstone Experience in Recreation and Park Administration (3)
Delete DSCI 6123 and include RCLS 6300
Current: RCTX 6502. Capstone Experience in Recreational Therapy (3)
Proposed: RCTX 6502. Capstone Experience in Recreational Therapy Administration (3)
Delete DSCI 6123 and include RCLS 6300
Current: RCLS 6601. Research Colloquium in Recreation and Leisure Studies (1)
Proposed: RCLS 6601. Research Colloquium in Recreation Services and Interventions (1)
Current: RCLS 6801, 6802, 6803. Special Topics in Recreation and Leisure Studies (1, 2, 3)
Proposed: RCLS 6801, 6802, 6803. Special Topics in Recreation Services and Interventions (1, 2, 3)
Delete course:
RCLS 5101. Waterfront Facility Operations (3). Principles and practices of waterfront facility management, maintenance, and operations.
Rationale: This course has not been offered in over five years; current faculty do not have the expertise to teach it; the course does not support the direction of the MS degree overall.
Bank course:
RCLS 6100. Risk Management and Legal Liability in Recreation, Leisure, and Recreational Sport (3).
Rationale: This course is offered infrequently and is regularly substituted.