Physical Activity & Recreation Administration

Baldwin Wallace University has discontinued the physical activity and recreation administration major and is no longer accepting applications as of spring 2024. View majors.

Undergraduate Admission

(440) 826-2222, admission@bw.edu

OVERVIEW

The ever-growing field of wellness needs individuals who bring enthusiasm, knowledge and strategic planning to careers in physical activity, community recreation and coaching.

Baldwin Wallace's physical activity and recreation administration major combines comprehensive coursework, practical experiences and a required internship. You'll gain the skills to effectively design, manage, evaluate and market programs in community settings.

You'll learn best practices for serving individuals of all ages and abilities as well as be prepared for leadership positions in operations and administration.

Small class sizes, personalized attention and mentoring are at the core of the program. You'll benefit from BW's impressive network of community partners and 20-minute proximity to Cleveland, a wellness hub offering diverse internship and career opportunities.

Career Opportunities

Recreation programs supervisor
Athletic coach
Athletic coordinator
Fitness center director
Camp coordinator
Park development manager
Sports administrator

Center for Coaching Excellence

The Center supports athletic coaches and student-athletes of all ages. Opportunities include collaborative research, workshops, partnerships, coaching and player development, and more.

CURRICULUM

The physical activity and recreation administration major combines quality academic coursework and experiential learning in diverse settings. You'll benefit from professors with decades of real-world experience who will work closely with you to obtain an internship related to your professional interests.

Upon completion of the major, you'll be eligible for the Physical Activity Leader credential through the Society of Health and Physical Educators and to sit for the Certified Parks and Recreation Professional Examination.

Additional areas of study include minors in athletic coaching, nutrition and recreation.

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through co-curricular activities like:

PARA Student Organization

PARA (which stands for Physical Activity and Recreation Administration) offers educational and professional opportunities for students to build valuable skills, expand their understanding of the profession, and learn about the requirements of graduate and professional programs.

Student Scholarships

At the annual Ovation Ceremony each spring, recognitions include:

Bonnie Raye Graduate Scholarship (in honor Bonnie Raye, who taught at BW and was the women's basketball coach, 1980-89).
Dr. Lee J. Tressel Scholarship (in honor of Dr. Lee Tressel '48, who taught and was BW's football coach, 1957-80).
Hower-Stover Award (in honor of Dr. Marjorie Hower, who was a professor at BW, 1947-80, and Myrta Stover, who coached and taught at BW, 1943-68).