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Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies
If you enjoy healthy living combined with the many pleasures of leisure, sport, and tourism, then why not turn your passion into a career? Want to avoid working at a desk for the rest of your life? Are you a people person? Do you enjoy being active at work? The Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies major at Middle Tennessee State University offers specializations in recreation administration, outdoor recreation, sport studies, and tourism studies. Both our undergraduate LSTS and graduate Leisure and Sport Management (LSM) programs give professionals opportunities that range from running their own facilities to becoming athletic directors—and everything in between.
To learn more about the program, click on the INFO tab to take a look at the mission, vision, and value statements.
Professional networking part of learning
Senior Cheryl Richardson decided that a career in Leisure, Sports, and Tourism Studies interested her. She's happy with the opportunities she's had to interact with professionals in the field of recreation. “The professors encouraged me to not only attend professional conferences, but also to attend as a program presenter,” says Cheryl, who's participated at both regional and national meetings. “These opportunities have given me the chance to network and make professional contacts in the recreation field. These are valuable contacts that I know I will use in my future professional career.”
Explore a world of opportunities
After graduating with an associate degree, Alexandria Willocks had no desire to obtain a bachelor's degree. The MTSU senior is thankful that the Leisure, Sports, and Tourism Studies major caught her attention. “While in this major I have learned more than I thought possible. I have been able to study tourism in post-Soviet Union Czech Republic and Poland and wine tourism in Canada,” she says. “The firsthand experience opportunities give students real skills that they will need after graduation. I am so thankful I found this major when I did and I'm proud to be a part of it!”
The exciting Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies program offers a range of career opportunities from recreation and sport and tourism management to outdoor leadership. This ever-changing field requires skilled, versatile professionals with expertise in customer service and personnel management. Students have access to real world experience ranging from internships at state parks to study abroad trips to places such as Ireland, France, and Italy where visits to historic parks and museums help students gain a better understanding of tourism. Potential career options include work in
Leisure Studies
- Campus recreation
- Community recreation
- Outdoor recreation
- Parks and recreation departments
- Facilities management
- Military recreation
- Youth recreation
Sports
- Athletic administration
- Coaching (all levels)
- Community/public relations
- General management
- Professional organization sales
- Recreational sport
- Youth sport
Tourism
- Chambers of commerce administrator
- Convention planner
- Hotel administrator
- Tourism development
- Travel and tourism management
- Travel counselor/agent
- Visitor information provider
- Wine tourism
Employers of MTSU alumni include
- Arnold Air Force Base
- LSU Campus Recreation
- New Frontiers
- North Rutherford YMCA
- Tennessee State Parks
Dr. Kelly Bloom
Assistant Professor
kelly.bloom@mtsu.edu
Dr. Rudy Dunlap
Assistant Professor
rudy.dunlap@mtsu.edu
Dr. Steve Estes
Department Chair
steven.estes@mtsu.edu
Dr. Joey Gray
Associate Professor
joey.gray@mtsu.edu
Dr. Colby Jubenville
Professor
colby.jubenville@mtsu.edu
Dr. Dawn Shelar
Professor
victoria.shelar@mtsu.edu
Undergraduate
The Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies program is a major leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a general core accredited through the Council on Accreditation: Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT). Students may choose courses from tracks in recreation administration, outdoor recreation, sport studies, and tourism studies. Click here to see the upper division form.
The Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies program does not require a minor; however, possible choices include Athletic Coaching and Officiating, Communication Disorders, Driver and Traffic Safety Education, Health, Health and Physical Education, Health and Human Performance, or Recreation.
Graduate
The department also offers a Master of Science (M.S.) degree with a major in Leisure and Sport Management and two concentrations from which to choose: Recreation and Leisure Services and Sport Industry. A Ph.D. is available in Human Performance within which one can specialize in leisure studies.
Other degree programs offered by HHP
The Department of Health and Human Performance also offers undergraduate majors in Athletic Training; Exercise Science, Health Education with concentrations in Community and Public Health and Health Education and Lifetime Wellness; Physical Education; and Speech and Theatre with a concentration in Communication Disorders.
Undergraduate minors include Athletic Coaching and Officiating, Communication Disorders, Driver and Traffic Safety Education, Health, Health and Physical Education, Health and Human Performance, and Recreation.
In addition, an M.S. is offered with a major in Health and Human Performance, which has two concentrations: Health and Physical Education.
Other specializations under the Ph.D. in Human Performance are exercise science, health, kinesmetrics, and physical education.
An academic map is a suggested four-year schedule of courses based on degree requirements
in the undergraduate catalog. This sample schedule serves as a general guideline to
help build a full schedule each term. Milestones, courses, and special requirements
necessary for timely progress to complete a major are designated to keep you on track
to graduate in four years. Missing milestones could delay your program.
This map based on the 2013-2014 undergraduate catalog is not a substitute for academic
advisement - contact your advisor if you have any questions about scheduling or about
your degree requirements. Also see the current undergraduate catalog (catalog.mtsu.edu) for a complete list of requirements and electives.Note: Requirements are continually under revision, and there is no guarantee they
will not be changed or revoked; contact the department and/or program area for current
information.
You may choose to attend a summer term to reduce your load during fall or spring terms
but still stay on track to graduate in four years (see below). NOTE: Learning Support
courses will alter the sequences on this map.
Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies Academic Map
Department of Health and Human Performance
Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro
Suggested Fall/Spring and Summer/Fall/Spring Four-Year Schedule
Refer to the scholarships website for information regarding use of the Lottery Scholarship for the summer term.
Click here for printer friendly academic map.
| FRESHMAN FALL | FRESHMAN SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | |
| ENGL 1010 (Comm) | 3 | Must earn C or higher | Comm 2200 (Comm) | 3 | ||
| MATH (Math) | 3 | HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | |||
| HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1) | 3 | |||
| Hum/FA (Rubric 1) | 3 | Nat Sci (Rubric 1) | 4 | |||
| Hum/FA (Rubric 2) | 3 | ENGL 1020 (Comm) | 3 | Must earn C or higher | ||
| SUBTOTAL | 15 | SUBTOTAL | 16 | |||
| SOPHOMORE FALL | SOPHOMORE SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA | 3 | Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2) | 3 | |||
| LSTS 3010 | 3 | Nat Sci (Rubric 2) | 4 | |||
| LSTS 3520 | 3 | LSTS 3530 | 3 | |||
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | |
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor. | Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | |
| SUBTOTAL | 15 | SUBTOTAL | 16 | File UD and Intent to Graduate forms | ||
| JUNIOR FALL | JUNIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSTS 4540 | 3 | Offered fall only | LSTS 3380 | 3 | ||
| LSTS 3560 | 3 | LSTS 4660 | 3 | Offered spring only | ||
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS 4550 | 3 | Offered spring only | |
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS 4890 | 3 | Complete major field test.* | |
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog. | |
| Minor or advised elective course | 1 | See advisor | *Score counts toward internship grade. | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 16 | SUBTOTAL | 15 | Secure internship by end of semester. | ||
| SENIOR FALL | SENIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS 4901, LSTS 4902, LSTS 4903, or LSTS 4904 | 12 | See advisor | |
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | ||||
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | ||||
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | ||||
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | ||||
| SUBTOTAL | 15 | SUBTOTAL | 12 | |||
TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 120
| FRESHMAN SUMMER | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | Course | Hours | Milestones/Notes | |
| ENGL 1010 (Comm) | 3 | Must earn C or higher. | MATH (Math) | 3 | ||
| SUBTOTAL | 3 | SUBTOTAL | 3 | |||
| FRESHMAN FALL | FRESHMAN SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1020 (Comm) | 3 | Must earn C or higher. | COMM 2200 (Comm) | 3 | ||
| HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | HIST 2010, HIST 2020, or HIST 2030 | 3 | |||
| Hum/FA (Rubric 1) | 3 | ENGL 2020, ENGL 2030, or HUM 2610 (Hum/FA) | 3 | |||
| Nat Sci (Rubric 1) | 4 | Nat Sci (Rubric 2) | 4 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 13 | SUBTOTAL | 13 | |||
| SOPHOMORE SUMMER | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hum/FA (Rubric 2) | 3 | Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 1) | 3 | |||
| SUBTOTAL | 3 | SUBTOTAL | 3 | |||
| SOPHOMORE FALL | SOPHOMORE SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soc/Beh Sci (Rubric 2) | 3 | LSTS 3530 | 3 | |||
| LSTS 3010 | 3 | LSTS 3380 | 3 | |||
| LSTS 3520 | 3 | Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | ||
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | |
| SUBTOTAL | 12 | SUBTOTAL | 12 | File UD and Intent to Graduate forms | ||
| JUNIOR SUMMER | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSTS 3560 | 3 | LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | ||
| SUBTOTAL | 3 | SUBTOTAL | 3 | |||
| JUNIOR FALL | JUNIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS 4550 | 3 | Offered spring only | |
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | |
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | |
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | |
| Minor or advised elective course | 1 | See advisor | LSTS 4660 | 3 | Offered spring only | |
| SUBTOTAL | 13 | SUBTOTAL | 15 | Secure internship by end of semester | ||
| SENIOR FALL | SENIOR SPRING | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSTS 4890 | 3 | Take major field test.* | LSTS 4901, LSTS 4902, LSTS 4903, or LSTS 4904 | 12 | See advisor | |
| LSTS 4540 | 3 | Offered fall only | ||||
| LSTS track course | 3 | See advisor or catalog | ||||
| Minor or advised elective course | 3 | See advisor | ||||
| SUBTOTAL | 12 | SUBTOTAL | 12 | |||
| *NOTE: Score counts toward internship grade. | ||||||
TOTAL HOURS IN PROGRAM: 120
Graduation information may be accessed here.
Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies
3 credit hours
Issues relative to choices an individual and society make when utilizing "free" time and resources. Increased understanding of the multibillion dollar leisure industry and its effect on our personal and collective lives.
3 credit hours
Development and basic concepts of the leisure, sport, and tourism studies profession. History, definitions, theories, and social psychological concepts as well career opportunities and areas of service delivery.
3 credit hours
Emphasis on the camp counselor, including discussion of techniques and skills appropriate in various camp settings. Day-to-day management of residential, trip/travel, and special emphasis camps examined. Some off-campus experience.
3 credit hours
Concepts, principles, and practices in various types of park, recreation, and tourism settings. Emphasis on overall and critical subsystems of the outdoor recreation management system primarily in public land settings.
3 credit hours
The study of natural, cultural, and historical interpretation and resource education concepts, principles, and practices applicable to various types of recreation and leisure service settings. Emphasis on interpretation and resource education, why and how to interpret and educate about resources, as well as how to effectively manage interpretation and resource education in varied settings.
3 credit hours
Explores issues surrounding leisure, sport, and tourism opportunities for persons with disabilities. Introduces important issues such as attitudes, advocacy, accessibility, legislation, and the broad range of opportunities in the provision of leisure, sport, and tourism services for persons with disabilities in our society.
3 credit hours
Introduces the broad sector of recreation and leisure services profession which focuses on delivery of leisure travel and tourism-based recreation services and programs. Particular emphasis placed upon understanding the relationship between commercial recreation organizations and historical, cultural, and natural resources.
3 credit hours
Conceptual and human relationship skills required of effective professionals. Emphasis on understanding group dynamics and processes associated with leading activities, programs, and personnel in leisure, sport, and tourism settings. Key component will be field application of skills.
3 credit hours
The understanding of participant leisure, sport, and tourism needs and ways organizations create services to respond to them.
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: LSTS 3010. Planning principles, techniques, and standards as they relate to the construction of park and recreation areas and facilities.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: LSTS 3010 and LSTS 3530. Provides an opportunity for supervised practical application of classroom theory in professional leisure, sports, and tourism field work.
3 credit hours
Concentration on developing student's ability in adventure-based recreation and education. Emphasis placed on learning how to implement an outdoor pursuit experience for oneself and others. Both on- and off-campus experiences will be conducted and may involve day/overnight camping, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, rappelling, caving, ropes courses, and orienteering.
3 credit hours
Explores and examines youth sport history, philosophy, developmental stages of youth, administration and programming for youth, and current issues and events necessary to deliver youth sport activities within a variety of settings, agencies, and/or organizations. Addresses the various learning stages of youth sport and the impact these experiences can have on youth.
3 credit hours
Explores and utilizes sustainable practices to assess, develop, implement, and evaluate tourism’s potential contribution to, or detraction from, the quality of life for communities. Examines economic, environmental, socio-cultural, and political impacts on community tourism development within the community tourism development context.
3 credit hours
Familiarizes students with the sport tourism industry through exploration of sport in global society, sport event planning;/execution/evaluation, spectatorship, the economic and political sport tourism landscape, and policy impacting, and impacted by, sport tourism.
3 credit hours
Familiarizes students with how wine and tourism industry diverge, and indeed converge, across a range of economic, technical, cultural, geographic, and vocational factors.
3 credit hours
Aging relative to the individual, family, peers, and society with an emphasis on leisure. The holistic approach including physical, psychological, social, cultural, environmental, and cognitive aspects. Interdisciplinary approach makes this course ideal for the developing or practicing human service professional.
3 credit hours
Explores the many activity-based therapeutic interventions currently utilized to alleviate existing health-related problems, maintain current level of functioning, or to assist in overall rehabilitation efforts of the transdisciplinary treatment team.
3 credit hours
For those wishing to acquire a specific and comprehensive knowledge of the recreational sports program and an understanding of its place and value in education and society.
3 credit hours
Designed to provide students with an understanding of therapeutic terminology and the utilization of appropriate terminology for third party reimbursement, treatment teams, counseling, and medical documentation.
3 credit hours
Explores the profession of recreational therapy, the wide range of disabilities, and the role of intervention in a variety of settings: clinical, community, and transitional. Topics include history, philosophy, professional development/certification, systemic program design, and implementation.
3 credit hours
Increases understanding of recreational therapy in clinical settings, working with persons with health-related issues and/or disability. Concepts of disease and disability, holistic approach, interdisciplinary treatment, assessment, intervention planning and implementation, evaluation, documentation, and third party reimbursement explored.
3 credit hours
Addresses issues clients may face when leaving institutions and returning to their communities. Examines the role and provision of recreational therapy services in transitional and community-based settings.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: LSTS 3010 and nine additional hours of leisure, sports, and tourism coursework. Provides an opportunity for understanding the duties and responsibilities of an administrator and for developing the ability to perform these in recreation and leisure settings.
3 credit hours
Explores the application of public relations, customer service, and marketing systems including procedures for developing marketing and budget plans for leisure, sport, and tourism services. Emphasizes public and customer relations, budgeting, and organizing and analyzing the marketing strategies in leisure service, sport, and tourism organizations.
3 credit hours
An off-campus course that provides materials and experiences unobtainable in the traditional classroom. Exposure to issues, trends, and concerns relevant to outdoor recreation, resource management, and the delivery of programs and services in outdoor environments. Public, private non-profits, and commercial agencies will be experienced through a series of field trips, talks, groups exercises, and other experiential-based activities.
3 credit hours
Increases awareness of the importance of environmental considerations when planning, managing, or administering outdoor recreation programs. Includes environmental issues and methods of seeking solutions to environmental problems.
3 credit hours
In-depth reading; preparation of an annotated bibliography and report. Arrangements for course should be made with the instructor prior to registration.
3 credit hours
Research and evaluation procedures and techniques applicable to assessing leisure, sport, and tourism service programs, participants, administrative structures, and resources. Emphasis on beginning and completing a "real-world" evaluation project.
3 credit hours
A systematic approach to the fundamentals of group management in an experiential ropes course setting. Focuses on both interpersonal and technical facilitation skills. Several on- and off-campus experiential, demonstration, and practical application sessions required.
3 credit hours
(Same as SOC 4790.) A behavioral approach to the sport and leisure phenomena from the related perspectives of sociology and anthropology.
3 credit hours
An in-depth study of the leisure experience in other (non-U.S.) cultures through onsite observations; visits to cultural/historic sites; and interactions with managers and staff at selected parks, museums, attractions, and world heritage sites.
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: LSTS 3010 and junior standing. Review of philosophy and professional ethics of leisure, sport, and tourism services. Self assessment of student's strengths, limitations, and career aspirations. Preparation of reference files, letters, and resumes. Identification of, application to, and acceptance by department-approved agencies for completion of internship. Pass/Fail.
12 credit hours
Prerequisites: Departmental approval; minimum 2.25 GPA; LSTS 3010, LSTS 3530, LSTS 3540, LSTS 4540, and LSTS 4890; additional prerequisites: LSTS 4500, LSTS 4510, and LSTS 4480 or LSTS 4520. Provides practical experience. Student assigned to a field experience to spend an entire semester or two summer sessions in on-the-job training with a recreational agency. Students will work or volunteer 40 hours per week with an agency for a minimum of 480 hours of contact time.
12 credit hours
Prerequisites: Departmental approval; minimum 2.25 GPA; LSTS 3010, LSTS 3530, LSTS 3540, LSTS 4540, and LSTS 4890. Provides practical experience. Student assigned to a field experience to spend an entire semester or two summer sessions in on-the-job training with a recreational agency. Students will work or volunteer 40- hours per week with an agency for a minimum of 480 hours of contact time.
12 credit hours
Prerequisites: Departmental approval; minimum 2.25 GPA; LSTS 3010, LSTS 3530, LSTS 3540, LSTS 4540, and LSTS 4890. Provides practical experience. Student assigned to a field experience to spend an entire semester or two summer sessions in on-the-job training with a recreational agency. Students will work or volunteer 40 hours per week with an agency for a minimum of 480 hours of contact time.
12 credit hours
Prerequisites: Departmental approval; senior standing; minimum 2.25 GPA; LSTS 3010, LSTS 3530, LSTS 4540, and LSTS 4890. Provides practical experience. Students assigned to a field experience to spend an entire semester or two summer sessions in on-the-job training with a sport agency. Students will work or volunteer 40 hours per week with an agency for a minimum of 480 hours of contact time.
12 credit hours
Prerequisites: Departmental approval; senior standing; minimum 2.25 GPA; LSTS 3010, LSTS 3530, LSTS 3540, LSTS 4540, and LSTS 4890. Provides practical experience. Students assigned to a field experience to spend an entire semester or two summer sessions in on-the-job training with a tourism agency. Students will work or volunteer 40 hours per week with an agency for a minimum of 480 hours of contact time.
1 to 3 credit hours
(Same as ATHT 4920/EXSC 4920/HLTH 4920/PHED 4920.) Independent study topics based on a study plan prepared in cooperation with a faculty supervisor. Culminates in a formal paper and/or comprehensive examination. Application forms must be completed and approved prior to enrollment. A maximum of three credit hours may be applied toward degree.
3 credit hours
(Same as ATHT 4965/EXSC 4965.) Examines the various uses of the aquatic environment to develop, maintain, and improve physical performance with practical development of skills and techniques and aquatic exercise programming. Combines both didactic and laboratory activities in an experiential learning environment.
Mission Statement
The Leisure, Sport, and Tourism Studies (LSTS) program at Middle Tennessee State University is a nationally accredited academic program recognized by the Council on Accreditation: Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (since 1994). We fully embrace the 2007-2017 Academic Master Plan of Middle Tennessee State University and work diligently to meet the goals and objectives described therein. The LSTS faculty is committed to creating an atmosphere of shared responsibility, respect, and dignity through open and honest communication, which will facilitate teamwork and enhance service delivery to our students, the campus and the community. Every opportunity to enhance the diversity of the faculty, staff, and students will be pursued in order to create a stimulating environment indicative of the larger global community. Through mutual respect and realistic expectations, faculty and staff will work together to further the mission of the University. We continually develop and revise goals in each of the three primary areas recognized by MTSU: education; research, and service.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Leisure, Sport, and Tourism program is to work collaboratively within the Department of Health and Human Performance and Middle Tennessee State University to strengthen our students individually and collectively. We will prepare students to face the future by being globally oriented and skillfully prepared for the new challenges our society faces in this millennium.
Value Statement
The Leisure, Sport, and Tourism program is located in the Department of Health and Human Performance and embraces the following core values:
- Healthy and active lifestyles
- Community service
- Fostering of diverse experiences
- Collaborative atmosphere
- Lifelong learning
Forms & Manuals
Important Information Regarding Degree Mills
Please watch this important video (http://youtu.be/a1voHNMQDrk) regarding degree and accreditation mills. According to CHEA, "Degree mills and accreditation mills mislead and harm. In the United States, degrees and certificates from mills may not be acknowledged by other institutions when students seek to transfer or go to graduate school. Employers may not acknowledge degrees and certificates from degree mills when providing tuition assistance for continuing education. “Accreditation” from an accreditation mill can mislead students and the public about the quality of an institution. In the presence of degree mills and accreditation mills, students may spend a good deal of money and receive neither an education nor a useable credential."Read more on CHEA's website (http://www.chea.org/degreemills/).
Contact and Student Information
Coordinator
joey.gray@mtsu.edu
615-898-2811
Department of Health and Human Performance
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 96
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
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