Director: Dr. Willa Brooks
Location: L-116
Telephone: (410) 455-4174
Secretary: Pat Meiller
Phone:  (410) 455-4470

Program Overview

The recreation and leisure industry is one of the largest industries in the world with spending exceeding $3 trillion annually with approximately one half of all jobs in the United States related either directly or indirectly to leisure.

The Recreation, Parks, and Tourism curriculum is designed to prepare students for employment in these leisure-related settings. Students are primarily prepared for direct leadership and program delivery for a wide range of career areas, such as: parks management; public recreation (national, state, county, city); commercial, private, and resort recreation; Morale, Welfare, & Recreation (MWR) in the armed forces; recreation therapy; outdoor and high adventure activities; camping; correctional recreation; voluntary non-profit agencies; employee leisure services; and the travel, tourism, and the hospitality industry.

The A.A.S. Career program is divided into two option areas, Therapeutic Recreation, and Recreation and Parks. After completion of the A.A.S. Degree, opportunities exist on the Catonsville campus to continue with a Bachelor of Science degree in either of two option areas through Frostburg State University: 

• B.S. degree in Recreation and Park Management at the Catonsville Campus and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
  
  
• BS degree in Therapeutic Recreation at the Catonsville Campus and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

   

Career Highlights

 

• The leisure industry is one of the largest industries in the world with spending exceeding $3 trillion annually. One quarter of all jobs in American are related directly to the leisure industry and another quarter of all jobs are indirectly related. In other words, one half of all jobs in the United States are either directly or indirectly related to the leisure industry.
  
  
• An A.A.S. Degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism is an important first step that can lead to professional positions in local, state, and federal government, and commercial and private industry.
  
  
• Graduates who successfully complete the A.A.S. degree can be found in the following positions:  program leaders or specialists, supervisors or directors, activity and recreation therapists, outdoor coordinators, park rangers, naturalists, conservation aides, student activities directors, intramural coordinators, historical interpreters, tourism assistants, travel agents, cruise directors, armed forces youth workers, employee services coordinators, inner city at-risk youth workers, coaches, referees, or golf professionals.
  
  
• Graduates who successfully complete a Bachelor's degree or further education may pursue careers as administrators with various agencies such as, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, or local park and recreation departments in cities, counties, or districts; as certified recreation therapists with various agencies such as, the National Institutes of Health, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Manor Care, Inc. (and other life care communities, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or group homes); or as directors or managers of private recreation with various agencies such as, the Columbia Association, convention, visitors, and tourism agencies, fitness and health clubs, tour agencies, YMCAs, Girl Scouts or Boys Scouts, aquatic facilities, Police Athletic Leagues, or Special Olympics.
  
  
• New opportunities for Recreation, Parks, and Tourism graduates are always developing as people search out new ways to satisfy their leisure time wants, needs, and desires.

Program Highlights

 

• Our graduates excel at four-year institutions and in the work place because they are highly skilled in the fundamentals of leisure services provision.
  
  
• Our faculty are experienced and highly qualified professionals from the field of recreation, parks, and leisure services.
  
  
• The Recreation, Parks, and Tourism program at CCBC Catonsville is widely respected and considered the finest community college program of its kind in the country by members of the Society of Park and Recreation Educators.
  
  
• Our curriculum is overseen by an Advisory Board of fifty-three committed professionals and educators who see as part of their many responsibilities to help keep curricula up-to-date, to mentor students in the curriculum, and to assist students with employment upon graduation.

   

Full-time Teaching Faculty: 

 Willa J. Brooks, Ed.D. , Temple University