Individual study and/or research relating to leisure-oriented topics.

The organization and administration of public, private, and not-for-profit recreation agencies. The primary unit of analysis in this class is the recreation organization and the environment in which it operates. Emphasis is placed on organization, management, marketing, and financing applications, theories, and research.

This course provides students with a foundation in the theories and philosophies associated with the field of youth development. Students will analyze the strengths and limitations of various theories, philosophies, and ideas as they are applied in practice and represented in research studies. Examples include: Ecological systems theory, positive youth development, sociocultural perspectives, risk/protective factors, and developmental assets. Assignments may include reviews of research, critical analyses, case studies, service learning experiences, or site visits.

This course draws on research and theories that illuminate the profound connections between nature and human health and wellbeing. Students will explore contemporary philosophical, psychological, and cultural perspectives to understand how both organized and unstructured experiences in the outdoors support human flourishing. Students review research and gain hands-on practice with ideas in the context of outdoor recreation, resource management, education, and other human service fields.