Leisure studies
Leisure studies is a branch of the social sciences that focuses on understanding and analyzing leisure. Recreation and tourism are common topics of leisure research.
The National Recreation and Park Association is the national organization in the United States for leisure studies, and offers accreditation to many universities to offer courses of study (degree programs) in leisure studies.
The Journal of Leisure Research[1] and Journal of Park and Recreation Administration are some[2] scholarly US academic journals of leisure studies.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Leisure studies is a strong major for individuals who value working with a wide variety of people including children, the elderly, and the disabled.[3] Those pursuing this major will often be in situations where they have to motivate others, so it is important that they are creative, hard-working, in good health, and possess leadership skills. [4]
History
While leisure studies has existed for much longer, a first centralized organization for directing leisure studies was established in Birmingham, England, in May 1975, and is known as the Leisure Studies Association. In 1984, the first international conference was held by the LSA at the University of Sussex in Brighton, which also set the record as the largest LSA event held to date with over 275 attendees. LSA conferences are widely regarded as some of the most attended events for leisure researchers in the world. [5]
Education
Pursuing a degree in leisure studies will give students the opportunity to learn how to incorporate leisure into recreational activities and tourism. Students take a wide variety of classes ranging from psychology and social sciences to biology and anatomy. Students learn how to improve and foster a healthy life through leisure.[6]
The Top 10 Most Popular Colleges for the Major of Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies Are:[7]
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Texas A & M University
- San Diego State University
- Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus
- University of Florida
- Arizona State University, Tempe
- Texas State University
- Florida State University
- Central Michigan University
- Ohio University, Athens
Leisure activities
The leisure activities that people who work in leisure studies deal with include a very broad range of activities. Most of the activities can be separated into 3 sub-categories: sport and recreation, tourism, and leisure. Sport and recreation activities is one of the broadest categories in leisure studies. This includes sports, both traditional and non-traditional, and any indoor or outdoor physical activities done for recreational purposes. Sport and recreation activities includes, but is not limited to, swimming, running, hiking, weight lifting, and several other physical activities.[8]
Tourism describes the traveling for leisure purposes. Destinations include parks and national parks, hikes, and domestic and foreign cities.
All other activities that are not considered to be a part of sport and recreation or tourism are included general leisure activities. This category is quite vast, and includes, but are not limited to, yoga, the arts, nature conservation, and other hobbies.[4]
Career opportunities
A bachelor's degree in leisure studies qualifies graduates for a wide range of entry level recreational occupations in the private and public sectors. Leisure Service jobs involve a variety of leisure, recreational and sport settings for all age groups, populations, and diverse geographical locations. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report that 345,400 recreation worker jobs existed in the U.S. as of 2012 and the mean annual wage for a recreation worker was $25,430. The leisure studies field is expected to grow 14% from 2012-2022.[9] This is growing as fast as the average of all jobs and is potentially due to increasing childhood obesity rates and the aging baby-boomers generation.[10]
Work settings include:
- Rehabilitation centers
- State and municipal parks
- Schools
- Camps
- Coaching
- Athletic programs
- Fitness centers
- Sporting organizations and businesses
- Correctional facilities
- Non-profit organizations
- Community centers
- Hospitality services
- Nursing homes[11]
Industries that employed the most recreation/leisure workers in 2012 and average annual salary:
| Industry | Percent employed | Avg. annual salary |
|---|---|---|
| Local government | 33% | $22,160 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | 16% | $24,210 |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, and professional orgs. | 12% | $20,310 |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10% | $19,320 |
| Social assistance | 8% | $22,640 |
See also
References
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- Bibliography
- Blackshaw, Tony & Crawford, Garry (2009) The Sage Dictionary of Leisure Studies, Sage, London
- Blackshaw, Tony (2010) Leisure (Key Ideas), Routledge, London
