Outdoor Recreation

A.S. Degree*

Outdoor Recreation/Education is a fast-growing and popular field in America and around the world. The Outdoor Recreation degree program is designed to provide you with a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. You will also develop a foundation of camp, outdoor education, and outdoor recreation leadership skills and knowledge required to be an effective and competent outdoor leader and outdoor educator. Once you complete this program, you will be prepared for transfer to an outdoor-related baccalaureate degree program, and to work effectively and safely in the field.

• Career Opportunities
• Field Experience
• Transfer Options
• Degree Requirements
• Faculty
• Advisory Board

*Pending SUNY and New York State Department of Education Approval

Career Opportunities

For more than a century, the number of people who participate in outdoor recreation and who seek an outdoor experience has steadily increased, as has the number of agencies (private, public, governmental, and nonprofit) offering outdoor recreation programs. This trend is projected to continue in the future. The field of outdoor recreation has developed over this period of time, providing outdoor recreational professionals a body of knowledge, leadership, proper planning, certifications, and respect for the environment through a display of outdoor ethics.

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Field Experience

Field experience is an exciting and important component of the outdoor recreation program. Beginning with your first year, you will be participating in a team challenge course, and will be encouraged to take several outdoor activity skill classes. As you progress through the program, additional leadership, programming, and outdoor field experiences will be a vital aspect of your study. You also will be given opportunities to plan and lead outdoor experiences for agencies in your community.

While the curriculum of this program is designed primarily for transfer to a bachelor’s degree program, it provides skills directly applicable to entry-level positions in the outdoor recreation field. Outdoor recreation leaders who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree are more likely to be offered higher-level management positions.

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Transfer Options

The Outdoor Recreation program provides a strong foundation for transfer as a junior to a four-year college.

Possible transfer options include:

• SUNY Cortland
• Ithaca College
• Lock Haven University, PA
• Penn State University
• Green Mountain College, VT

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Degree Requirements

First Semester			Credits
CAPS 105, 111, 113, 141, 145, 152   or OFFC 110			1-4
ENGL	101	Academic Writing II*	3
MATH Elective**			3-4
PSYC	103	Introduction to Psychology	3
RECR	110	Introduction to Recreation	3
RECR/FITN Outdoor Activity Elective			1
Total			14-18
Second Semester			Credits
CAPS 121, 123, 131 or 133			1
ENGL	102	Approaches to Literature	3
FITN	216	Lifeguard Training	2
RECR	120	Leadership in Recreation	3
SUNY GEN ED Natural Sciences** or    The Arts Elective			3-4
SOCI	101	Introduction to Sociology	3
Total			15-16
Third Semester			Credits
BIOL	115	Field Natural History	3
ENGL	201	Fundamentals of Speech	3
Foreign Language Elective			3-4
HLTH 126 Health and Fitness or    HLTH 206 Personal Health			1-3
RECR	210	Diversity & Inclusion in Recreation	3
RECR	260	Outdoor Ed & Camp Counseling	3
Total			16-19
Fourth Semester			Credits
HSTY Restricted Elective:    Select from HSTY 101,102, 201, 202, or 225***			3
Liberal Arts Elective			3
RECR	150	Play Across Cultures	3
RECR	220	Programming in Recreation    and Leisure	3
RECR	274	Outdoor Recreation Pursuit	3
RECR/FITN		Outdoor Activity Elective	1
Total			16
Credits Required for Graduation			61-69
*Based on assessment, ENGL 100 Academic Writing I may be required; it may be used for the 4th semester Liberal Arts Elective.
**MATH 132, 135, 200 or 201 recommended
***Approved for SUNY GE 4 - American History only if an 85 or higher score is earned on the New York State Regents U.S. History & Government Exam.

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Faculty

Patrick Mercer

Program Chair
Adjunct Instructor (Outdoor Recreation)

A.S. , Tompkins Cortland Community College; B.S., Ithaca College; M.S.E., SUNY Cortland; M.A., SUNY at Binghamton; 2006 Chancellor's/Trustees' Award for Excellence in Teaching.
E-mail Instructor Mercer

Martha (Matty) Hamel

Professor (Recreation/Lifetime Sports and Recreation Education and Psychology)

B.S. , St. Lawrence University; M.S. , Cornell University.
E-mail Professor Hamel

Elizabeth Coveney CTRS

Adjunct Instructor (Recreation Leadership)

M.S., SUNY College at Cortland

Brandy Boden

Adjunct Instructor (Recreation Leadership)

M.S., SUNY College at Cortland

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Advisory Board

Dr. Lynn Anderson

Professor & Chair

SUNY Cortland

Jane Hammond

Associate Dean for Curriculum

Tompkins Cortland Community College
B.A., Emmanuel College; M.P.P., University of Michigan; M.A., New School for Social Research.

Dr. Linda Heyne

Associate Professor and Chair of Recreation & Leisure Studies

Ithaca College

Barbara Kobritz

Instructor and Instructional Services Librarian

Tompkins Cortland Community College
M.L.S., Syracuse University

John McNerney

Youth Bureau Director

City of Cortland

Matty Hamel, Chair

Professor, Recreation and Psychology

Tompkins Cortland Community College
A.S., Tompkins Cortland Community College; B.S., Ithaca College; M.S.E., SUNY Cortland; M.A., SUNY at Binghamton

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