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The Department Of Leisure Studies At The University Of Illinois—U.C.: By Carol M. Unzicker*
During the past quarter century the leisure needs of the U.S. population have increased dramatically. It is vital that society act through its institutions to develop and protect the remaining park resources and opportunities for recreation. At the same time, we must provide leaders to manage these resources and help people pursue their leisure interests. The Department of Leisure Studies at the University of Illinois prepares individuals who can be expected to move to the forefront of the leisure services profession. The Department of Leisure Studies has as its central and unique focus a concern for the leisure behavior enterprises. The faculty members are involved with a major effort to improve our understanding of leisure behavior and the quality of leisure service delivery systems by: communicating the knowledge of the field to students by teaching and to the practitioners of leisure service delivery systems by consulting; and by furthering our understanding of the complex phenomena of leisure behavior itself and leisure service delivery systems via research. Historical Perspective The first recreational course at the University of Illinois was listed as "Recreational Activities," taught by Mr. Jack Treece, in 1932. Course offerings expanded and diversified with the increased interest in the area. From 1937 to 1949, the courses evolved to a more professional focus. These courses were taught within the Curriculum of Physical Education for Men. In 1940, the first Bachelor of Science degree with a field of specialization in Recreation was offered. Alien V. Sapora assisted with the development of the Recreation curriculum under Ralph Johnson, who served as curriculum coordinator. The first official curriculum in Recreation was listed in the 1949-50 edition of the University of Illinois Bulletin. Toward the end of that academic year, the first student was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation from the Department of Physical Education for Men within the School of Physical Education. The continuing expansion and development of the program began with the appointment in 1951 of Charles K. Brightbill as chair of the Recreation curriculum. In 1952 an Outdoor Education and Recreation option was initiated to enrich the offerings to the students enrolled in the curriculum. A year later, a master's degree program was established. The Department of Recreation was granted departmental status in 1957 with C. K. Brightbill named as head, and the Field Service was established in the same year. The department at the time consisted of four full-time faculty members and two graduate assistants. Five years later, the department name was changed to the Department of Recreation and Municipal Park Administration to better reflect the changes occurring in the curriculum. With the death of Professor Brightbill in 1966, Dr. A. V. Sapora was appointed head of the department. In the same year, the Motor Performance and Play Research laboratory was formed under the direction of Dr. Robin Herron. Upon the resignation of Dr. Herron in 1968, Dr. Michael Ellis was named as director of the laboratory. Also serving as director was Dr. Rainer Martens, who served from 1973 to 1975. To better represent the laboratory in the international arena, the name of the unit was changed in 1974 to the Leisure Behavior Research Laboratory. The following year, Dr. Michael Wade was appointed director and served in this capacity until 1981. Members of the unit presently consist of four researchers and several graduate assistants, headed by Dr. Douglas Kleiber. The group is involved in a wide range of teaching, research and service activities. Again, with the changing and developing profession, the department name was altered by dropping the word "Municipal" from the title in 1967. Dr. Joseph J. Bannon was named as head in 1973 and continues to serve in that capacity. In 1975, to better reflect the department's activities and to better facilitate international communications, the name was again changed — to the Department of Leisure Studies. Department Of Leisure Studies At The University Of Illinois The Department of Leisure Studies *The author would like to acknowledge the contributions of all the faculty and staff to the information and history in this article. Illinois Parks and Recreation 34 March/April 1983 at the University of Illinois offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in a variety of leisure study areas and, according to national surveys, it rates as one of the best in the nation. There are today approximately 250 undergraduates and 60 graduate students pursuing degrees in the various curricula offered in the Department. It has a well known faculty consisting of 18 full time people who are committed to quality professional preparation through focus on excellence in teaching, research and service to citizens of Illinois. The Department of Leisure Studies has been accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association Council on Accreditation since 1979. This accreditation has been granted to the B.S. programs in Program Management, Outdoor Recreation Planning and Management, and Therapeutic Recreation, as well as the M.S. programs in Administration, Outdoor Recreation, Leisure Behavior, and Therapeutic Recreation. The Department of Leisure Studies has as a mission the development of leisure philosophy, the study of leisure behavior, and the analysis of areas, facilities and resources directly related to the provision of leisure opportunities and services. To this end, it conducts teaching, research and service functions. In accordance with the University's place of outstanding leadership in higher education, major emphasis in the Department is placed on advanced study in research and graduate education. However, to insure the attainment of high quality in undergraduate programs, the two levels of education, graduate and undergraduate, are organized as complementary activities. A special concern is to identify, formulate and develop new and basic concepts in the study of leisure. Yet, there is a distinct recognition of the responsibility to make its faculty and resources a more effective instrument for the dissemination of scientific knowledge and functional assistance to practitioners in leisure service delivery systems. The Department of Leisure Studies has the responsibility to: (1) create among the faculty and students of the University an awareness of the problems and opportunities of leisure as they will affect their lives; (2) assist in insuring the availability of adequate recreation opportunities for students. The goal of the Department in affirmative action and equal opportunity is to conduct an effective program of recruitment of minority group students, and to provide a quality advanced education (cognizant of the needs of less advantaged members of society who may have under-utilized aptitudes and interests). The Department is organized into three functional units that include the professional preparation program, the Office of Recreation and Park Resources, and the Leisure Behavior Research Laboratory.
Professional Preparation
Undergraduate
Program Management
Graduate
Recreation Program and Park Administration Courses are offered that lead to the development of high-level competencies in program and park administration. Specific courses in related disciplines are also available to provide the best possible combination of experience and knowledge to prepare students as administrators and supervisors in public and voluntary agencies, institutions, and other settings. Policy planning and research opportunities in outdoor recreation and resource development and landscape architecture are also available on an interdisciplinary basis. Therapeutic Recreation Therapeutic Recreation is concerned with the delivery of leisure services to individuals with physical, mental, emotional or social disabilities. A comprehensive program of professional studies is required to prepare the student for service in this field. Specialization in the therapeutic use of leisure is offered through relevant
Illinois Parks and Recreation 35 March/April 1983 course work, individual study units, and research in theory, practices and problems relating to recreation for special populations. Electives are selected from related disciplines such as psychology, sociology, social work, music therapy, dance therapy, and special education. Interdisciplinary research resources include the Institute for Child Behavior and Development and the Rehabilitation-Education Center. Outdoor Recreation The Department of Leisure Studies offers a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in outdoor recreation planning and management. This option is offered for individuals who wish to pursue careers in the out-of-doors working for public or private agencies. The program is designed to prepare the student for a broad spectrum of jobs involving recreational uses of natural resource lands. The Outdoor Recreation Planning and Management option is designed to emphasize a resource-based approach to the field, and to combine this with a well-rounded understanding of leisure services. Graduates of this program will have a professional preparation in both outdoor recreation resources and leisure services delivery. Courses are offered within the department to emphasize planning and management of natural environments for leisure use. Coursework from other disciplines such as landscape architecture, forestry, sociology, psychology, or environmental studies are commonly taken to complete the degree requirements in an interdisciplinary fashion. Thus, students are prepared both in leisure service delivery and natural resource management. Placement A job placement service is operated to assist graduates in finding employment. With one central location for such information, current information on the jobs available and the procedures for pursuing them is made available to the students. Our graduates are currently working for agencies at all levels: federal, state, municipal, and private. International Study Opportunities The opportunities for foreign study available to undergraduates at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are quite diverse. Under the plan of study known as "Individual Study Abroad," qualified students may directly enroll in a foreign university or participate in foreign study programs sponsored by American colleges and universities. These programs allow students the opportunity to obtain a foreign perspective of their field of study. Students in Leisure Studies may enroll at the University of Edinburgh for a semester of study in Scotland. This program is in cooperation with the American Universities International program in Leisure Studies. A valuable international component is thus introduced into undergraduate education. DEPARTMENT OF LEISURE STUDIES COLLEGE OF APPLIED LIFE STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 1981
Illinois Parks and Recreation 36 March/April 1983 The Office Of Recreation And Park Resources The Office of Recreation and Park Resources has become the principal link between the University's Cooperative Extension Service and the public in the field of leisure services. In 1969 the Field Service of the Department of Recreation and Park Administration (now the Department of Leisure Studies) in the College of Physical Education (now the College of Applied Life Studies) merged with the Rural Recreation Section of the Cooperative Extension Service in the College of Agriculture. The primary purpose of the Office of Recreation and Park Resources (ORPR) is to assist county extension advisers in conducting educational programs in their respective counties, to provide consultant services to governmental and private agencies that involve unique problems in parks and recreation, to strengthen the University's teaching efforts, and to provide a laboratory for carrying out a sound recreation and park research program. The four major program and research areas served by specialists are: Community Recreation, Outdoor Recreation, Personnel Development, and Therapeutic Recreation.
Leisure Behavior Research Laboratory (LBRL) The Leisure Behavior Research Laboratory is the organized research unit of the Department and is located in the Institute for Child Behavior and Development. The primary research objectives are to acquire knowledge about (a) leisure behavior from social-psychological and sociological perspectives, and (b) play and movement behavior of children and adults in leisure time activities. The laboratory also studies leisure of the handicapped and other special populations. Current research includes program-oriented projects sponsored by government agencies. The laboratory's faculty teach undergraduate and graduate research courses and advise master's and doctoral research projects. This interdisciplinary program has been successful in attracting and providing opportunities for a Variety of students to conduct research. Summary The Department of Leisure Studies at the University of Illinois strives to achieve excellence in undergraduate and graduate professional preparation, to contribute to the professional body of knowledge through its research efforts and to assist practitioners by providing a variety of extension services. This is done by maintaining a high quality, diversified faculty. It is hoped that through the multifaceted goals held by the department, more versatile students will result who are able to think for themselves and solve the problems they are presented with daily.
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Illinois Parks and Recreation 37 March/April 1983 |
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