About us.
The central purpose of the Academy is the intellectual advancement of leisure sciences.
We seek to achieve this in three ways:
1. Networking.
First, the organization invites all interested individuals to become members of the Academy by joining a network that promotes the intellectual advancement of leisure sciences.
In addition, the Academy continues to induct outstanding scholars, referred to as Fellows, to promote the scholarship of leisure sciences.
2. Building learning communities.
Second, through meetings, scholarship, and other activities, the Academy establishes forums for exchanging knowledge and ideas to advance the intellectual understanding of leisure.
For more information on the 2024 TALS Research and Teaching Conference please visit the conference website.
3. Encouraging rigorous scholarship.
Third, by the activities of committees, individual members, and Fellows, the Academy encourages and promotes the scholarly study of leisure among those who have demonstrated interest, potential, and competence.
History
The Academy of Leisure Sciences was founded in 1980 with its central purpose as the intellectual advancement of leisure sciences.
This purpose was carried out by recognizing outstanding scholars elected as Fellows within the Academy, establishing meetings and activities to exchange ideas and advance the intellectual understanding of leisure, and to promote research and the scholarly study of leisure among individuals [Fellows] who demonstrated interest, potential, and competence. The Academy began with 30 Fellows and by 2023 included over 130 individuals who had been inducted as Fellows.
In 2011, the mission of the Academy of Leisure Sciences was expanded to include all interested individual members in addition to Fellows. This larger organization aims to bring together people from diverse backgrounds who share a mutual interest in better understanding the roles of leisure in life, including various contexts of recreation, parks, tourism, outdoor adventure, health, therapy, and sport.
All members are invited to take responsibility for the Academy’s growth and development by volunteering to serve on committees, standing for its governing offices, and otherwise helping to create the Academy’s future. The goal is to build a caring and connected professional community focused on the importance of leisure in society.
In 2017, TALS Leadership undertook a strategic planning process to establish values and goals for the expanded organization. In 2018, it implemented the first annual Research and Teaching Conference and has since brought leisure teachers and researchers together each year to continue the mission of the organization.
A list of current leisure-related programs in the U.S. can be found here, intended to be a starting point for potential graduate students as they search for programs. Although this list is not all-inclusive, it will give you an idea of options that fit your interests.
For more information on the history of TALS, please visit here.