• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The graduate Recreational Sport Administration Program focuses on the provision of a comprehensive study of sport administration with special emphasis placed on the administration of sport programs and resources in a variety of recreational and leisure settings.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 35 credit hours is required for this program.  The Master of Science in Recreation degree must include a minimum of 20 credits from the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies.  A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. A minimum grade of C– is required in each course. All electives for completing the degree must be approved by the advisor.

Complete each of the following courses (21 cr.):

• HPER-R 500 Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 520 Organizational Leadership for Leisure Services (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 525 Administrative Theory and Management Practices in Leisure Services (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 544 Legal Aspects of Recreation Administration (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 590 Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 591 Interpretation of Data in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-T 594 Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)

Complete one of the following courses (3 – 5 cr.):

• HPER-R 539 Master's Project in Administration (3-4 cr.)
• HPER-R 599 Master's Thesis (5 cr.)

Complete each of the following emphasis courses (9 cr.)

• HPER-R 570 Recreational Sports Administration (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 571 Dynamics of Recreational Sport Environment (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 572 Seminar in Recreational Sports (2 cr.)

Complete remaining electives, if any are needed, to reach the required minimum 35 credits. (0 – 2 cr.)
Select electives with approval of advisor.  The following courses are recommended:

• HPER-R 522 Economics and Marketing for Leisure and Tourism (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 524 Fundraising for Public and Nonprofit Agencies (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 530 Comprehensive Recreation Planning/Park Design (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 580 Tourism Planning and Management in Recreation, Park, and Nonprofit Agencies (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 640 Independent Study and Research (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 641 Readings in Recreation (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 642 Internship in Recreation and Park, and Tourism Studies (2-8 cr.)
• HPER-R 643 Practicum in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Studies (cr. arr.)
• Others: see Advisor

Pre-requisites (If required)

• HPER-R 206 Recreational Sports Programming (3 cr.)
• Other Courses as Required by Advisor

Special Opportunities

The graduate program offers opportunities to learn from a dedicated faculty of recreational sports professionals who are committed to the success of their students. Students have a wide variety of research opportunities with the faculty and through a research center for sport management. Classroom learning is enhanced by a variety of functioning recreational sports laboratories that provide many learning opportunities which include a diverse and comprehensive campus recreational sports program in intramural sports, informal sports, fitness/wellness, aquatics, and club sports in a $22 million, state-of-the-art recreational sports and aquatic center. In addition, there are outstanding community, youth, and family recreational sports programs and facilities on and off campus.

Careers

Majors in recreational sport administration enter the profession in a wide variety of settings, including community, corporate, military, natural environment, collegiate, and municipal recreation, to name just a few. As sport specialists, they provide the programming and administrative skills necessary for the delivery of sport and leisure services.