Career Pathways and Internship Opportunities
Where Can Recreation & Leisure Services Take You?
Recreation & Leisure Services (RLS) is an applied discipline. It builds on an interdisciplinary foundation informed by the business, sociology, psychology, education, and the natural science fields. Students examine the important role leisure and recreation play in people's lives while developing the professional skills needed to plan, manage, lead, and evaluate programs, organizations, and experiences.
Baylor RLS faculty bring contemporary research and professional expertise into the classroom. Faculty scholarship explores areas such as human dimensions of natural resource management; state/national park operations; stakeholder engagement; outdoor leadership; and risk, judgment, and decision-making. Students learn to connect research and theory with the complex, real-world decisions recreation professionals make every day.
The RLS program also builds upon Baylor's longstanding tradition of preparing students for leadership in Christian recreation and Christian camping, including professionally operated Christian camps and retreat centers, as well as recreation-based ministry within churches and other faith-based organizations. This heritage exists within the broader professional fields of camping, recreation, and leisure services and reflects Baylor's commitment to integrating academic preparation, professional practice, and Christian faith. We challenge students to consider how their faith informs leadership, service, ethical decision-making, stewardship, inclusion, and care for others.
A degree in RLS opens an exciting world of possibilities and prepares graduates not simply to work in recreation, but to lead and serve because at Baylor they developed competencies in leadership and communication, program planning and management, critical thinking and decision-making, marketing and promotion, risk management, facilitation, and working effectively with individuals and groups.
Explore the pathways below to discover where an RLS degree can take you:
Build stronger communities and healthy individuals through recreation.
Plan, manage, and lead recreation programs and services that promote health, connection, belonging, and quality of life. Professionals work in municipal parks and recreation departments, military recreation programs, community centers, and other public and community-based settings.
Professionals working in community recreation benefit from a strong academic foundation in program planning and management, marketing and promotion, and community engagement.
Potential Careers:
Recreation Director • Parks & Recreation Professional • Community Recreation Coordinator • Recreation Program Manager • Military Recreation Specialist • Community Services Coordinator
Internship Opportunities:
- Georgetown Park & Recreation
- Morale, Welfare and Recreation, MWR
Connect people with public lands while helping protect the places they enjoy.
Work in parks, protected areas, and land management agencies to support recreation, visitor experiences, interpretation, natural resource stewardship, and sustainable use of public lands.
Professionals working in parks and protected areas benefit from a strong academic foundation in recreation and resource management, interpretation and visitor services, and environmental stewardship.
Potential Careers:
Park Ranger • Park Manager • Recreation Specialist • Interpretive Specialist • Recreation Resource Manager • Visitor Services Professional
Internship Opportunities:
- Summit Bechtel Reserve
Help young people learn, grow, connect, and thrive through recreation.
Design and lead recreation, camp, and experiential programs that foster youth development, leadership, belonging, and personal growth. Opportunities can be found in camps, nonprofit organizations, schools, community programs, and youth-serving agencies.
Professionals working with youth and camps benefit from a strong academic foundation in human growth and development, recreation program planning, and leadership and facilitation.
Potential Careers:
Camp Director • Camp Program Coordinator • Youth Program Director • Youth Development Professional • Recreation Coordinator • Experiential Education Professional
Internship Opportunities:
- T Bar M Camps and Retreats
- Fit Kids America
- Pine Cove Camps
- Campus by the Sea
Turn your passion for outdoor adventure into a profession.
Lead and manage outdoor recreation experiences while developing expertise in leadership, risk management, trip planning, and participant experience. Professionals may work for guide services, outfitters, resorts, adventure programs, and recreation-based businesses.
Professionals working in outdoor adventure benefit from a strong academic foundation in outdoor leadership, risk management and decision-making, and adventure program planning and operations.
Potential Careers:
Outdoor Adventure Guide • Outfitter • Outdoor Program Manager • Adventure Program Director • Outdoor Recreation Coordinator • Adventure Tourism Professional
Internship Opportunities:
- Zip Lost Pines
- Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center
Create memorable experiences that connect people and places.
Develop, manage, and promote recreation and visitor experiences within tourism, hospitality, resorts, destinations, and recreation-based businesses. Careers may combine recreation programming with guest services, destination management, events, and tourism development.
Professionals working in tourism and hospitality benefit from a strong academic foundation in management, marketing and promotion, and visitor and guest experience.
Potential Careers:
Tourism Professional • Destination Management Professional • Visitor Experience Coordinator • Resort Recreation Professional • Travel & Tourism Coordinator • Event and Experience Coordinator
Internship Opportunities:
Use recreation to enhance health, functioning, independence, and quality of life.
Therapeutic recreation professionals use purposeful recreation experiences to support individuals with illnesses, disabilities, and other health-related needs across healthcare, rehabilitation, community, and adaptive recreation settings.
Professionals working in therapeutic recreation develop a strong academic foundation in human development and health, assessment and program planning, and inclusive and adaptive recreation.
Potential Careers:
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) • Therapeutic Recreation Specialist • Adaptive Recreation Professional • Recreation Therapist • Community-Based Therapeutic Recreation Professional
Internship Opportunities:
Create recreation and outdoor experiences that help college students thrive.
Develop and lead campus recreation, outdoor adventure, intramural, wellness, and student engagement programs that promote health, belonging, leadership, and community within colleges and universities.
Professionals working in university recreation benefit from a strong academic foundation in recreation program management, leadership and risk management, and student development and engagement.
Potential Careers:
Campus Recreation Professional • Outdoor Program Coordinator • Intramural Sports Coordinator • Campus Recreation Program Manager • Outdoor Adventure Director • Wellness Program Coordinator
Internship Opportunities:
Help people learn through meaningful experiences in nature and the outdoors.
Design and facilitate educational experiences that connect people with natural and cultural resources through outdoor education, environmental education, interpretation, and experiential learning. Professionals may work in nature centers, parks, outdoor schools, environmental organizations, and other education-focused settings.
Professionals working in nature and outdoor education benefit from a strong academic foundation in teaching and facilitation, environmental interpretation, and experiential and outdoor education methods.
Potential Careers:
Outdoor Educator • Environmental Educator • Interpretive Specialist • Nature Center Educator • Experiential Education Professional • Outdoor Education Program Coordinator
Internship Opportunities:
- Sea Base, Scouting America