Tompkins Cortland Community College
Degree Programs

Recreation Leadership

A.S. Degree

Recreation and Leisure is America’s number one economic activity. Leisure time experiences are big business and organized recreation offerings are growing, creating demand for capable recreation leaders to develop and coordinate an array of recreational, cultural, and athletic activities for people to enjoy and improve their quality of life during their leisure time.

The recreation leadership program provides a solid core of liberal arts courses complemented by more specialized courses in leadership, programming, diversity and inclusion, human relations, and recreation management. This combination of theory and applied knowledge lays a vital foundation for further study toward a bachelor’s degree. By the time you complete our recreation leadership program, you will have toured  community facilities, worked at two different agencies, heard multiple guest speakers from your field, interviewed a recreation professional, participated in a team challenge course with classmates, and networked with other recreation leaders.

Field Experience

Field experience is an exciting component of the recreation leadership program. Volunteer work provides the opportunity to learn and apply inclusive leadership skills and knowledge in a variety of agencies in Tompkins, Cortland, and Tioga counties.  Field experience opportunities such as the Town of Dryden Recreation Department, the Dryden After School Program, the Cortland Teen Center, local YMCA’s, Ithaca Youth Bureau. and TC3’s Campus Recreation Department provide hands-on experience developing skills and social network necessary for your career in recreation.

Career Opportunities

Recreation leaders develop and manage recreational, cultural, and athletic activities in a variety of settings. These include school districts, corporations, nonprofit agencies, community and municipal centers, governmental agencies, correctional facilities, health care organizations, and private clubs and resorts. Among the fastest growing specialties are tourism, therapeutic and commercial recreation.

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 recreation field. Recreation leaders who have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree are more likely to be offered higher-level management positions.

back to top

Transfer Options

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

Graduates have transferred to:

For specific transfer information, contact the Counseling, Career, and Transfer Services office.

back to top

Program Requirements

Program requirements by semester are detailed in the Degrees and Certificates (pdf, 1.6MB) section of the TC3 college catalog.

All sections of the current college catalog are available online.

back to top

Program Chair / Faculty

Patrick Mercer

Program Chair
Adjunct Instructor (Recreation Leadership)

B.S., Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; M.S., SUNY College at Cortland.
E-mail Professor Mercer

Martha (Matty) Hamel

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

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 Professor Hamel

Advisory Board

Patrick Mercer

Adjunct Instructor (Program Chair, Recreation Leadership & Outdoor Recreation)

B.S., Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania; M.S., SUNY College at Cortland.

Dr. Lynn Anderson

Professor & Chair, Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Department, SUNY Cortland


Jane Hammond

Associate Dean of 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
Recreation and Leisure Services
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

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.

back to top