Recreation
Overview
ARC's recreation program offers an associate degree that provides training for an entry-level career in the field of recreation and leisure services. Our program explores the many career fields in recreation, including public service, private recreation, outdoor recreation, and leadership positions.
Roadmaps
Roadmaps lay out all of the courses you need to take for a given degree or certificate.
A.A./A.S. Degrees
- Dean Steven Roberson
- Department Chair Tim Finnecy
- HomeBase Health and Education HomeBase
- Phone (916) 484-8201
- Email askhb-healthed@arc.losrios.edu
Associate Degree
A.A. in Recreation
This degree provides training for an entry-level career in the field of recreation and leisure services. It explores the many career fields in recreation, including public service, private recreation, outdoor recreation, and leadership positions.
Catalog Date: August 1, 2025
Degree Requirements
| Course Code | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| COMM C1000 | Introduction to Public Speaking (3) | 3 |
| or COMM 331 | Group Discussion (3) | |
| ECE 312 | Child Development (3) | 3 |
| or PSYC 372 | Child Development (3) | |
| GERON 302 | Psychology of Aging: Adult Development and Aging (3) | 3 |
| or PSYC 374 | Psychology of Aging: Adult Development and Aging (3) | |
| RECR 300 | Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Services | 3 |
| RECR 310 | Outdoor Recreation | 3 |
| RECR 320 | Recreation Activity Leadership | 3 |
| A minimum of 2 units from the following: | 2 | |
| RECR 498 | Work Experience in Recreation (0.5 - 4) | |
| Total Units: | 20 | |
The Recreation Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, and either (a) the Local General Education Pattern or (b) the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC), plus sufficient electives for a total of at least 60 units. See ARC graduation requirements.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:
- analyze community needs for parks and recreation programs.
- create recreation programs and supervise staff.
- demonstrate leadership skills in recreation programs.
- administer a wide variety of parks and community services.
Career Information
Careers in recreation include jobs in park facilities and services in federal, state, municipal, and voluntary nonprofit agencies. Commercial and private recreation also provide opportunities for employment. Travel and tourism, club management, resort recreation, food and beverage services, lodging, professional sports, entertainment, and cultural services are very much an integral part of the recreation and leisure services market.
Recreation (RECR) Courses
RECR 300 Introduction to Recreation and Leisure Services
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course is an overview of recreation, park, and leisure services. It covers recreation as a form of community service, as well as the nature, scope, and significance of leisure and recreation as a social force in contemporary society. It emphasizes the role of the professional leader in organizing recreation programs and services, operations, facilities, and resources. Field trips may be required.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe philosophical foundations of leisure and recreation.
- explain the basis for growing interest in recreation and leisure activities.
- analyze recreation and leisure program components.
- identify the sociological, psychological, and economic implications of parks and recreation.
- define the functions and services of recreational agencies from local to federal levels.
- demonstrate leadership skills in program planning and operations.
- identify the challenges, issues, programs, and trends in the recreation movement.
RECR 310 Outdoor Recreation
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course is an orientation to job opportunities in the outdoor recreation field. It includes an overview of different types of outdoor recreation, socio-economic factors in outdoor recreation, the role of government, the role of the private sector, management, and issues and trends in outdoor recreation. Philosophies and operating purposes of outdoor recreation facilities run by federal, state, and local governments are discussed. Virtual and or in-person field trips are required.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe and identify job opportunities with outdoor recreation agencies and suppliers.
- distinguish between the operation of local, state, and federal recreation agencies.
- analyze and describe solutions to problems and issues facing outdoor recreation agencies.
- design a plan for an outdoor recreation facility.
- create and lead an outdoor recreation activity.
- identify risk management in outdoor programming.
- analyze the purpose and quality of outdoor recreational activities.
RECR 320 Recreation Activity Leadership
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This is an introductory course for recreation majors, involving a study of essential elements and basic principles of organization and leadership of various types of recreation programs. It covers the methods and materials used in planning and conducting organized recreation programs in public and private agencies. It also emphasizes the role of the leader in organizing recreational programs in a variety of settings. Field trips may be required.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a basic knowledge of program planning principles and activity leadership.
- plan, organize, promote, and execute organized recreation programs and special events.
- list, plan, and execute events for specific populations.
- interpret and apply the principles of planning and development of recreation programs.
RECR 498 Work Experience in Recreation
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:27 - 216 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must be in a paid or unpaid internship, volunteer position, or job related to recreation with a cooperating site supervisor. Students are advised to consult with the Recreation Department faculty to review specific certificate and degree work experience requirements.
- Advisory:Eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU
- General Education:Local GE L7B (effective Fall 2025)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This course provides students with opportunities to develop marketable skills in preparation for employment or advancement within the field of recreation. It is designed for students interested in work experience and/or internships in transfer-level degree occupational programs. Course content includes understanding the application of education to the workforce, completion of Title 5 required forms which document the student's progress and hours spent at an approved work site, and developing workplace skills and competencies.
During the semester, the student is required to complete 27 hours of related work experience for 0.5 unit. An additional 27 hours of related work experience is required for each additional 0.5 units. All students are required to attend the first course meeting, a mid-semester meeting, and a final meeting. Additionally, students who have not already successfully completed a Work Experience course will be required to attend weekly orientations while returning participants may meet individually with the instructor as needed. Students may take up to 16 units total across all Work Experience course offerings. This course may be taken up to four times when there are new or expanded learning objectives. Only one Work Experience course may be taken per semester.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate application of industry knowledge and theoretical concepts in the field of recreation related to a transfer degree level career as written in the minimum three (3) learning objectives created by the student and their employer or work site supervisor at the start of the course.
- make effective decisions, use workforce information, and manage their personal career plans.
- behave professionally, ethically, and legally during work, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational norms.
- behave responsibly during work, exhibiting initiative and self-management in situations where it is needed.
- apply effective leadership styles during work, with consideration to group dynamics, team and individual decision making, and workforce diversity.
- communicate in oral, written, and other formats, as needed, in a variety of contexts during work.
- locate, organize, evaluate, and reference information during work.
- demonstrate originality and inventiveness during work by combining ideas or information in new ways, making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and reshaping goals in ways that reveal new possibilities using critical and creative thinking skills such as logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving.
RECR 499 Experimental Offering in Recreation
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2025
This is the experimental courses description.