PRM 120
Leisure and Quality of Life
School of Community Resources & Development
T, Th: 12:15 – 1:30pm, Room LSA 191
Spring 2007
Professor
Dr. Megha Budruk
411 N. Central Avenue, Ste. 555
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 496 0171 or Megha.Budruk@asu.edu
Office Hours
Tue: 10:00am – Noon
at Tempe Campus: AG 172
and Wed: by appointment
at the ASU Downtown Campus
T.A.
Stacey Flores
AG 172
Stacey.flores@asu.edu
Office Hours
Tue: 10:00 – 11:00am MU 350
and Tue: 11:00am – noon AG 172
Course Description:
Conceptual foundations for understanding the role of leisure in the quality of life. Social,
historical, psychological, cultural, economic and political foundations of play, leisure and
recreation are explored. (PRM 120 is a general studies course satisfying the university
requirements for Social and Behavioral Sciences (SB)
Note: Generally, this course explores the meaning and behavior of leisure (ways of
thinking about the human expression of play and leisure behavior). It weaves both
contemporary and pluralistic (variety) perspectives into an overview of the history,
psychology, sociology, and economics of leisure behavior. The course requires a fair
amount of reading and is designed to reward students who read and attend class regularly.
Course Objectives:
 To provide a conceptual understanding of the nature and function of play, recreation,
and leisure with regard to the quality of life of individuals and groups in
contemporary society.
 To provide a conceptual understanding of the psychological, sociological, and
physiological significance of play, recreation, and leisure from an historical and
cultural perspective.
 To provide an understanding of the nature and significance of play, recreation, and
leisure throughout the life cycle in contemporary society.
 To provide an understanding of the nature and role of play, recreation, and leisure in
the lives of particular populations including youth, teens, minorities, women/men, the
disabled, and the elderly.
 To foster an understanding of the interrelationship between leisure behavior and the
natural and man-made environment.
 To foster an understanding of the technological, economic, political, and cultural
significance of play, recreation and leisure in contemporary society.
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Required Text:
Russell, Ruth V. (2005). Pastimes: The Context of Contemporary Leisure, 3rd Edition.
Champaign, IL: Sagamore Publishing
Additional readings may be posted on ASU Blackboard. Announcements regarding this
will be made in class.
Blackboard:
This course is supported by the ASU Blackboard website at MyASU ( http://my.asu.edu).
This blackboard website is designed to be a tool for students and will contain important
class information, including weekly lecture summaries, assignments, study guides, course
syllabus, table of contents for readings and various class announcements. This website
will be an important key to your success in this course and for getting student lecture
notes. You should have been automatically enrolled in the PRM 120 website, unless for
some reason, you do not have a current ASURITE account. Please ensure that you check
Blackboard at least twice a week.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Class Attendance and Participation: You are expected to keep up with your
readings, to attend class on a regular basis and to contribute to classroom
discussions. Readings should be completed prior to coming to class on the date
assigned. Failure to attend regularly scheduled sessions will compromise your
mastery of the material, and adversely affect your performance in the course.
Should you miss class, do not assume that the instructor can go over with you the
material you missed. You are responsible for all material and announcements
provided in class.
2.
In-Class Reaction Assignments - (50 points): Twelve short writing assignments
will be announced in class and will require in-class work be turned in during that
class period. Assignments will relate to course content (or reflection on readings
or life experience). These papers will be graded using the following scale:
adequately responded to the issue = 5 points, weak or superficial response = 3
points, and did not respond to issue = 0 points. The two lowest reaction paper
grades will be dropped before determining the student's final grade. These papers
cannot be made-up if missed. (In other words, students could miss two reaction
paper assignments and not have it affect their grade – this is meant to cover
unplanned emergencies). This means ten of the twelve assignments will count
toward your grade. Students wishing to challenge their reaction paper scores must
do so within one week of the score being posted on the (MyASU) grade book.
3.
Written Assignments: (60 points): You will have two short written assignments.
Late assignments will NOT be accepted. If you cannot turn in the paper to me on
the due date, you should use the drop box in Blackboard . Each paper is worth 30
points. More details on these two papers will be provided later. Due Dates:
February 20th, 2007 and April 5th, 2007.
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4.
Exam I - (70 points) – Exams will be based on readings and lecture material. No
make-ups will be given without documentation of an emergency. Exam questions
will be multiple choice, true-false and matching items. February 15th, 2007
5.
Exam II - (70 points). March 29, 2007.
6.
Final Exam - (70 points) – May 8th, 2007. The final exam is cumulative. **
Class Policy: No early Final Exams will be given prior to the final exam date –
make your plans accordingly.
Grades:
Grading will be based upon the total points earned for the semester, out of 320:
A+ = 99-100%
A = 93-98%
A- = 90-92%
B+ = 87-89%
B = 83-86%
B- = 80-82%
C+ = 77-79%
C = 70-76%
D = 60-69%
E = 59 and below
Class Policies:
 Withdrawing From Class--An instructor may withdraw a student from the
course with a mark of "W" or a grade of "E" in cases of disruptive classroom behavior
(ASU General Catalog). A student may withdraw with a grade of "W" from one or more
classes beginning with the second week of classes through the tenth week of classes for
the Fall and Spring semesters. Please refer to the ASU General Catalog for additional
information and the schedule of classes for withdrawal date deadlines.

Academic Integrity--The faculty in the School of Community Resources &
Development assume that academic honesty will serve as the cornerstone of the academic
experience. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited
to, cheating, plagiarism, or deception on an exam, paper, or class assignment. Plagiarism
is defined as "intentionally or knowingly representing the words and/or ideas of another
as one's own in any academic exercise" (Board of Regents Code of Conduct and
Academic Dishonesty). Cheating and plagiarism may result in disciplinary action
including, but not limited to, a failing grade on the assignment, a failing grade in the
class, or suspension/expulsion from the university. Please note the following links to
ASU policies. Students are responsible for reviewing and complying with all ASU
policies:
Academic Integrity Policy: http://www.asu.edu/studentlife/judicial/integrity.html
Student Code of Conduct: http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta104-01.html
Computer, Internet and Electronic Communications Policy:
http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd125.html

Class Attendance and Participation-- The instructor of a course has full
authority to decide whether or not class attendance is required. During the second week
of classes (Fall or Spring), the instructor can drop a student for non-attendance. It is the
student's responsibility to contact the instructor before the end of the first week of classes
if absences during that period cannot be avoided.
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 Students are expected to attend class regularly and participate in all class
discussion. Excessive absences will result in lower course grades. If absences are
excessive, but medically excused, a student will receive an "I" or "W," depending on the
circumstances. Tardiness constitutes an absence. Students who miss class should not
assume that the instructor can go over with them the material they missed. Please do not
call the professor to find out what you missed. Students are responsible for all material
and announcements made in class. If a student misses class, it is his or her responsibility
to obtain notes from a fellow student. Work-related absences are not legitimate excuses
for missing class.
 Excused Absences--If you miss class because of an excused absence, you will be
allowed to make up what you missed. Excused absences include ONLY hospitalizations,
religious holidays, and university-sponsored athletic events.
 Missing Class Anyway-- If you anticipate that unavoidable, extreme
circumstances not covered above may force you to miss a test or an assignment deadline,
you need to contact me as soon as possible as the emergency is occurring. I do not look
favorably on students missing a test or deadline and contacting me only after the fact.
There are not very many circumstances that I consider extreme enough to warrant a
make-up test or extension. Work-related absences and jail time are not legitimate
excuses for missing class.
 Classroom Courtesy--Students are asked to show common courtesy to others in
order to encourage a positive learning environment for all. Cell phones, pagers, and other
electronic devices are to be turned off throughout the duration of the course. Should
yours ring by mistake, do not answer it, but turn it off immediately. Also, please do not
chat in class unless we are in discussion groups. It is distracting.
 Note Taking--Although lecture notes containing some material will be posted on
Blackboard in “course documents,” students are STRONGLY encouraged to take their
own notes as well. One successful strategy is to print out lecture notes before class and
add your own notes in class. Try printing as “handouts” with three slides per page; the
printer adds space by each slide for notes.
 Non-Native English Speakers--Everyone is welcome to tape record lectures,
especially non-native English speakers. Non-native English speakers are also welcome to
use a dictionary during exams.
 Please feel free to bring news items about leisure, recreation, and quality of life
issues to share with the class. You are also encouraged to participate in discussions, ask
questions, provide examples, and seek clarifications of readings.
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PRM 120 – Spring 2007
Course Outline
Part 1
Reading
1/16
Orientation/Introduction
1/18
Humanities and Ancient History
1/23
Everest
1/25
Meanings and Connotations
1/30
Having Fun
2/1
Play
2/6
Theories of Leisure Behavior
Chapter 3
2/8
Leisure and the Life Span
Chapter 4
2/13
Play and Recreation/ Short Review
2/15
EXAM 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Part 2
2/20
Leisure’s Anthropology
2/22
Leisure’s Anthropology
2/27
Leisure’s Geography
Chapter 6
3/1
Common Culture
Chapter 7
3/6
Common Culture
3/8
Leisure and Technology
3/13 and 3/15
Chapter 5
Chapter 8
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES
3/20
Taboo Recreation
3/22
Movie: Pleasure Power
3/27
Compulsive Behavior/Short Review
Chapter 9
5
3/29 – EXAM 2
Part 3
4/3
American Leisure Experience
4/5
Using Leisure for Social Good
4/10
Paying for it All
4/12
Movie: Affluenza
4/17
Of Time and Work
4/19
Of Time and Work (Contd.)
4/24
Leisure and Equity
4/26
Leisure and Equity
5/1
Review
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
FINAL EXAM – Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 12:20 – 2:10pm in the same classroom
(LSA 191). BRING YOUR ASU ID.
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