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School of Health and Applied Human Sciences
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Campus Box 5956
Phone: 910.962.3250
Fax: 910.962.7073

Recreation, Sport Leadership & Tourism Management

Welcome to the University of North Carolina Wilmington's program in Recreation, Sport Leadership and Tourism Management. if you have an outgoing, friendly personality, enjoy being with people, are interested in travel, have a love for the outdoors, sports or fitness, this is the field for you! UNCW is the ideal place of study for coastal recreation, sport and tourism.

REC graduates Students earning a Bachelor of Arts in this curriculum are prepared for management positions in a diversity of recreation, sport and tourism settings and for graduate study. The curriculum is based not only on classroom experience but with significant experiential education. As a student you will find yourself directly and personally involved in planning special events, programming activities for youth and adults, creating business and marketing plans and much more. Graduates find career opportunities in settings such as hotels, resorts, convention and visitor centers, private recreation clubs, non-profit community organizations, municipal parks and recreation departments, sports facilities, outdoor/adventure centers, cruise ships, and professional meeting and event planning.

NEWS FROM OUR GRADUATES

Glen Benbow, Class of 2008
Youth Activities Entertainment Host for Disney Cruise Line

My degree helped me get into Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line because this company is the #1 tourist attraction in the entire world. Let's face it, everyone wants to go to Disney at least once in their lifetime! My life goal ambition has always been to be more than I can be and working for a company like Disney has allowed me to accomplish my goals and dreams. Disney doesn’t just pick a random person off the streets though. They value those with educations and backgrounds working with children, activities and events. My degree allowed me to do that and now I am where I am because of UNCW faculty, staff and team!

The Student Experience

TricycleRace Students in Recreation, Sport Leadership and Tourism Management have a number of student-driven professional clubs, groups and events. These include Rho Phi Lambda, a national honorary fraternity recognizing students for superior academics and leadership in the profession.

In addition, there is a student majors club, Recreation Majors Association (RMA). This organization is open to all recreation, sport leadership and tourism management majors. It serves as a valuable way to let students network with one another and participate in service learning projects.

Courses in the curriculum

All majors take classes in a core curriculum that includes both a practicum and a semester-long internship. Students then select at least one option area that offers specialized classes in either Public/NonProfit Recreation, Recreational Sports Leadership or Tourism and Commercial Recreation. The faculty is also actively involved in offering summer study abroad courses to enhance student understanding and skill sets in order to grow as global citizens.

The curriculum has also proudly been nationally accredited with the council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related professions since 1983.

For more specific information to major or minor, click on the links below:

Recreation, Sport Leadership and Tourism Management majors Curriculum (PDF)
Recreation, Sport Leadership and Tourism Management minor Curriculum (PDF)
(Program Brochure - PDF)

For important information on possible career opportunities, click here.

News & Events

Scuba Day 2012

On Thursday, October 25, 2012 students gathered in the Warwick Center to listen to guest speakers Shawn Nasseri, David Ochs, and Dan Orr. All three speakers were invited to promote and educate students on scuba diving, along with possible career fields related to scuba diving. Shawn Nasseri also presented the Nasseri Scholarship in Recreation, Sport Leadership and Tourism Management. For photos of the event, click here.

Cameron Grist, the recipient of the Nasseri Scholarship, expressed great appreciation for the Nasseri Scholarship in helping her achieve her professional goals:

"My career goals are to become a professional event planner for Carolinas Healthcare Foundation which help fund research for the various diseases that people face daily. My father is my inspiration for the career path that I have chosen because he faces the fatal illness of Lou Gehrig's disease. Upon receiving this scholarship, I have helped cover some of my tuition at UNC Wilmington and have taken the financial burden off of my family. I am so grateful and blessed to have won this scholarship; it could not have come at a better time!"

Scuba Day