Chair

Dr. Jon McChesney
(859) 622-1833
Combs 208

Associate Chair
Dr. Matthew Sabin
(859) 622-1833
Combs 208

Faculty

H. Adams-Blair, B. Clark,  T. Cook, J. Cormier, D. Czech, A. DeLage, E. Fuchs, S. Jones, M. Lane, J. Larkin, J. McChesney, A Monk, D. Muff, C. Perry, M. Sabin, R. Salmans

The Department of Parks, Recreation, Exercise and Sport Science offers the Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Park Administration, Sport Management, and Exercise and Sport Science. Program concentrations in Recreation and Park Administration include: Tourism & Resort Recreation, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Management, Recreation Management and Event Planning, and Recreation Therapy. The BS in Exercise and Sport Science offers concentrations in pre-professional healthcare, including Pre-Athletic Training, Pre-Physical Therapy and Physical Fitness and Wellness Management. The BS in Sport Management offers concentrations in Applied Professional Studies and Management. In addition, the department offers two accelerated, 3+2 dual degree programs leading to graduate degrees offered by the department including an MS in Recreation and Park Administration or an MS in Exercise and Sport Science. The department also offers a minor in Recreation and Park Administration, and a certificate in Coaching/Personal Training.

Students who transfer from another college or university must earn a minimum of 12 hours at EKU in their major. Students who transfer from another college or university must earn a minimum of six hours at EKU in their minor.

Graduates of the Tourism & Resort Recreation concentration find career opportunities in local, state, federal and private agencies that promote tourism, travel agencies, convention services, resort supervision and management, cruise lines, amusement and theme parks, as well as other commercial recreation agencies.

Graduates of the Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Management concentration find a wide variety of career opportunities such as park ranger, interpretive naturalist, camp director, recreation forester, adventure recreation, fish and wildlife positions, and youth and adult outdoor recreation programming positions.

Graduates of the Recreation Management and Event Planning concentration find professional careers available in local, state, county and federal agencies, park management, golf course management, recreation supervision, aquatics, cultural arts programming, athletic programming, YMCA and YWCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, 4-H, military recreation, and various other private and public agencies providing park, recreation and leisure services.

Graduates of the Recreation Therapy concentration find one of the fastest growing areas in the field of recreation and leisure services. Professionals in RT design programs to meet the needs of special populations, people with physical or developmental disabilities, and people with temporary or permanent psychiatric disorders. RT professionals work in children’s hospitals, mental health institutions and psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, nursing homes, medical care facilities, transitional living facilities, group homes, camps, community-based programs, and community residential agencies.

Students majoring or minoring in Recreation and Park Administration are required to attain a minimum grade of “C” in all REC courses and a 2.5 or better average in all REC courses. All REC core and REC concentration courses must be completed prior to enrollment in REC 463 Internship or REC 473 Therapeutic Recreation Internship.

All degree programs and concentrations emphasize hands-on experiential learning to allow students to connect foundational knowledge to real-world application. The BS degree in Recreation and Park Administration provides 15 credit hours of direct hands-on field experience including a senior internship (12 credit hours) which serves as an excellent transition from school to work with many students are hired directly out of their internship. Courses within all majors are often linked with hands-on application through linked laboratory courses as well. Pre-professional concentrations emphasize integrated pre-requisite courses within the curriculum, courses that build a clinical foundation beyond required pre-requisites and professional advising which guides students towards successful application to their desired professional programs.

Bachelor's

Minors

Courses