Oct 03, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Public Health and Recreation Video

Recreation, Recreation Therapy Concentration, BS



The recreation degree program, founded in 1947 by the Department of Public Health and Recreation , has a core accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Park, Recreation, and Tourism Related Professions (COAPRT). The degree has maintained continuous accreditation since its first awarding of this status occurred in April 1987, demonstrating the rigor and recognition of our programs. The Bachelor’s degree in Recreation is a nationally accredited program comprised of a core set of classes and courses split generally between concentration courses and major electives. Graduates completing one of these concentrations are eligible to apply for national and state certification. While the general recreation degree is the most flexible in terms of choosing related electives, students may instead elect to complete a more specialized course of study in one of our two approved concentrations within the B.S. Recreation Degree: Recreation Management  and Recreation Therapy. We also offer MS in Recreation, all of which are designed to meet increasing needs and demands for recreation professionals and administrators in our growing fields of practices in public, non-profit, and commercial sectors, not only locally and regionally, but also nationally and globally.

Recreation therapy is a systematic process of treatment services that utilize recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to improve psychological and physical health, recovery, and well-being. Graduates of recreation therapy work in a wide range of health services settings (i.e. veterans administration, mental health, addictions, physical medicine, rehabilitation, prison/corrections, pediatrics, municipal park and recreation, hospice, skilled nursing, adventure/therapeutic camps, and private practice).

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements 44
Major Preparation 16
Major Core Requirements 32
Concentration Requirements 22
University Electives 6
Total 120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Public Health and Recreation International Experience Requirement

To satisfy the Public Health and Recreation Department international requirement, students must study abroad for at least nine days in an approved program (exemption from the study abroad portion of the requirement must be approved by the dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences based on compelling individual life experiences or physical limitations. A relevant cross-cultural experience in the U.S. will be substituted). Specific details can be found on the college website.

University Requirements


Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (27 units)


Of the 39 units required by the university, 12 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3 or B4 must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with major advisor for details.

Upper Division General Education (9 units)


Of the 9 units required by the university, 0 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)


Complete one 6 unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement  with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) and Humanities Honors (HUM 1A /HUM 1B /HUM 2A /HUM 2B ; 24 units) sequences satisfy the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see the course description for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

Physical Education (2 units)


All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses 

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement


At SJSU, students must pass both the SJSU Writing Skills Test (WST) and a 100W course. Exceptions to the GWAR may be found at Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) .

A grade of C or better (C- not accepted) is required to meet graduation requirement.

Complete One Course From:


Major Requirements (54 units)


University Electives (6 units)


Additional courses selected in consultation with major advisor

Total Units Required (120 units)