CSULB Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies

Welcome to the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. Alumni from our program work in diverse careers that benefit individuals and communities.

The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies prepares students to promote a broader and deeper understanding of the role of leisure and recreation in the lives of all people and to enhance the quality of experiences available to each person. These include careers in public recreation and parks, recreation therapy, outdoor and environmental education, community services, community events and f

estivals, youth and adult services, campus recreation services, camp administration, travel and tourism, and commercial recreation. We offer the following programs of study:

Bachelor of Arts in Recreation with concentrations in:
Community Recreation
Parks and Outdoor Recreation Resource Management
Campus Recreation and Student Services
Tourism Management
Bachelor of Arts in Recreation with an option in Recreation Therapy

Minor in Recreation
Minor in Event Planning
Master of Arts in Recreation Administration

National accreditation of the program has been awarded continuously since 1982. The Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) accredits recreation, park resources and leisure services curricula. Our department offers the only academic program accredited by COAPRT in Southern California (Tell me more about academic accreditation). Admission to the Program

Undergraduate admission to the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies require no special admission procedures. In addition to meeting university admission requirements, graduate students applying to the Master of Arts in Recreation Administration must complete the Graduate Recreation Exam (GRE) and earn a score of at least 4.0 on the analytic writing section of the exam. Freshman/Transfer Information

All freshman students entering CSULB should begin preparing for their first semester of study by taking the Mathematics and English Placement Tests (ELM and EPT) offered by the University. Transfer students must have a 2.25 GPS and complete a minimum of 9 semester units in courses fulfilling General Education requirements in Social Science and Citizenship. Classes fulfilling this requirements include approved course in Recreation (equivalent to REC 141, Introduction to Leisure Services) , U.S. History (equivalent to HIST 172, Early US History or HIST 173, Recent US History), U.S. Constitution (equivalent to POSC 100, Introduction to American Government), and social sciences classes such as psychology (equivalent to PSY 100, General Psychology)and sociology (equivalent to SOC 100, Principles of Sociology). Thank you for considering our program for your academic needs. We look forward to welcoming you into our department.

04/28/2026

Our students know the importance of taking breaks and having fun even when times are stressful. As finals approach, here are some resources for you to destress and recreate on campus in the coming weeks:

Beach Balance sessions at the SRWC ( )
Art Workshops at The Kleefield Museum ( )
SLIME TIME with Associated Students, Inc. ( )
Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden ( )

Take care of yourselves! You can do this!

04/23/2026

One week ago, CSULB's Recreation & Leisure Studies Department celebrated faculty, student, and community achievement at our annual David Gray Awards - see the list of awardees below:

🏅 Graduate & Academic Recognition
Graduate Student Honors - Vanessa Banuelos, Wendy Natividad
Hooding Ceremony (Master’s Graduates) - Noah Meni, Wendy Natividad, Vanessa Banuelos

🏆 Major Awards
Alumni of the Year - Joe Vasquez
Retirement Award -Patti LaPlace
Partner Agency of the Year Award -CPRS D10 Mentorship Committee
Outstanding Faculty of the Year - Dr. Laurel Richmond

🎖️ Professional Association & Scholarship Recognition
CPRS District 10 Scholarships (Honorable Mentions) - Sebastian Taylor, Sarah Baird, Emma Riley, Chrisley Banzuela, Jacob Bernal, Jason Catano, Dena M. Peterson-Wiggins, Kristine Avila
Go Beach Scholarship - Sebastian Taylor

🎓 Department Scholarship Awards
Recreation and Leisure Studies Scholarship - Jacob Bernal
Jack Minar Scholarship - Jesse Saucedo
Randy Anderson Scholarship - Chrisley Banzuela
Lee Tussing Endowment - Sariah Gutierrez Juarez, Noah Meni
Wynndi Dahlin Endowment - Vanessa Covington
Maridith Curfman-Janssen Scholarship - Elise Whitworth
Marilyn Jensen Scholarship - Noah Meni
Professor CeEtta Crayton Scholarship - Alyssa Robledo
Julie Regnier McCoy Endowed Recreation Student Award (Jon Regnier Family Scholarship) - Alyssa Jimeno
Edward and Rosalie Ricci Endowed Scholarship - Selena Sykes
David Gray Award - Ezequiel Acostafortuna

Congratulations on your achievements!

03/05/2026

RLS STUDENTS AND ALUMNI! CPRS Conference is coming NEXT WEEK to the Long Beach Convention Center! Don't miss these chances to connect with other students, alumni, and RLS professionals:

>> Students & Young Professionals Social at Rainbow Lagoon Park, 3/11 4:00 - 5:30PM
>> Region 5 and RLS Alumni Social at ISM Brewing, 3/12 4:30 - 6:30PM

No RSVP required - just show up and use this opportunity to expand your professional network and resources!

02/24/2026

Mark your calendars! The Annual David Gray Awards are coming back to The Grand on Thursday, April 16 - register & buy your tickets NOW at the link in bio or at linktr.ee/CSULB_RLS

02/18/2026

RLS Students - new opportunities for jobs, scholarships, professional development, and MORE getting posted WEEKLY!

linktr.ee/CSULB_RLS for more information

02/13/2026

Congratulations Spring 2026 RLS Graduates! It's coming soon!

Follow for more graduation updates - we can't wait to see you walk this May!

Photos from CSULB Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies's post

02/11/2026

Stay tuned for more resources and information for future & current RLS students and alumni! Links and more at link in bio!

02/11/2026

Stay tuned for more resources and information for future & current RLS students and alumni! Links and more at link in bio!

Employment Opportunities | Los Alamitos, CA

11/15/2023

https://ca-losalamitos.civicplus.com/285/Employment-Opportunities
Los Alamitos is looking for part-time workers in their Recreation and Community Services department. This is an opportunity to work with RLS Alumni and gain experience in the process. Click the link or call the Recreation Supervisor for more information:

Joanna Contreras

Recreation Supervisor, Recreation and Community Services

City of Los Alamitos

(562) 430-1073

Employment Opportunities | Los Alamitos, CA Current career opportunities with the City of Los Alamitos and Employment Application

10/25/2023

Want to go to Big Bear for the summer? Brian Towle, founder of Camp Words Unspoken, is looking for recreational/cabin counselors for the summer of 2024 to watch over the youth/teenagers staying at Big Bear from July 7-10. Counselors will be given free housing, food, apparel, and an experience to look back from. If you're interested in applying, feel free to contact Towle for more information at:
[email protected]

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Location

Long Beach

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Website

https://linktr.ee/CSULB_RLS

Address

1250 N Bellflower Boulevard, # ETEC/101
Long Beach, CA
90814

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 5pm
Friday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 5pm