Featured Courses
Did you know that The Recreation Studies Department offers stand-alone professional development courses? These courses allow students to pursue professional development without affecting their work schedules as the course is online and as well as self-paced (no predetermined classroom time).
These courses are financially comparable to sending a staff member to a conference with one course only costing approximately $350. For example, RECR 1170 in addition to valuable course content, includes Pool Operator certification and Refrigeration Safety Awareness Training, which would cost over $500 on their own if taken as stand-alone courses.
The courses that we recommend taking as a stand-alone professional development opportunity are as follows:
Students embark on a transformative journey, redefining recreation from mere leisure to a potent instrument of hope, change, and societal transformation. Rooted in the pioneering teachings of Adrienne Maree Brown, Tricia Hersey, and Vanessa Machado de Oliveira, this course ventures beyond traditional perceptions, envisioning recreational spaces as sanctuaries of hope and platforms of resistance. Through a critical examination of recreation's role in movements such as BLM and Truth and Reconciliation, students will emerge as architects of change, empowered to infuse recreational environments with purpose and hope. By intertwining theory with practical applications, the course cultivates a deep understanding of recreation's potential as a transformative force, inspiring students to lead initiatives that foster community resilience, inclusivity, and sustainable societal progress.
This course highlights the benefits that older people derive from participating in recreation and culture and the risks of not staying physically and mentally active and socially connected. Throughout the course, students are presented with a combination of scholarly research and experiential learning opportunities, including guest speakers, field trips to community-based organizations, and case studies. Included in this course is BCRPA – High Five Principles of Healthy Aging certification. This course takes place from January to April.
An introduction to the operation of recreation facilities with topics such as fiscal planning, budgeting, and legislative and regulatory requirements for human resources and physical safety. Included in this course is BCRPA / RFABC Pool Operator Level 1 Certification and RFABC Refrigeration Safety Awareness. Students are eligible for Technical Safety BC RSA Examination after a site orientation at your organization’s arena facility. This course takes place from September to December.
A foundational course for all Recreation Professionals a number of key concepts, issues, and topics related to the field of leisure and recreation. These include the basic history, psychology, and philosophy of recreation and leisure, as well as the scope of organizations and programs within Canada, i.e., the public, not-for-profit, and commercial sectors. This course takes place from September to December.