Recreation and Health Education
In this program you’ll study how recreation impacts health, society and quality of life. And you’ll learn how to plan and facilitate wellness experiences.
Potential careers
What can you do with a recreation and health education degree? Here are a few jobs that relate to the program:
- personal trainer
- fitness or wellness coordinator
- outdoor programmer
- camp leader or director
- occupational therapist
- aquatic program assistant
- athletic coach
- community support worker
- recreation programmer for adults
- community recreation coordinator
- cardiac rehabilitation
- policy analyst
- rehabilitation specialist
- facilities supervisor
- recreation therapist
Some of these roles may require post-graduate studies or training.
Find a career that fits you
- Explore your career options at an appointment with a career educator.
- Attend career development workshops as you search for work.
- Take part in the Career Clarity program to generate career ideas and plan your next steps.
Experience & connections
Opportunities in the recreation and health education program
- With the Co-op Program you can alternate study with paid work.
Opportunities outside your program
- With a work study position you can develop skills during your study term.
- Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community while you build skills.
Networks you can connect to
Here are a few professional associations related to recreation and health education:
Hands-on learning opportunities
These courses in the recreation and health education program offer extensive hands-on learning.
Co-op
Co-op work terms
Alternate academic study with paid work terms to gain workplace experience
Creative or physical practice
EPHE 142 - Personal Health, Wellness and Potential
Develop an exercise program for a community member
Field experience
EPHE 142 - Personal Health, Wellness and Potential
Improve the community’s quality of life with a community legacy project
EPHE 252 - Leadership Methods for Recreation and Health Education
Engage in a community leadership experience while studying leadership methods
EPHE 270 - Foundations of Outdoor Recreation
Take part in field trips and assignments to explore outdoor recreation environments
EPHE 271 - Group Fitness
Design and deliver group exercise programs
EPHE 358 - Management in Recreation and Health
Help build a healthy community by conducting a social entrepreneurship project
EPHE 260 - Exercise Prescription
Develop an exercise program for a community member
EPHE 445 - Developmental and Adaptive Physical Activity
Work with people with disabilities to assess performance and adapt activities
EPHE 345 - Health Education for Children and Youth
Teach health education to children in after school care programs
EPHE 453 - Event Management
Apply planning, risk management and interpersonal communication skills to the management of an event
Professional and technical skill development
EPHE 200 - Introduction to Professional Practice
Prepare for co-op and gain work search skills
Study abroad
(international experience)
U of Agder (Norway)
U of Newcastle Froka17 (Australia)
U of Stirling (Scotland)
U of Victoria (Australia)
Discover the world and gain intercultural experience studying overseas
To learn more about the study abroad options visit the partner universities page.
These courses are not always offered as described.
What you'll learn
Every student at UVic builds skills all employers look for. At UVic Co-op & Career we call these "competencies". This is what you’ll learn in the recreation and health education program.
Field of practice and body of knowledge
- apply psychological and social factors to the delivery of programs and services
- understand health, health promotion, play, sport, leisure and recreation
- understand physical activity, culture, outdoors and wellness
- apply research to stay current in recreation and health education
- develop your own philosophy of recreation, leisure and health promotion
- apply wellness strategies that contribute to the long-term health of program participants
- adapt to cultural and social trends that influence recreation and health education
Building community
- Identify and use key values and shared vision to guide action
- adapt to organizational systems that affect the delivery of programs and services
- understand how demographic issues affect community well-being
- understand how socio-psychological issues affect community well-being
- understand how ecological issues affect community well-being
- develop strategies that meet community health and recreation goals
- find and prepare proposals for community-based funding opportunities
- develop strategies to assess community initiatives
- develop management and marketing techniques
- understand how equity and inclusiveness relate to community development