• 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 with special emphasis placed on the administration of sport programs and resources in a variety of recreational settings.  This curriculum is designed for students pursuing mid-management positions and careers in private, public, or non-profit organizations providing recreational sport programs.

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 Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 525 Administrative Theory and Management Practices in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (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 Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (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 cr.)
• HPER-R 599 Master's Thesis (5 cr.)
• HPER-R 642 Internships in Recreation and Parks (3 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 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-K 514 Sport Marketing and Sponsorship (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 521 History of Sport in the United States (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 522 The Role of Sport in Society (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 525 Psychological Foundations of Exercise and Sport (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 560 Exercise in Corporate Fitness and Wellness (3 cr.)
• HPER-K 581 Sales and Service Management in Sport (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 522 Economics and Marketing for Leisure and Tourism (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 524 Strategic Fundraising and Partnerships for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 640 Independent Study and Research in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 641 Readings in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• HPER-R 643 Practicum in Recreation and Parks (cr. arr.)
• Others: see 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. 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 the student 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.