Tourism and travel are an important part of the leisure service industry, as holidays and trips are a leisure activity. Some universities offer combined tourism and leisure service degrees; a tourism degree focuses on the cultural and historical aspects of tourism and a leisure services degree focuses on the physical and psychological benefits of recreational activity. A degree in leisure services alone, however, equips graduates to pursue a career in a travel agency or holiday resort. Someone with a leisure services degree can find work as a cruise ship operator, trip leader or tour guide.
Leisure services degrees incorporate community studies, with students addressing how leisure services can respond to individual and community needs. Graduates can pursue jobs in community organizations, such as the YMCA or community groups for seniors. Such jobs include organizing trips for young people, coordinating arts and crafts activities for seniors or overseeing sports activities in a correctional facility. Some colleges require students to have a police record check, as they may be working with vulnerable people.
Leisure Services graduates can work for a parks department or leisure complex. Appropriate job titles include parks supervisor, park ranger, grounds supervisor or park conservationist. Someone based in a leisure facility can work as an aerobics instructor, athletics coach or swimming pool manager, because a leisure services degree incorporates the study of managing, planning and operating sport or recreation facilities.
A leisure services degree typically includes the study of events planning and management, which enables graduates to work as events organizers. An events organizer can organize banquets or a concert or help plan games and competitions. She might work for an arts foundation, municipal authority or in a holiday resort or university campus.
People who want to specialize in a particular field can follow up a leisure service degree with relevant post graduate study. Someone who, for example, wants to work as a sports nutritionist, can gain a post-graduate qualification in nutrition. Those who want a managerial position can also consider doing an MBA.