What Does it Take to Be a Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor?
Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor Job Description Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
What Do Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors Do On a Daily Basis?
- Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research issues.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory.
- Perform administrative duties, such as serving as department heads.
- Act as advisers to student organizations.
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Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors say are important on the job.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Types of Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor
- Adjunct Instructor
- Fitness and Wellness Instructor
- Outdoor Studies Director
- Teacher
- Adjunct Physical Education Instructor
Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 20,600 jobs in the United States for Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,000 new jobs for Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,800 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor are Utah, North Dakota, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Wyoming, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor
Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors make between $32,620 and $127,970 a year.

Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors who work in California, Connecticut, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $67,230 |
Arkansas | $50,560 |
California | $114,220 |
Colorado | $56,710 |
Connecticut | $90,050 |
Florida | $68,460 |
Georgia | $65,410 |
Idaho | $70,250 |
Illinois | $61,840 |
Indiana | $62,390 |
Iowa | $69,900 |
Kansas | $67,910 |
Kentucky | $67,240 |
Louisiana | $43,460 |
Maine | $59,260 |
Maryland | $68,540 |
Massachusetts | $74,730 |
Mississippi | $62,070 |
Missouri | $92,410 |
Nebraska | $59,350 |
Nevada | $48,490 |
New Hampshire | $80,350 |
New Jersey | $70,760 |
New York | $78,150 |
North Carolina | $62,790 |
North Dakota | $64,580 |
Oklahoma | $46,930 |
Oregon | $67,870 |
Pennsylvania | $67,100 |
South Carolina | $66,610 |
South Dakota | $64,970 |
Tennessee | $56,890 |
Texas | $67,210 |
Utah | $46,130 |
Washington | $52,970 |
West Virginia | $60,630 |
Wisconsin | $56,880 |
Wyoming | $61,250 |
What Tools & Technology do Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Google Docs
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- iParadigms Turnitin
- Course management system software
- Desire2Learn
- Collaborative editing software
- Sakai CLE
- DOC Cop
- Image scanning software
- Student record software
Becoming a Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor
Learn what Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Recreation & Fitness Studies Professor?

Where Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

References:
Image Credit: Staff Sgt. Michael Ellis via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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