Bachelor of Science Degree in Therapeutic Recreation & Recreation and Tourism Management

Undergraduate Admission:

Students must have completed 15 semester hours of coursework (including ENGL 110C) with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 and have a personal interview with a faculty member in the RTS program. Old Dominion University welcomes qualified transfer students from area and state community colleges.

Program Mission

The mission of the Recreation and Tourism Studies (RTS) Program is to facilitate the professional preparation of students interested in pursuing and/or continuing a career in recreation and tourism management or therapeutic recreation. Both undergraduate and graduate curricula are offered to encourage students toward leadership opportunities in direct service, supervision, and administration. The RTS Program fosters a learning environment of quality instruction, applied research and community service that stimulates the pursuit of knowledge and truth through opportunity and scholarship.

Prior to graduation, every student major must complete an internship comprising 600 clock hours of supervised field-based experience in a professional service setting. The student has a wide variety of fieldwork agencies from which to choose. Depending upon one's selected area of career emphasis, agency selections have included the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland; the Naval Base in Rota, Spain; and the Amelia Island Resort in Amelia Island, Florida.

Program Accreditation

The Recreation and Tourism Studies (RTS) Program at Old Dominion University is professionally accredited by the National Recreation and Park Association/American Association of Leisure and Recreation (NRPA/AALR) Council on Accreditation. This professional council is additionally recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Graduation

Students must: (1) maintain a grade point average of 2.00 overall; (2) maintain a grade point average of 2.00 in the major; (3) pass the University Exit Examination of Writing Proficiency; (4) complete an internship; (5) satisfy all course competencies; (6) take department and university assessment exams; and (7) have an exit interview. Upon completion of the above, each student major will be awarded the Bachelor of Science degree.