The time for class registration for the 2016-17 academic year has arrived, and students must decide what classes they will take next year.

Students with an interest in developing and managing recreational activities may find the perfect fit for themselves in the newly-developed recreation and leisure management emphasis within the hospitality and tourism management (HTM) major.

The recreation and leisure management emphasis will prepare students to work professionally in the recreation and leisure fields by teaching them skills such as how to design, stage, implement and evaluate a variety of recreation programs at different agencies.

Scott Rood, the assistant department chair said recreation and leisure professionals work in a variety of settings, such as resorts, camps, YMCAs and municipal park and recreation agencies throughout the country.

Rood, who was responsible for the development of this emphasis area, said he saw opportunities for HTM students to work in the recreation field during his own professional experiences while working with attraction management for water parks and laser tag businesses, and his service to the profession, being a board member of the Resort and Commercial Recreation Association.

“The addition of the recreation and leisure emphasis will now provide solid academic theory and underpinnings for these students in addition to expanding their field-work opportunities beyond resort recreation,” Rood said.

This 15-credit emphasis includes three required courses, including “tourism and recreation management,” “fundamentals of recreation and leisure programming” and “leadership in recreation and leisure.”

Students will also choose two additional classes from, “disability, sport and physical activity,” “grant writing” and “hospitality facilities management” for a total of six credits.

Within the HTM major, there are four other emphasis areas students can choose from, including lodging, food service, recreation and travel services.

Patty Janes, a HTM associate professor said that HTM courses address a wide range of skills, which are not only applicable to the HTM profession, but to other industries as well.

For example, HTM students must complete courses in finance, law, human resources, marketing and research, as well as three internships to gain professional experience.

“Successful HTM students are well rounded, service oriented and dynamic problem solvers,” said Janes. “I love having the opportunity to work with dynamic GVSU undergraduate students who are intelligent, hard working and creative people.”

Rood said that while many other universities offer a bachelor of science degree in HTM, GVSU has a unique program in that there are so many different emphasis areas.

“Students who select this major as a career realize they will work a large number of hours, they will face a number of challenges working with operations and serving guests and employees/volunteers, and their salary will initially be average,” Janes said. “However, students who explore this industry want to make a difference in people’s lives.”

The diverse mix of classes within the HTM major gives students the tools they need to face these challenges in the profession, and the various emphasis areas created will help to give students an education that will be beneficial to their individual career goals.