Programming in Recreation Services

Catalog description

This course is designed to provide students with information and practical experience required to successfully design, promote, implement, and evaluate programs and special events. There are several course objectives, including: (a) increasing students' knowledge of key concepts in program planning and an understanding how they impact programming decisions; (b) increasing students' knowledge of decision factors involved in analyzing and designing a recreation program or special event; and (c) increasing students' skills associated with key management functions required to implement a recreational program or special event. Students are required to work in teams to design, promote, implement and evaluate a special event that will benefit participants and the sponsoring agency objectives. The course serves as a capstone course in the RPTM major. Main topics covered in the course include programming concepts, including programmer, program contexts, benefits-based programming, programming approaches, comprehensive programming cycle, and program formats; management structures, including organization of teams into committee structures with clear roles, responsibilities, and reporting structure; program design, including program concept, program purpose, goals and objectives, and development of themed events; situation analysis, including analysis of internal and external factors/ resources, potential participants¿ needs and interests, and program-related research; budget development and sponsorship, including direct fixed and variable costs associated with event, differential pricing, and sponsorship; promotion, including purposes for promotion, types of promotional tools, and development of a promotional plan; Event logistics, including development of a schedule of events, equipment and supplies, volunteers and staffing, registration, site layout, and event logistics; Risk management, including safety check, policies and procedures, staff/volunteer orientation, and overall risk management plan; program evaluation, including summative and formative, process and outcome evaluation. This is a required course for majors in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. Students from other majors may enroll in this course, providing they have met the pre-requisites.