by our College Data Analytics TeamWho doesn't look forward to long summer days or lazy weekends when you can relax in a park, participate in athletic competitions, or hang around by a pool? If you're interested in helping the public enjoy relaxing activities and lead healthy lifestyles, consider majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies.
In this major you will take classes in administration, sociology, business, physical education, tourism and travel, therapeutic recreation, and sports science to learn how to develop recreation programs, customize activities for disabled children and adults, handle budgets, and oversee parks or recreation centers' operations. This degree allows students to work closely with the general public while overseeing employees in a relaxed environment.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies was the 166th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 3,106 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 3.8% reduction in parks and rec degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 3,224.
This year's Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking compares 69 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of parks and rec programs later in this article.
Students pursuing a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies should have good communication and interpersonal skills. Professionals will often work with both the general public and employees, making the ability to communicate effectively and provide good customer service necessary. Students should also have good organization skills to coordinate activity schedules and ensure all daily operations are taken care of.
Depending on the job, professionals may be employed either seasonally or full time. Directors are often employed full time and work on administration tasks during the off-season, while workers, such as counselors, may only be seasonally employed. During busy times, both workers and upper level staff can expect to work long and sometimes irregular hours. Professionals typically split their time between the office and working with customers participating in programs or events.
Summer jobs as camp counselors or working at recreation centers will give students experience within the field. While this is not necessary, these jobs will give students the opportunity to decide if they enjoy working in the parks, recreation, and leisure industry.
While an associate's degree will allow graduates to work in the field, those who pursue a bachelor's degree will have better job opportunities and are more likely to advance to positions of management.
parks, recreation and leisure studies degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific parks and rec careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are many different parks and rec degree levels. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest parks and rec degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common parks and rec degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to parks and rec, with approximately 74.2% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to parks and rec tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 74.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 5.1% |
74.2% of parks and rec workers have at least a doctorate. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in parks, recreation and leisure studies careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the parks and rec career you are seeking.
Due to the increasing amount of park, recreational, and leisure activities available to the general public, there are many job opportunities available as well. Graduates have gone to work at recreation centers, national parks, cruise ships, summer camps, and other fields that support exercise and healthy living.
With the field growing at an average rate, graduates should be able to find jobs after graduation. Jobs may be more readily available in different areas of the country, giving those who are willing to move better opportunities.
Want a job when you graduate with your parks and rec degree? Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies careers are expected to grow 9.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to parks, recreation and leisure studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors | 22,600 | 9.7% |
Recently graduated parks, recreation and leisure studies students earned an average of $31,801 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $17,257 to as high as $52,700. As you might expect, salaries for parks and rec graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers parks and rec grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors | $72,190 |
With over 234 different parks and rec degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased parks and rec school rankings to help you with this.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is one of 4 different types of Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 67,146 |
| Recreation Administration | 3,122 |
| Outdoor Education | 265 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 174 |
