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Philosophy, History, and Curriculum
Prepared by Professor Allen V. Sapora
Philosophy
Throughout its fifty-one year history, the philosophy underlying the Department of
Leisure Studies Undergraduate Curriculum has been and remains:
To provide students with a well-rounded education involving courses related to
their interests in the phenomena and service delivery of leisure, as
well as General Education courses from which students can gain insight
and can integrate a variety of disciplines.
With this philosophy as a base, a prescriptive curriculum, with latitude, has
always been in place, evolving to meet the changing challenges of time,
and designed to allow sufficient flexibility for students to tailor their
curricula to meet their specific educative needs and interests.
As a direct result, Department of Leisure Studies students graduate with
a well-rounded Background in the philosophy of leisure and with a thorough,
practical knowledge of leisure service delivery systems and tools. This
gives them the Background and know-how necessary to obtain mid-management
positions and successfully execute mid-management responsibilities in
the leisure delivery system of their choice.
History
The evolution of Leisure Studies at the University of Illinois is a tribute
to the continuing desire for keenly focused relevance and "all-phase"
excellence. Numerous curriculum revisions reflect the dramatic changes
and advancements in the field and in the demands of citizens and customers
over the decades.
The first professional recreation course at the University of Illinois
was offered in 1932 (Golden Anniversary, 1982). Apparently at the time
women were discouraged from developing their professional recreational
teaching interests as opposed to becoming involved in leading physical
education classes. There was competition for students and, as a result,
women were encouraged to stick with the education degree rather than enter
the no-man's [sic] land of recreation.
From 1937 to 1949, the courses evolved to a more professional focus. In
the late 1930s, Arthur Daniels proposed a professional degree in recreation.
Daniels began to prepare a general recreation curriculum and the associated
budget and staff.
"In 1940, the first bachelor of science course with a field of specialization
in recreation was offered; although the first official curriculum in recreation
was not listed until the 1949-50 edition of the University of Illinois
Bulletin" (Silver Anniversary). Another report indicated that. . .the
recreation movement. . .[is] developing rapidly. This is resulting in
a steadily increasing demand for trained leaders. The University, accordingly,
should undertake to provide graduate instructions in these subjects at
an early date.
In Academic Year (AY) 46/47, the annual report indicated that planning
had begum to develop specialized curricula in recreational leadership.
In 1947/48, the School of Physical Education listed the training of recreational
leaders among its primary missions. It was also in this year that the
authorization for a curriculum for the B.S. in Recreation, with Professor
Sapora as head, was realized. However, in 48/49 the new curriculum was
open only to men. Most agreed this was unacceptable. As a matter of fact,
in the College 49/50 annual report, the tone of the report reflects "both
eagerness to continue developing the recreation program and to enrich
the number of women in the department. `It is important,' the report notes,
`that we secure the services of strong women leaders in both (Health Education
and Recreation) areas' (1949-50).
The department continued to move forward. Change and advancement came in rapid
sequence. "Students in the recreation curriculum are required to take
special courses including art, dramatics, social welfare, biology, music,
dancing, and sport (1949-50). "Clearly, the vision of recreation developing
on the campus of the University of Illinois reflects a Classical approach
to human activity--the goal being a fully-formed and well-rounded graduate
in the specialty" (Sapora, 1993).
The first B.S. degree in recreation was awarded in 1952. Additionally,
the curriculum began to accept female students.
With the development of specialized staff and adequate enrollment, the undergraduate
curriculum in recreation was extensively revised in 51/52. In 52/53, Dr.
Charles Brightbill, newly appointed department head, pointed out that
the purpose of the recreation training program was to prepare professionals,
both women and men, for roles in a variety of levels in both private and
public settings.
During 53/54, undergraduate enrollment increased approximately 60% and
the search continued for women faculty members in recreation (SAR-1953-54).
The program continued to grow.
Dr. William Randall left the School to begin to develop the recreation curriculum
at the University of Massachusetts. This `sporing off' of University of
Illinois faculty became something of a feature of the Recreation and,
later, Leisure and Recreation academic infrastructure in the United States.
The annual report in 55/56 notes that curriculum changes were made in the
undergraduate program following:
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Analysis of undergraduate recreation curricula in forty-nine other colleges and
universities
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Interviews with faculty members of other departments, schools, and colleges at
the University of Illinois responsible for teaching courses included
in the recreation curriculum
-
Polling and evaluating of the observations of recreation majors who were graduated
in the classes of 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955 (SAR 1955-56).
These changes have allowed a more closely targeted approach to the professional
needs of specialists and have improved the depth and range in the essential
elements of general and liberal education.
For Recreation Field Work (REC 278-279), which was in the past supported
only on (or near) campus, participation has been nourished by the initiation,
this year (1956), of off-campus field work opportunities beginning in
the summer session. Even today, all of our majors are required to complete
a sixteen-week fieldwork experience. While some students elect to stay
in the vicinity of Urbana-Champaign, most accept fieldwork assignments
in other parts of the State of Illinois or in other states which offer
different resources. Some exceptional students are able to attain positions
in other countries around the world.
In 1957, the name was changed from The School of Physical Education to
the College of Physical Education. This change was accompanied by the
creation of two newly named separate departments: Department of Health
and Safety Education and the Department of Recreation.
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