Mar 29, 2024  
2012-2013 Springfield College Graduate Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Springfield College Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]


Sport Management and Recreation Home Page

Sport Management and Recreation



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Springfield College’s philosophy of humanics has been the impetus behind the development of the philosophy, art, and skill in the recreative use of leisure and management of sport for over a century. At the turn of the century, a pioneer in the American sport and recreation movement named Luther Gulick envisioned a world in which sport and recreational activities are available to everyone.

Today, career opportunities abound in the fields of sport management and recreation. The Gross National Sports & Recreation Product represents a multi billion dollar industry. Opportunities for college graduates with sport management education and experience abound. Likewise, the recreation industry recognizes the need for well-prepared, knowledgeable individuals to create and manage high quality youth and community agencies, resorts, health clubs, private recreation businesses, armed forces, school, college and government recreation and fitness programs. One of the twenty faster-growing occupations in the United States is recreation management.

The graduate programs in the Department of Sport Management and Recreation provides preparation for sports management and recreation professionals in leadership, supervisory, and management positions.

All applications must include the following:

  • Undergraduate transcripts;
  • GRE scores, or GMAT scores;
  • Three references;
  • A personnel statement relative to professional goals;
  • Any and all other materials required by the graduate admissions office must be included.

Springfield College offers graduate programs in:  

  • Recreation Management
  • Sport Management
  • Therapeutic Recreation Management
  • Child Life Specialist

Contact Person(s):
Dr. Matthew Pantera, III, CPRP
Professor and Chair
E-Mail: mpantera@spfldcol.edu

Sport Management and Recreation Department
Tel. (413) 748-3693, (413) 748-3749
Fax: (413) 748-3685

Sport Management


The Sport Management Program focuses on preparing students for career opportunities within the sport industry and/or collegiate athletic settings. Course work is selected from business, recreation, psychology, and, physical education. Occupational paths for Sport Management graduates include sport facility and arena management; professional sport organizations; managerial positions at sporting goods companies; management of resorts, private clubs, and camps; as well as managerial jobs in sport marketing organizations.

The Sport Management curriculum includes course work in organizational theory, programming, business management, personnel management, sport marketing, legal issues, budgeting, and public relations. The program is designed to meet the interests and needs of students coming from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Individual course work and electives are determined on the basis of the candidate’s educational experience, vocational training, needs, and interests.

The basic program requires a minimum of 33-36 credits of graduate coursework.

Non-Thesis Track (33 credits)


Research Core Requirement: (6 credits)


Program Requirements: (9 credits)


Thesis Track: (36 credits)


Research Core Requirement for Thesis: (12 credits)


Program Requirements: (6 credits)


Additional information:


Candidates are eligible for the M.Ed. or M.S. Degree in accordance with Plans A or B as described below:

 

I. The Master of Education degree

Plan A requires successful completion of a minimum of all graduate work and successful completion of a program-specific comprehensive culminating experience.

The research requirement under this plan are embedded throughout the curriculum.Each class includes research topics specific to the discipline which will then be presented as part of a comprehensive portfolio to the department at the completion of the required courses.

II. The Master of Science degree

This degree requires students to engage in a research process, as determined by their academic program, which includes a clearly defined problem statement and hypothesis or research question, and specific and systemic procedures for data collection and analysis, resulting in a verifiable conclusion. The MS may be earned under one of the three plans:

Plan B requires successful completion of all graduate work required by the student’s specific program, and a master’s research thesis which culminates in an oral defense. The program requirements include a statistics course and six semester hours of credit for RSCH 612: Proposal Design (2 credits) and RSCH 635: Thesis (4 credits). The student is eligible to receive the master of science degree, or may choose to receive the master of education.

Any exception to this program must be documented on a program change form and signed by the Sport Management and Recreation Department Chair.

Recreation Management


The Recreation Management program prepares graduate students for administrative and supervisory positions. Graduates of this program learn to apply the principles of systems development, public relations, personnel management, team building concepts, problem solving processes, and experiential management practices applicable in current management situations. Today’s recreation managers need to understand modern management theories and their application to effectively deal with an ever changing myriad of twenty-first century management issues. Cultural diversity in the workplace, downsizing the organization, total quality management (TQM), and the shift to a service-driven global economy are some of the issues managers are prepared to address. These issues and content areas are presented in the context of several recreation organizations that include: the not-for-profit, municipal government, private for profit, and the resort and commercial industry.

The Recreation Management program prepares the graduate students for career opportunities in:

  • Armed Forces Recreation
  • Campus Recreation
  • Employee Services and Recreation
  • Municipal Recreation
  • Resort and Commercial Recreation
  • YMCA
  • Tourism
  • Sport Complexes- Stadiums, Coliseums, Arenas, Rinks
  • Golf Course Management

Non-Thesis Track (33 credits)


Research Core Requirement: (6 credits)


Program requirements: (9 credits)


Thesis Track (36 credits)


Research Core Requirement for Thesis: (12 credits)


Program Requirements: (6 credits)


Additional information:


Candidates are eligible for the M.Ed. or M.S. Degree in accordance with Plans A or B as described below:

I. The Master of Education degree

Plan A requires successful completion of all graduate work and successful completion of a program-specific comprehensive culminating experience.

The research requirement under this plan are embedded throughout the curriculum.Each class includes research topics specific to the discipline which will then be presented as part of a comprehensive portfolio to the department at the completion of the required courses.

II. The Master of Science degree

This degree requires students to engage in a research process, as determined by their academic program, which includes a clearly defined problem statement and hypothesis or research question, and specific and systemic procedures for data collection and analysis, resulting in a verifiable conclusion. The MS may be earned under one of the three plans:

Plan B requires successful completion of all graduate work required by the student’s specific program, and a master’s research thesis which culminates in an oral defense. The program requirements include a statistics course and six credits for RSCH 612: Proposal Design (2 credits) and RSCH 635: Thesis (4 credits). The student is eligible to receive the master of science degree, or may choose to receive the master of education.

Graduates of the Recreation Management program are eligible to apply for certification as a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) by the National Recreation and Partks Association (NRPA).

Any exception to this program must be documented on a program change form and signed by the Sport Management and Recreation Department Chair.

Therapeutic Recreation Management


The Therapeutic Recreation Management program is based on the philosophy that recreation and leisure experiences are essential to the physical, emotional, psychological, and social development of all individuals. The program’s purpose is based on the definition of therapeutic recreation by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS). Springfield College offers a Therapeutic Recreation Management program at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. The programs are designed to prepare entry-level, supervisory, and administrative personnel for the field of therapeutic recreation management. The program is competency-based in design and follows the guidelines published by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) and the NTRS. The program embraces the current NTRS vision statement and the curriculum educates students who will ensure that individuals with disabilities or limitations are afforded leisure experiences that enhance their physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual abilities.

The Therapeutic Recreation Management program emphasizes and provides a variety of skills in clinical and nonclinical settings. Such settings include medical/surgical/psychiatric hospitals, senior centers, child-life programs, mental health agencies, shelter workshops, vocational training centers, correctional facilities and long-term care facilities and nursing homes serving persons with a variety of biopsychosocial disabilities. In addition to the clinical settings in Therapeutic Recreation, the Springfield College program is a leader in Community Based Therapeutic Recreation.

Graduates of Springfield College’s Therapeutic Recreation Management program have completed the educational requirements to be certified by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). A Therapeutic Recreation/Child-Life Specialist concentration is available in the department of Sport Management and Recreation.

A child-life specialist works in health care settings focusing on the emotional and developmental needs of children. Through the use of play and other forms of communication, the specialist seeks to reduce the stress of health care and enable children and families to cope with these experiences. The child-life specialist is a member of the interdisciplinary team for assessment, treatment, and evaluation working generally in hospital settings.

Students who complete the Therapeutic Recreation Management requirements have completed the educational requirement for certification by the NCTRC. Students who complete the Child-Life Specialist concentration are eligible for certification through the Association for Care of Children in Hospitals (ACCH). Students should be aware that in order to follow the child-life specialist concentration they must complete requirements of the Therapeutic Recreation Management program. The Child-Life Specialist concentration is not available as a separate program.

Non-Thesis Track (33 credits)


Research Core Requirement: (6 credits)


Prerequisite requirements: (16 credits)


  • BIOL 130 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 3
  • BIOL 132 - Anatomy and Physiology I Lab Credits: 1
  • PSYC 109 - Human Development Credits: 3
  • PSYC 221 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
  • SMRT 253 - Processes and Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation Credits: 3
  • SMRT 272 - Introducation to Therapeutic Recreation Credits: 3

Program requirements: (15 credits)


Child Life Specialist Certification


(courses to be taken in place of the twelve credits of SMRT directed electives as listed in the program requirements)

Thesis Track (36 credits)


Research Core requirement for Thesis: (12 credits)


Prerequisite requirements: (16 credits)


  • BIOL 130 - Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 3
  • BIOL 132 - Anatomy and Physiology I Lab Credits: 1
  • PSYC 109 - Human Development Credits: 3
  • PSYC 221 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3
  • SMRT 253 - Processes and Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation Credits: 3
  • SMRT 272 - Introducation to Therapeutic Recreation Credits: 3

Program requirements: (12 credits)


Additional information:


Developmental Psychology is required or Psychology of Human Development Across the Life Span is required for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC)

Candidates are eligible for the M.Ed. or M.S. Degree in accordance with Plans A or B as described below:

I. The Master of Education degree

Plan A requires successful completion of all graduate work and successful completion of a program-specific comprehensive culminating experience (independent research project with a poster presentation or a comprehensive business plan).

The research requirement under this plan are embedded throughout the curriculum.Each class includes research topics specific to the discipline which will then be presented as part of a comprehensive portfolio to the department at the completion of the required courses.

II. The Master of Science degree

This degree requires students to engage in a research process, as determined by their academic program, which includes a clearly defined problem statement and hypothesis or research question, and specific and systemic procedures for data collection and analysis, resulting in a verifiable conclusion. The MS may be earned under one of the three plans:

Plan B requires successful completion of all graduate work required by the student’s specific program, and a master’s research thesis which culminates in an oral defense. The program requirements include a statistics course and six credits for RSCH 612: Proposal Design (2 credits) and RSCH 635: Thesis (4 credits). The student is eligible to receive the master of science degree, or may choose to receive the master of education.

Any exception to this program must be documented on a program change form and signed by the Sport Management and Recreation Department Chair.

Graduate Internship Experience


The graduate internship is a major part of the graduate program in Sport Management and Recreation. All graduate internships in Recreation follow the guidelines of the National Recreation and Parks Association. Graduate internships in all of the concentrations are required for a minimum of twelve weeks full-time for a minimum of 480 hours in one setting. A wide range of opportunities is available throughout the United States, and internships have been done in other countries as well.

Graduate internships in Therapeutic Recreation Management will be supervised by an agency supervisor certified as CTRS by the NCTRC. All internships for Therapeutic Recreation Management students must meet the requirements of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. The Child Life Specialist Certification requires the successful completion of an additional internship for a minimum of 12 weeks full-time for a minimum of 480 hours in one approved setting.  The Sport Management and Recreation Office (Blake Hall) maintains an A-Z schedule of placements for internships throughout the world. Graduate students have the opportunity to peruse this file throughout their tenure at Springfield College.

Some of the internship sites include:

American Hockey League
Baltimore Ravens
Bald Head Island Resort
Boston Celtics
Buffalo Bills
Charlotte Rehabilitation Hospital
Children’s Hospital in Otange County
Comcast - SpectaCor
Disney World
ESPN
Gaylord Hospital
Fox Sports
Jacksonville Country Club
NASCAR
National Football League Headquarters
New England Patriots
New York Knicks
New York Mets
Reebok
Reed’s Landing
Seattle Parks and Recreation
Smuggler’s Notch Resort
St. Louis Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Crowne Plaza on Hilton Head Island
The National Abilities Center, Utah
The New York University Rusk Institute
The Roads Less Traveled, Colorado
The U.S. Olympic Committee

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