Experiential learning

Recreation and Leisure Studies offers numerous opportunities for activity-based or hands-on learning including:

Practicum in therapeutic recreation

During this 15 week practicum, students are introduced to the therapeutic recreation profession in a front-line setting. Under the supervision of a qualified therapeutic recreation professional and an academic supervisor, they gain approximately 105 hours of experience, learning about best practices and programme protocols working with various client groups and settings.

Practicum in recreation, sport, and tourism

Students obtain approximately 105 hours of experience in a recreation, sport, business or tourism organization. Placement opportunities will be facilitated by the course instructor, in partnership with the supervising organization. Students will have an opportunity to engage in core business functions related to (but not limited to) marketing, finance, administration, operations, logistics, risk management, and/or evaluation.

Internship for therapeutic recreation

This full-time, 15-week (35 hours per week) internship offers 560 hours of practical experience under the supervision of a qualified professional. Students enhance leadership and basic supervisory skills, learn assessment techniques, and engage in programme planning, implementation, and evaluation in the context of the therapeutic recreation profession.

Leisure and community volunteer placement

An integral part of the REC 356 “Leisure and community” course is an independent or class-wide volunteer placement with a local association or agency. This provides students with an opportunity to learn firsthand about issues related to poverty, ethnicity, and disability and other challenges. Through their direct involvement with community-based activities and services, students gain knowledge of social action in relation to community initiatives and explore first-hand community and individual capacity building.

Disney Exchange Experience

Throughout the Disney Exchange Experience, students take classes and have the ability to earn up to five transfer credits from the University of Florida while participating in academic training and gaining valuable experience at Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. They learn about tourism, hospitality, destination and event management in a fun and exciting environment from best-in-class professors and industry experts in one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. 

Pictured above: Recreation and Leisure Studies students on exchange with University of Florida and Walt Disney World® Resort.

Campus Athletics Recreation Network

In this unique "research shop", undergraduate and master’s students enrolled in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies select a research question facing the Department of Athletics and Recreational Services. Using theoretically grounded research approaches and techniques they investigate and address the issue while gaining exposure to management functions including marketing, finance, human resources, facilities management, special events management, and general administration.