Parks and Recreation Management Program

The Recreation Administration Program (RAP) is designed to prepare students for entry-level, supervisory/middle management, and administrative positions in recreation and leisure service organizations. Settings can include community/governmental, voluntary/nonprofit, commercial, private membership, armed forces, employee, campus, and therapeutic recreation. The coursework includes study in administration and management; event, facility, finance, human resource, marketing, and risk management; and technology. Experiential education and applied learning are the primary focuses of the program. Students study in recreation administration/management work experiences, including practicums and internships, and work with public, semi-public, and private organizations at the local, state, district, national, or international level. All students graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Recreation Administration from NC Central University earn a minimum of 500 hours of professional field experience.

The program encompasses three concentrations pertaining to recreation administration:

1. Parks and Recreation Management
2. Recreational Sport Management
3. Recreational Therapy.

Each concentration represents a distinct area of professional preparation and reflects universal integrative themes of leisure service provision, which contributes to the department, college, and university’s mission of preparing students academically and professionally to become leaders prepared to advance the consciousness of social responsibility in a diverse, global society.

This option is designed for those students who are interested in the management of recreation and leisure service agencies, designing activities in sport programs, special events, social programs, and cultural programs, which provides opportunities for individuality, creativity, and self-expression in art, dance, drama, music, and experiential and intellectual areas. This option culminates in a 10-week/400-hour internship, a practical work experience at an approved site with expert supervision. Through this experience, students gain managerial and administrative skills as well as valuable contacts for future employment. The course of study provides students with the prerequisite knowledge necessary to pass the National Recreation and Parks Association Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) examination.

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To meet the needs of the recent growth in sport industries, sport managers are in demand. This option, which includes either a minor in Business Administration or Sport Coaching, prepares students for career opportunities in sport fitness facilities; professional and collegiate sport teams; exercise and fitness, swim, golf, or racquet clubs; municipal, high school, college, corporate, or commercial intramurals and sport clubs; sport information; public, nonprofit, or private sport agencies; and marketing sporting goods. This option culminates in a 10-week/400-hour internship, a practical work experience at an approved site with expert supervision. Through this experience, students gain managerial and administrative skills as well as valuable contacts for future employment.

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The Recreational Therapy specialization is designed to prepare students to work with individuals with disabilities in positions in hospitals, institutions, parks and recreation programs, rehabilitation centers, and public schools. Recreational therapy specialists are prepared in widely diversified program areas, such as art, sports, leisure education, and counseling. They assist persons in transitioning from institutions or schools to community recreation. Practicum experiences that translate theory into practice are provided. This option culminates with a 560-hour/14-week internship, a practical work experience with expert supervision. The program fulfills the requirements for licensure in recreation therapy established by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC). Students will be prepared to sit for national certification exams and can become Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). 

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