REC Course Descriptions

Recreation and Leisure Studies (2009-2010)

An overview of the broad field of recreation and leisure emphasizing the understanding of various leisure phenomena. As such, it provides the student with an introductory understanding of the nature and scope of leisure, leisure behaviour and affiliated recreation activity.

Using a wide variety of leisure service agencies as examples, this course introduces students to the nature and scope of leisure provision. Topics include program components, the classification and management of resources, professionalism, and current managerial trends and future developments.

A critical analysis of definitions, concepts and assumptions of classical, recent and modern theories of play with implications for programming, planning and evaluating children's play.

This course considers the historical impact of sport in North American society. It traces the history from individual play through amateurism to professionalism and big business. It examines sport's role within local, national, and international communities and its relationship to class, gender, leisure, race and politics.

This course examines sport in modern societies and the distinctive features of Canadian sport. Attention is directed to the relationship between sport and other institutions, including the economy and political system. Contemporary issues, including racial and gender inequality and controversies over violence and drugs are also considered.

A study of the effects of personality and social factors in shaping how people perceive, experience and respond to the availability of discretionary time. Current theory and research focusing on the impact of leisure on the socio-psychological adjustment of the individual and applications to the promotion of healthy leisure will be examined.

Exploration of marketing concepts and methods available to public, commercial and private leisure service organizations. Topics include: the marketing philosophy, market research, market segmentation, and marketing mix strategies related to programming, distributing, pricing and promoting leisure services.

The scope of recreation program planning, design, implementation and evaluation is examined along with current associated issues and trends. Emphasis is placed on the planning and evaluation processes and their existence as core elements in any recreation and leisure services organization. Note: A field trip fee may be required. The estimated additional cost to each student is $110.

A study of major facets of outdoor recreation programs and facilities from a variety of approaches; history, values, attitudes, economics, ecology, law, policy planning and trends. The emphasis is on providing a knowledge base for decision making by managers. It includes the role of selected governmental, voluntary and private sector bodies.

This course is designed to explore the etiology of disability and the role of therapeutic recreation in the lives of people with developmental and emotional disabilities.

This course is designed to explore the etiology of disability and the role of therapeutic recreation in the lives of people with physical disabilities.

This course involves an unpaid practical experience for students in Honours Therapeutic Recreation. The supervisor must be approved by the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies Practicum committee prior to registering for the course. The practicum will require 105 hours interspersed over 1 academic term (15 weeks). The course will be offered on a credit/no credit basis.

An introduction to the methods and techniques of research as applied to leisure studies and services. General consideration will be given to the technical issues involved in various stages of research with emphasis on the logic underlying the research process.

The scope and nature of tourism as a contemporary leisure experience is examined along with economic, political and social ramifications, research strategies employed and implications for the future.

This seminar style course focuses on recent research on relationships between leisure and the social, cultural, political, and technological aspects of society. The course will use sociological literature to examine leisure in the lives of individuals, groups, and society. Topics will include leisure and multiculturalism, social stratification, gender, popular culture, consumption, tourism, religion, and the family.

A study of major issues of Canadian cultural policy from a socio-historical, political and sociological perspective. Students will examine the role and organizational structure of the arts and major cultural agencies, and discuss social, economic and administrative aspects of professional, amateur, commercial and public art organizations and services.

This course draws on a range of feminist theories and frameworks to examine the interconnections between women and health in local, national, and international contexts. Topics may include the medicalization of women's health; reproductive experiences, choices, technologies and rights; health care systems and institutions; health policy; and the links with leisure, recreation, and health. Intersections of gender with race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexuality, and aging will also be addressed.

An examination of the major philosophical ideas and socio-cultural determinants as they have influenced leisure behaviour through the ages.

This course reviews the quality assurance literature and places it in the context of leisure services. The course is multi-disciplinary in its approach to quality assurance drawing primarily from social psychological, marketing and management sources. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics of services, staffing and systems/control issues. The course is suitable for all students interested in planning of programs and services.

Exploration of financial options available to public and private leisure service organizations. Topics include: foundations of financing and resource acquisition including budgeting, taxes and debentures, and less-than-fee simple approaches; direct partnerships including inter-agency cooperation, privatization, contracting, exactions, facilitation and co-production; and support from external sources including donations, sponsorships, foundations, and volunteers.

Implications of existing and potential recreation supplies and demands. Topics include recreational travel, site capability, economic and ecological impact models and behavioural aspects of amenity resources.

Introduction to the categories, administrative arrangements and functions of parks, including planning and management of parks at all government levels, with emphasis on law, policy system planning, management planning, site planning and management. The course will emphasize international aspects of park management.

An introduction to the problems and techniques of contemporary not-for-profit cultural management. Topics include: budgeting and financial control, marketing and board/management relations.

This course is designed to examine models, theories, tools, and techniques required in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of therapeutic recreation services for individuals and groups in a variety of therapeutic recreation settings.

The course covers the development and implementation of leisure education for a variety of client groups and diverse settings with special attention to therapeutic recreation. Various models, theories, program developments, adaptations and teaching techniques relevant to leisure education will be explored.

This course covers concepts, theories and the practice of community development in relation to leisure and recreation behaviour and services. Various issues such as poverty, ethnicity, and disability will be addressed. Major areas of discussion will include organizational sources of community and individual effort, leadership, participation, stresses, strains and strategies of community development. A volunteer placement is normally required. Attendance at the first class is required.

This course is designed to familiarize the student with the characteristics of the aging population, particularly as related to recreation, leisure, and lifestyle. It focuses both on the theoretical aspects of aging and their implications for leisure and on the practical aspects of recreation and leisure program development, delivery, and facilitation for all older adults.

An introduction to individual and population aging. Topics discussed include: aging from a historical and comparative perspective; aging in subcultures; aging and the social structure; aging and social processes; aging and the environment; work and retirement; and aging and leisure patterns.

An introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics and the interpretation of data. A major consideration of the course is the use of statistics in the solution of problems in recreation and leisure.

Study in Recreation topics by International Exchange.

This course covers a variety of techniques used in the analysis of tourism, especially in the context of policy analysis, planning, and marketing. Techniques relevant to visitor surveys, the economic impact of tourism, marketing research methods, and benefit-cost analysis are examined. Specific topics include the nature and content of tourism research, questionnaire design and sample selection, a variety of other quantitative analysis tools used in the tourism industry, and other relevant topics.

The character, problems of, and prospects of tourism are examined through consideration of tourism in a variety of countries and regions, both developed and developing. Topics include the nature and significance of tourism; economic, environmental and social impacts of tourism; and costs and benefits of tourism to destination areas.

This course is designed for senior students who are interested in the social sciences as a way of understanding factors that influence leisure behavior and the role of leisure in the lives of individuals and their communities and social institutions. Students will have an opportunity to expand their understanding of leisure issues and problems facing society, thereby building on previous course work, personal experience and media. The small group setting of the seminar will provide students with the opportunity to explore their leisure research interests.

This course examines the relationships between various aspects of leisure and well-being from a holistic perspective. Both the positive and negative implications of leisure and recreational pursuits for well-being are considered for individuals and communities.

This seminar course focuses on recent theoretical and empirical research on the relationships between gender and leisure. Topics will include analysis of men's and women's leisure experiences, attitudes, constraints, challenges and behaviours. Gendered aspects of leisure will be explored in a variety of social and cultural contexts, including families, informal and social settings, organized leisure, and the media.

This course is designed to allow students to combine their business/public administration courses, job experiences and leisure service management issues in a small group setting. Managerial problems are identified and alternative solutions are generated by examining the problems from both a research perspective and a practitioner's perspective.

This seminar style course will examine consumer behaviour theory in a broad context and focus specifically on consumer research in leisure contexts. Application of these issues to the effective marketing of public, private, nonprofit, and commercial leisure delivery systems will be explored.

An exploration of alternative approaches to the planning of recreation opportunities with an emphasis on community and municipal settings. The demand for and supply of recreation opportunities; standards, models and systems; recreation planning policies and agencies; and selected recreation planning issues.

Students will be provided with opportunities to acquire the knowledge and skills required to plan and conduct evaluations of profit and not-for-profit leisure services and programs. The course will cover needs assessment, goal analysis, evaluability assessment, process and outcome evaluation, report preparation and evaluation politics and ethics. Case studies will be used to familiarize students with qualitative, quantitative, experimental and non-experimental data gathering techniques.

This course examines the role of the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors in providing recreation opportunity in the urban setting. Existing patterns of urban recreation facilities will be examined. The role of social, economic, political and spatial factors influencing the use and development of recreation resources in the urban setting will be examined.

The role of cultural heritage in the community context is examined. Varying forms of heritage preservation, its function and organization are covered.

Planning and management of ecotourism and park tourism. Emphasis is placed on public involvement, market segmentation, policy and law, visitor management strategies and international trends. The role of national parks and other categories of protected areas is highlighted.

This course examines how ecosystem principles and techniques are used in planning and operations in regulated lands, parks, and protected areas. Conservation of biological diversity, ecological integrity, and sustainable resource use are major themes. Students learn population and community ecological modelling and related univariate and multivariate analytical techniques pertaining to ecosystem management. Comparisons of management frameworks illustrate modelling and analytical techniques for the forestry, agricultural, mining, fishing and energy sectors. A field assignment gives experience in assessment and analysis. Guest lectures by professionals in the conservation, parks and resource sectors augment student experience.

This internship course requires that a student engage in a period of practical Therapeutic Recreation work at an approved site under the supervision of a qualified Therapeutic Recreation professional and an academic supervisor. During this practical experience, the student will research and analyse issues and complete required assignments related to TR practice. A full-time, consecutive, 15 week therapeutic recreation internship is required. Full-time is considered to be at least 35 hours per week.

This course is designed to facilitate an in-depth exploration and analysis of philosophical issues and interdisciplinary theories to discuss how they relate to therapeutic recreation practice and research.

An independent research project on an approved topic supervised by a faculty member. REC 471A includes an approved design and completion of the first segment of the paper. REC 471A requires the completion of REC 471B. REC 471B requires the completion of the project begun in REC 471A.

An independent research project on an approved topic supervised by a faculty member. REC 471A includes an approved design and completion of the first segment of the paper. REC 471B requires the completion of the project begun in REC 471A.

One or more term courses will be offered from time to time as announced by the Recreation and Leisure Studies Department. Subjects will be dependent upon special research and/or instructional interests of faculty.

For the student who desires to pursue a particular topic in depth through guided independent research. A faculty member must approve a student's project prior to enrolment.

Covers the role of tourism in economic and community development, and the roles of government and industry in formulating tourism policy. Students learn through case studies and practical assignments.