The Department of Health, Human Performance & Recreation at Southeast Missouri State University has been preparing recreation and leisure professionals since 1988. The major is professionally accredited and prepares students for a wide variety of career paths within the field of recreational services. Check out the following career list - it contains just some of the careers that are options for the future recreation professional!!

Community/Muncipal Recreation

• Youth Organization Director
• Parks Facility Manager
• Recreational Sports Administrator
• Activity Director
• Summer Camp Director
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Youth Activity Planner
• Cultural Arts Director
• Fitness Director/Manager
• Aquatics Director
• Tournament Programmer
• Senior Center Director

As a professional in community recreation and parks, you will be challenged to motivate people to participate in leisure pursuits which refresh their minds and bodies. Annually, billions of dollars are spent on public recreation programs and facilities with even more being spent by private and nonprofit recreational agencies. This reinforces the need for qualified professionals to lead, supervise and manage programs and facilities in various community environments.

To succeed in this field, you should have strong leadership abilities, good interpersonal skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, energy and enthusiasm. Southeast provides a quality curriculum full of experiential opportunities for you to gain these skills and abilities.

Commercial Recreation

• Convention Specialist
• Travel Planning Manager
• Camp Director
• Stadium Managers
• Resort Services Director
• Golf Course Activity Director/Manager
• Adventure Trip Planner
• Fitness Center Manager
• Amusement Park Administrator
• Cruise Ship Activity Director
• Corporate Activity Director

The commercial recreation industry endeavors to provide high quality recreation and leisure services and experiences. Some of these businesses include resorts, amusement parks, entertainment complexes and health, golf and fitness clubs. The travel and tourism industry also employs a large number of commercial recreation professionals.

Strong "people skills," a positive attitude and the ability to speak before groups of people is imperative for those going into this field. Management skills, business acumen, and a desire to provide the highest quality services in order to attract a clientele are all vital to the success of the commercial recreation professional.

Outdoor Recreation

• State/National Parks Manager
• Adventure Trip Leader
• Ropes Course Facilitator
• Whitewater Rafting Guide
• Forest Ranger
• Outdoor Educator
• Adventure Trip Planner
• Conservation / Preservation Specialist
• Interpretive Naturalist
• Park Ranger
• Camp Director
• Tour Guide
• Recreation Forestor

Sitting behind a desk, pushing a pencil and negotiating business deals isn't everybody's dream of landing the perfect job. If you are the type of person who craves fresh air, adventure, and a close relationship with nature, then outdoor recreation may be the career area for you.

As an outdoor recreation professional you may work in a variety of areas including camps, parks and adventure programs. Although you will likely work in an outdoor setting, you often will perform administrative duties such as planning and supervising the work of others. You may work with children, adults, community groups, families or the disabled.

An appreciation of the outdoors, the ability to solve problems and work well as a team member are important traits for an outdoor recreation professional.

Therapeutic Recreation

Physical/Mental Rehabilitation Professional

Community Special Populations Activity Specialist

Special Olympics Planner/Programmer

Activity Director:

• Nursing Homes
• Long Term Care Facility
• Mental Health Facility

Facilitator of Outdoor Adventure /Adventure Programming as Treatment

Juvenile Corrections

At-Risk Youth

Self-Esteem Building for Disabled Populations

If you are interested in designing programs for the facilitation of rehabilitation and lifestyle enhancement, specifically for special populations such as the mentally or physically disabled, older adults, or those in correctional facilities, therapeutic recreation may be the emphasis for you. Administrators recognize the vital roles that recreation and productive use of leisure play in the education, habilitation, and rehabilitation of populations such as the ill, emotionally disturbed, and juvenile delinquents. At Southeast, the emphasis in this area is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills and practical experience necessary to become a nationally certifiable therapeutic recreation specialist. Graduates of our program have met with outstanding success in passing the certification exam to become a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.

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