Recreation and Leisure Services

Program Overview

Helping people of all ages to engage in recreation and leisure programs and events is at the heart of a career in recreation and leisure. This program provides you with the skills and experience to start your career in government, non-profit and commercial recreation organizations. You will learn how to use industry-standard records management software. With an interesting blend of management training, program and event planning, implementation, and evaluation, and customer service, recreation and leisure professionals provide healthy, well-rounded lifestyle opportunities for community members to connect, play, and grow.

Field Placement

Planning

Working Outdoors

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

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Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2020	Open	Open

Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CDN)
Year one international: $13,322 (CDN)

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Semester 1 Courses

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Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Activity director
Outdoor education programmer
Parks/facilities/recreation coordinator
Recreation specialist
Recreational sports league convener
Sport/leisure consultant
Team/club program coordinator
Youth programmer

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Program Details

This popular program provides students with the leadership skills and training required to strategically plan, implement, evaluate and manage programs for community members of all ages and abilities, prepare budgets, raise funds, manage staff, and market activities with teams of volunteers and other recreation and leisure service providers.

As a graduate, you can pursue an exciting and rewarding career offering recreation programs to community members of all ages and abilities. As such, you will study:

Community development
Facility management
Fundraising for sport
Outdoor recreation
Program and event management
Recreation for diverse populations

You will have the opportunity to obtain HIGH FIVE certifications in Principles of Healthy Child Development (PHCD), Principles of Healthy Aging and Quality Experience Scanning Tool 2 (QUEST 2) from Parks and Recreation Ontario, as well as other workshops and certifications embedded within the program. In addition, you will learn about various types of recreation management software, which is used extensively in the Canadian recreation industry.

Certifications

High Five Principles of Healthy Childhood Development (PHCD)
High Five Principles of Healthy Aging
High Five Quality Experience Scanning Tool (QUEST 2)
U-First training for professional caregivers for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias from the Alzheimer Society of Ontario
First Aid & CPR-C

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Costs

YEAR ONE FEES	Domestic	International
Tuition	$2,722	$13,322
Compulsory Ancillary	$1,337	$1,812
Program Incidental	$300	$300
Total Fees:	$4,359	$15,434

Please note: fees are based on the 2019-2020 academic year and do not include textbooks. For more information please see Other fees to consider.

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Activity director
Outdoor education programmer
Parks/facilities/recreation coordinator
Recreation specialist
Recreational sports league convener
Sport/leisure consultant
Team/club program coordinator
Youth programmer

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Community centres
Municipal government agencies
Not-for-profit agencies
Outdoor education centres
Private /commercial organizations
Retirement residencies
Long-term care facilities
Sport organizations
Therapeutic institutions
Recreation/event tourism

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by two field placements of 120 hours each included in the final year, which will give you the opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills you have obtained to prepare you for working in industry upon graduation.

Documentation Requirements

To be eligible for the lab/placement component of this program you must (at your expense) provide:

Entry Immunization form completed by a health-care provider
Criminal Reference Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (valid for 6 months)

In order to maintain confidentiality and security, the program utilizes an independent provider, Verified by Synergy Gateway for field placement documentation collection and validation. This process is the Electronic Student Permit Checking (ESPC). There is a cost associated with this external agency of $49.95. Please refer to the Recreation and Leisure Services Program ESPC Information Package for details.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

Please visit out pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

COVID-19 Information

Recreation and Leisure Services

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Intakes and Availability

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

Certifications

Admission Requirements

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

Field Placement

Documentation Requirements

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]