Department of Recreation Administration
Community Recreation,Youth Development, and Senior Services
Exploring Community Recreation, Youth Development, and Senior Services
Recreation Professionals design, deliver and evaluate a range of leisure-time-related activities, interactions, and experiences to meet the recreational needs of communities, families, and individuals.
The Community Recreation, Youth, and Senior Services option focuses on essential principles of promoting social responsibility, sustaining livable communities, reducing juvenile delinquency, and preserving cultural heritage. Through active learning and community engagement, our students learn and participate in hands-on activities to help all people live healthy, enjoyable, active, and meaningful lifestyles.
Experience in the Profession
Our program concludes with a 525-hour semester-long internship within the community recreation or related field under the supervision of a current full-time recreation professional. Internship sites include municipal Parks and Recreation agencies such as the cities of Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Reedley, and Visalia; Special Districts such as Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Coalinga Huron; and Community Benefit Organizations (non-profits) including Every Neighborhood Partnership, Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers Big Sister.
Students must obtain practical experience while taking classes by completing 200 -1,000 pre-internship hours (paid or volunteer). Local area agencies, including Parks and Recreation Agencies, School Districts, and other Community Services Organizations, can be considered to complete the requirement.
Job Placements and Career Outlook
A bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of experience working in the field are typical entry-level requirements.
This area of study prepares students for employment in public and community benefit recreation settings such as:
- City, County, and District Recreation Departments
- State and Federal Government Agencies
- Community-Benefit Organizations (non-profits)
- Social/ Human Service Agencies
- Organized Camps
- University Student Life Programs
- K-12 and Higher Educational Settings
Related professional organizations include the California Park and Recreation Association, National Recreation and Park Association, National AfterSchool Association, Afterschool Alliance, National Alliance for Youth Sports, American Camp Association, and National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association. Many of these organizations provide student membership at a discount.
For employment outlook and salary information, check out the National Recreation and Park Association. For employment opportunities, visit the job posting/ boards of the organizations listed above and USAJOBS.
Curriculum
Major requirements (65-67 units)
The following core program courses are required of all candidates for this degree.
Additional required courses dependent upon the selected option area.
- RA 55. Foundations and Careers in RPT
- RA 60. Technologies in RPT
- RA 73S. Leadership in RPT
- RA 77S. Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Programming
- RA 80. Lifelong Learning in the Natural Environment
- RA 101. Leisure and Human Behavior
- RA 125. Diversity and Inclusive Practices in RPT
- RA 128. Legal and Financial Aspects of RPT
- RA 179. Supervision and Administration in RPT
- RA 180. Professional Placement in RPT
*27 units total
- RA 113. Programming for Youth At-Risk
- RA 117. Special Event Planning
- RA 121. Community and Non-Profit Recreation Services
- RA 133. Recreation and Parks Facilities Planning and Operations
- RA 135 or MKTG 100s. Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Marketing or Marketing Concepts
- RA 139. Research and Evaluation in RPT
- RA 184I. Internship in RPT
*30-31 units total
Students have the option of selecting a focused tract OR select from any of the courses below.
Community Services
- PLSI 163. Municipal Government
- SOC 144. Social Policy Analysis
- SOC 163. Urban Sociology (Area ID)
Youth Development
- CFS 39. Introductory Child Development
- CRIM 120. Juvenile Delinquency (Area ID)
- PSYCH 101 Child Psych OR 102 Adolescent Psych
Seniors Services
- GERON 10S. Journey of Adulthood
- GERON 115S. Health Issues of Aging
- GERON 161. Multicultural/Aging (Area M/I)
Adaptive Services
- RA 142. Foundations of Recreation Therapy
- KINES 157. Adapted & Inclusive Physical Education
- CSDS 139. Deaf Culture (Area ID)
Other electives courses
- BA 105W. Business Communication
- MCJ 152S. Fundamentals of Public Relations
- SOC 183S. Philanthropy and Grant Making
- HHS 116W. Interprofessional Communication in Health and Human Services
- SOC 184S. Grant Writing & Evaluation
- PH 100. Contemporary Health Issues
- RA 192T. Topics in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism
- SWRK 136. Cultral Diverstiy and Opperession (Aarea M/I)
*8-9 units total
General Education requirements (48 units)
Other requirements (9 units) American Governments and Institutions (PLSI 2), Multicultural and International (MI), and Upper-division writing
Sufficient elective units to meet required total units (varies)
*Total minimum units (120)
Contact Us
Dr. Brandon T. Taylor
Option Coordinator and Assistant Professor
brtaylor@csufresno.edu
559.278.2513
PHS 107
Dr. Taylor will be on Sabbatical for Spring 2024