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

Description of Program

The graduate Recreational Sports Administration Program focuses on the provision of a comprehensive study of sport with special emphasis placed on the administration of sports 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 sports 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.):

• SPH-Q 501 (Formerly: HPER-T 591) Introduction to Statistics in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 510 (Formerly: HPER-R 500) Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 511 (Formerly: HPER-R 520) Organizational Leadership for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 544 (Formerly: HPER-R 544) Legal Aspects of Recreation Administration (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 505 (Formerly: HPER-C 505) Principles and Foundations of Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 561 (Formerly: HPER-T 594) Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
• SPH-X 590 (Formerly: HPER-T 590) Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation (3 cr.)

Complete each of the following emphasis courses (8 cr.)

• SPH-R 571 (Formerly: HPER-R 570) Recreational Sports Administration (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 572 (Formerly: HPER-R 571) Dynamics of Recreational Sport Environment (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 573 (Formerly: HPER-R 572) Seminar in Recreational Sports (2 cr.)

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

• SPH-R 598 (Formerly: HPER-R 539) Master's Project in Administration (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 599 (Formerly: HPER-R 599) Master's Thesis (5 cr.)
• SPH-R 697 (Formerly: HPER-R 642) Internships in Recreation and Parks (3 cr.)

Complete electives, if any are needed, to reach the required minimum 35 credits. (1 – 3 cr.)
Select electives with approval of advisor.  The following courses are recommended:

• EDUC-Y 520 Strategies for Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• SPH-K 560 (Formerly: HPER-K 560) Exercise in Corporate Fitness and Wellness (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 514 (Formerly: HPER-K 514) Sport Marketing and Sponsorship (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 521 (Formerly: HPER-K 521) History of Sport in the United States (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 522 (Formerly: HPER-K 522) The Role of Sport in Society (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 525 (Formerly: HPER-K 525) Psychological Foundations of Exercise and Sport (3 cr.)
• SPH-M 581 (Formerly: HPER-K 581) Sales and Service Management in Sport (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 512 (Formerly: HPER-R 525) Administrative Theory and Practice of Leisure (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 524 (Formerly: HPER-R 524) Strategic Fundraising and Partnerships for Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 691 (Formerly: HPER-R 641) Readings in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (2-3 cr.)
• SPH-R 693 (Formerly: HPER-R 640) Independent Study and Research in Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Public Lands (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 695 (Formerly: HPER-R 643) Practicum in Recreation and Parks (cr. arr.)
• SPH-T 513 (Formerly: HPER-R 522) Economics and Marketing for Leisure and Tourism (3 cr.)
• 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 sports 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.