Minors in Recreation and Leisure Studies

Complement your major study with an in-depth focus on an area of interest.

Outdoor Pursuits Minor (17 credits minimum) 

Introduce yourself to outdoor leadership and the skills and competencies necessary to plan, organize, and lead outdoor recreation programs of limited scope. Outdoor pursuits skills are relevant for many careers and industries, not just for those interested in the outdoors. Businesses are using outdoor team building programs with their executives. Social service agencies offer camping and outdoor adventure programs for clients. Schools are using outdoor education and camping programs as a part of their curricula.

There are two possible tracks to fulfill the minor: Immersion Semester Program (off campus track) or an on campus track. Both tracks include technical skills, theory and philosophy, leadership and field experience. A minimum of 17 credits is required in either track. For majors in all disciplines except students enrolled in Outdoor Adventure Leadership or Therapeutic Recreation.  

A picture of the desert with rocks and mountains in the background as well a blue sky with white clouds.

Immersion Semester Program (Off Campus) Track

The Immersion Semester Program is an off-campus experience that occurs during the spring semester. The minor consists of 18 credits and is primarily field-based with some online and traditional classroom learning environments. You will live either in the backcountry or isolated front country environments for the duration of a semester. The fee for this experience is comparable to the cost of room and board on campus for a semester. An additional application is required to participate in the Immersion Semester Program.

  • RLS-18005: Select Topic in Rescue (2 credits)

  • RLS-21600: Outdoor Adventure Skills (3 credits)

  • RLS-22000: The Wilderness Experience (LA) (4 credits)

  • RLS-22300: Wilderness Literacy (LA) (2 credits)

  • RLS-37000: Wilderness Land Use Ethics (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-42100: Wilderness Expedition Leadership (4 credits)

There are about 10 students wearing coats with camping backpacks on hiking through a forest.

On Campus Track

This track provides an on-campus opportunity for students who are not able to study away on the Immersion Semester Program for a full semester. This option provides similar coursework to the Immersion Semester Program in skills, theory and philosophy. A maximum of 6 transfer credits will be accepted for this minor. Transfer credits may be obtained from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), Outward Bound, or other approved experiential programs granting academic credit. Transfer credits will be substituted for the courses identified with asterisks (*). 

Required core credits

  • RLS-10500: Fundamentals of Leadership (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-15000: Rock Climbing (1 credits)

  • RLS-15100: Foundations of OA Pursuits (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-17100: Introduction to Backpacking (1 credit)

Plus 9 credits from the following

  • RLS-180xx*: Select Topics: Adv Skills Fundamentals* (1-3 credits)

  • RLS-190xx*: Select Topics: Adventure Skills Fieldwork* (1-3 credits)

  • RLS-21800: Wilderness First Responder (3 credits)

  • RLS-23200: Program Planning (3 credits)

  • RLS-27700: Sustainable Tourism (LA) (1-3 credits)

  • RLS-35400: Org and Supervision of Outdoor Pursuits (3 credits)

  • RLS-43000: Adventure Education (3 credits)

CLA Note: Complimentary Liberal Arts (CLA) may be fulfilled by completing a minor containing 12 credits of Liberal Arts. Courses qualifying as Liberal Arts are labeled with (LA). Students intending to fulfill CLA requirements with this minor will need to take additional course(s) in order to obtain 12 credits of LA.

Recreation Minor (16 credits minimum)

There is a large group of people seated on hay in a trailer in the back of a blue tractor about to go an a hay ride.

Increase your awareness of the importance and extent of leisure and recreation in modern society and be prepared to plan, organize, and lead a recreation program of limited scope in a variety of settings. For majors in all disciplines except students in Outdoor Adventure Leadership or Therapeutic Recreation.  

Required core credits

  • RLS-10100: Leisure and Society (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-10500: Fundamentals of Leadership (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-23200: Program Planning (3 credits)

  • PALS-10500: CPR Training and First Aid (.5 credit)

Plus 6 credits from the following:

  • RLS-12500: Understanding Disability (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-13300: Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation (3 credits)

  • RLS-13700: Leisure Travel (3 credits)

  • RLS-15000: Rock Climbing (1 credit)

  • RLS-15100: Foundations of Outdoor Adventure Pursuits (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-17100: Introduction to Backpacking (1 credit)

  • RLS-27700: Sustainable Tourism (LA) (1-3 credits) 

  • RLS-23800: Leisure and Aging (LA) (3 credits)

  • RLS-33400: Leisure Education: A TR Intervention (LA)(3 credits)

  • RLS-34000: Inclusive Recreation and Diversity (3 credits)

In addition to the minimum credit-hour requirements to complete the minor, students must provide documented evidence certifying completion of at least 200 hours of volunteer or paid experience in recreation leadership or programming (no college credit is given), or complete the course RLS-24800 Service Learning I.

Documentation of the 200 hours should consist of a letter(s) from your supervisor(s) to your minor adviser verifying the type of work/volunteer experience and the number of hours completed. A memo will then go to the Registrar’s Office to verify fulfillment of this requirement. No college credit is give.  

Experience obtained as a result of other course requirements or prior to admission to the minor program will not satisfy this requirement.

CLA Note: Complementary Liberal Arts (CLA) may be fulfilled by completing a minor containing 12 credits of Liberal Arts. Courses qualifying as Liberal Arts are labeled with (LA). Students intending to fulfill CLA requirements with a minor need to carefully select their courses in order to obtain 12 credits of LA.

Questions?

Contact the Minor Advisor

Jennifer Wells
G40 Hill Center
Ithaca College
953 Danby Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

(607) 274-3335