Enrollment

The Youth and Family Recreation Masters program serves students by providing a spiritually enriching, stimulating and rigorous educational environment that fosters analytical problem solving and writing skills related to strengthening youth and families through wholesome recreation. Enrollment in this two-year program is limited and competitive. The scholarly focus of the program requires students to work closely with graduate faculty in a mentored environment in designing and conducting and disseminating quality research that contributes to the body of knowledge in Family Leisure and other related disciplines. After completing coursework, students conduct original research that culminates in a master's thesis. Students will then submit their thesis work to professional journals for publication consideration.
Program graduates are well equipped to pursue further advanced studies or positively impact their chosen professions working with youth and families.

Last updated: October 2007

Application Deadline

The complete graduate application packet, including letters of recommendation and G.R.E. scores, must be submitted prior to February 1. All students will begin their studies the Fall semester following acceptance into the program.

Apply Online for the graduate program.

Last updated: October 2007

Requirements for Admission

• Fulfill all requirements for admission to the graduate school (See University Catalog ).
• GPA: minimum 3.0 for last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work
• Prerequisite:
  • Stat 510, 220 or equivalent
  • Applicants with undergraduate degrees from other disciplines may be admitted, but must complete 6-9 hours of approved prerequisite courses (RMYL 304, 486, 487; Statistics 510 or equivalent)

Last updated: October 2007

RMYL Courses

The graduate program focuses specifically on family recreation (issues of leisure philosophy, theory, devlopment, participation, and program as it relates to the family).

603. Statistics for Recreation and Leisure Services

613. Graduate Research Methods

601. Theoretical Foundations of Family Recreation. (3)
Historical development, theoretical basis, and applied techniques of family recreation.

611. Philosophy and Social Psychology of Leisure. (3)
Examines a philosophical basis for leisure as well as social psychological theories sliding recreation practice and research.

612. Issues and Applications in Family Recreation. (3)
Intensive investigation and discussion on current issues, problems and trends in Family Recreation and Youth Programs 699R Thesis (1-9).

699R. Master's Thesis. (6)

Last updated: October 2007

Requirements for Degree

• Credit hours (33): 27 coursework hours, plus 6 thesis hours (RMYL 699R)
• Required courses:
  MFT 630 Theoretical Foundations of Family Systems (3),
  MFHD/Soc 550 Contemporary Family Theories (3)
  RMYL 601 Theoretical Foundations of Family Recreation (3)
  RMYL 610 Statistics
  RMYL 611 Philosophy and Social Psychology of Leisure (3)
  RMYL 612 Issues and Applications in Family Recreation
  RMYL 613 Graduate Research Methods (3)
  RMYL 699R Thesis (6)
  3-6 hours of committee approved statistics from Stat 511, 512, Soc 605.
• Electives: 6 credits upon committee approval.

Thesis

A thesis prospectus must be prepared, approved by the student's Advisory Committee Chair, Department Graduate Coordinator, and the members of the student's Advisory Committee, and filed with the College Graduate Coordinator prior to or while concurrently enrolled in RMYL 699R. The prospectus review process may begin during the graduate student's enrollment in MFHD-Soc 600. A thesis is approved after it has been reviewed in a final oral exam and signed by the student's Advisory Committee, the Department Chair, and College Dean. Four copies are provided to the University library for binding in its permanent collection. Additional copies for the canidate are suggested.

Minor (optional): any approved minor.

Examinations: Oral defense of thesis.

Not all courses are taught every semester. Students should plan their schedules according to the dapartment's course availability.
The manuscript should then be prepared and submitted for scholarly publication in an academic journal in the field.

Last updated: October 2007

Financial Assistance Graduate Awards

The university now uses only two terms to describe the types of graduate awards available: assistantships (awards for which service is required), and scholarships (awards for which no service is required, generally tuition awards). Application procedures, requirements, and selection processes for awards remain the same.

Student Loan Information

Norman B. Finlinson, Director of Student Financial Aid, A-41 ASB, 422-4104.

Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships are available in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership Department. Graduate candidates who are interested in these employment oportunities should inquire about them with the department graduate coordinator.

Last updated: October 2007

Standards of Excellence for Graduate Students

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the graduate program in Youth and Family Recreation, students will meet the Aims of a BYU Education by being able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to gain knowledge, understanding, and insight through the use and production of quality research that contributes to the body of knowledge, community, and world.
   (Intellectually Enlarging, Lifelong Learning and Service, Character Building)
   
   
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical knowledge, understanding, and insight related to youth, family, and leisure in practical situations, services, and programs in the home, community, and world.
   (Intellectually Enlarging, Lifelong Learning and Service, Character Building)
   
   
3. Demonstrate academic and personal integrity as well as excellence in oral and written communication.
   (Character Building, Intellectually Enlarging)
   
   
4. Demonstrate their moral character, spiritual insight, and commitment to serve and learn through their Christ-like action towards others in personal, professional, and academic settings.
   (Character Building, Learning and Service, Spiritually Strengthening)
   
   
5. Communicate a strengthening of their testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ particularly as it relates to "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and strengthening youth and families through wholesome recreation.
   (Spiritually Strengthening, Learning and Service)

Last updated: October 2007

General Information

1. Each graduate student should become familiar with Graduate School regulations and expectations, academic procedures, and due dates for graduate materials.
2. All graduate work and forms must receive clearance from the Graduate Coordinator of the College of Health and Human Performance 214 Richards Building.
3. It is the candidate's responsibility to submit all forms, creat a study list, meet with the graduate faculty, and abide by all degree requirements.
4. All graduate students should obtain a copy of the Graduate Students Handbook from the Recreation Management and Youth Leadership departmental office (273 RB). By reviewing the handbook, a student eliminates confusion and focuses energy on issues relevant to graduate study at Brigham Young University.
5. All 600 level courses in the Department are reserved for candidates admitted to the graduate program in Recreation.
6. No more than 10 hours of credit earned during non-degree status may be aplied toward the Master's degree.
7. Minimum Registration Requirement. Academic Year. To retain active status and to qualify for subsequent registration, graduate students must register for at least 6 semester credit hours each school year and receive acceptable grades (no D, E, UW, NS, or I grades are allowed; nor are audits or correspondence courses).

Minimum Registration Requirements

U.S. students are required to register for at least 2 credit hours during any semester or term in which they use any university facilities, consult with faculty, or take comprehensive or oral examinations. International Students must register for at least 9 credit hours each fall and each winter semeser to fulfill U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service requirements. Questions should be redirected to International Services (350 SWKT, Provo, UT 84602-5520, telephone (801) 422-2695.

Last updated: October 2007

Department of Recreation Management & Youth Leadership

Department Chair: Patti Freeman, Ph. D.

Graduate Program Coordinator

Ramon Zabriskie, Ph. D.

Downloads

Download the RMYL Brochure .

Contact Information

Brigham Young University
Department of Recreation Management & Youth Leadership
273 Richards Building
PO Box 22031
Provo, UT 84602-2031
(801) 422-4369

Last updated: October 2007

Departmental Graduate Faculty

Patti Freeman, Ph. D. Professor. PhD, Indiana University,
1993. Leisure Behavior; Family Leisure; Women's Leisure;
Outdoor Recreation.

Howard Gray, Ph. D. Professor. PhD, Pennsylvania State
University, 1977. Therapeutic Recreation; Gerontology.

Brian Hill, Ph. D. Professor. PhD, Clemson University,
1994. Family Recreation; Tourism; Wilderness Recreation; Resource Economics & Planning.

Neil Lundberg, Ph. D. Assistant Professor. PhD, CTRS,
Indiana University, 2006. Therapeutic Recreation; Adaptive &
Inclusive Sport; Individuals with Disabilities & their Families.

Douglas Nelson, Ph. D. Associate Professor. PhD, University of New Mexico, 1995.
Youth Research; Outdoor Recreation.

Stacy Taniguchi, Ph. D. Assistant Professor. PhD, Brigham Young University, 2004. Outdoor Recreation; Experiential Education; Recreation Law.

Peter Ward, Ph. D. Assistant Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 2006.
Youth Development & Leadership; Recreation Management.

Mark Widmer, Ph. D. Professor. PhD, University of Utah, 1993. Therapeutic Recreation; Youth Development; Wilderness Therapy; Assessment.

Ramon Zabriskie, Ph. D. Associate Professor. PhD, Indiana University, 2000. Therapeutic Recreation; Family Leisure

Last updated: October 2007

Recent Publications by Faculty and Graduate Students

Christenson, O., Zabriskie, R., Eggett, D., & Freeman, P. (2006). Family acculturation, family leisure involvement, and family functioning among Mexican-Americans. Journal of Leisure Research, 38(4), 475-495.

Freeman, P., & Zabriskie, R. (2002). The role of outdoor recreation in family enrichment. The Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 2 (2), 131-145.

Freeman, P., & Zabriskie, R. (2003). Leisure and family functioning in adoptive families: Implications for therapeutic recreation. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 37 (1) 73-93.

Freeman, P., Hill, B., & Huff, C. (March, 2002). Development of a family recreation agenda. LARNet; The Cyber Journal of Applied Leisure and Recreation Research. (http://www.nccu.edu/larnet/abstracts.html).

Freeman, P., Nelson, D., & Taniguchi, S. (2003). Philosophy and practice of wilderness-based experiential learning. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, 74(8), 25-27, 32.

Freeman, P., Palmer, A., & Baker, B. (2006). Perspectives on life and leisure of LDS women who are stay-at-home mothers. Leisure Sciences, 28, 203-221.

Homer, M., Freeman, P., Zabriskie, R. & Eggett, D. (in press). Rituals and Relationships: Examining the Relationship between Family of Origin Rituals and Young Adult Attachment. Marriage and Family
Review.

Huff, C., Widmer, M.A., McCoy, K. J., & Hill, B.J. (2003). The Influence of Challenging Outdoor Recreation on Parent-Adolescent Communication. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 37(1), 18-37.

Johnson, H., Zabriskie, R. & Hill, B. (2006). The contribution of couple leisure involvement, leisure time, and leisure satisfaction to marital satisfaction. Marriage and Family Review 40 (1), 69-91.

Liechty, T., Freeman, P., & Zabriskie, R. (2006). Body image and beliefs about appearance: Constraints on the leisure of college-age and middle-age women. Leisure Sciences, 28, 311-330.

Lundberg, N., Widmer, M., McCormick, B. & Ward, W. (2006). Rational emotive recreation therapy: Using adventure and recreation in reducing irrational beliefs among adolescent males with behavior disorders. Annual in Therapeutic Recreation, 14, 59-68.

Palmer, A. Freeman, P. & Zabriskie, R. (in press). Family deepening: A qualitative inquiry into the experience of families who participate in service missions. Journal of Leisure Research.

Taniguchi, S.T., Freeman, P.A., & Richards, A. L. (2005). Attributes of meaningful learning experiences in an outdoor education program. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 5(2), 131-144.

Taniguchi, S. T., Freeman, P. A., Taylor, S., & Malcarne, B. (2006). A study of married couples' perceptions of marital satisfaction in outdoor recreation. Journal of Experiential Education, 28(3), 253-256.

Taylor, S., Zabriskie, R., & Eggett, D. (in press). Praying, playing, and successful families: The relationship between family religiosity, family leisure, and family functioning. Marriage and Family Review.

Wells, M., S., Widmer, M. A., & McCoy, J.K. (2004) Grubs and Grasshoppers: The Influence of Challenging Recreation on the Collective Efficacy of Families with At-Risk Youth. Family Relations 53, 326-333.

Widmer, M. A., & Munson, W. M. (2003). Therapeutic recreation and respite care for adopted children with special needs and their families: A new opportunity. American Journal of Recreation Therapy 2(3), 45-48.

Zabriskie, R. & Heyne, L. (2003). A refocus on family. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 37 (1) 15-17.

Zabriskie, R. & McCormick, B. (2003). Parent and child perspectives of family leisure involvement and satisfaction with family life. Journal of Leisure Research, 35 (2) 163-189.

Zabriskie, R. (2001). Family recreation: How can we make a difference? Parks and Recreation, 36 (10) 30-42.

Zabriskie, R. B, & Freeman, P. A. (2004). Contributions of family leisure to family functioning among transracial adoptive families. Adoption Quarterly, 7(3), 49 - 77.

Zabriskie, R., & McCormick, B. (2001). The influences of family leisure patterns on perceptions of family functioning. Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 50 (3), 281-289.

Zabriskie, R., Lundberg, N. & Groff, D. (2005). Quality of life and identity: The benefits of a community-based therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports program. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 39 (3) 176-191.

Last updated: October 2007