Recreation, MS | (Recreation
Administration)

Master of Science in Recreation

Course Delivery

100% Online
Total Credits

35
In-State Tuition Per Credit

$518.62
Out of State Tuition Per Credit

$621.98

Recreation, MS | (Recreation Administration)

Master Of Science In Recreation

As a result of people today spending more time and money on leisure, fitness, sports, and recreation activities than ever before, the job outlook for recreation administration graduates is excellent. According to the National Recreation and Park Association, the average park and recreation agency employs four executive personnel, seven administrative personnel, and three planning/development personnel.

The IU Online Master of Science in Recreation with a major in recreation administration includes coursework in the philosophy of leisure and recreation; human resource management; finance and budget; research in health, kinesiology, and recreation; and statistics in public health. In this non-thesis degree program, students will complete a capstone project involving the application of key principles to an in-depth study of a practical problem, or an experiential internship.

As a student in the program, you will prepare for executive and administrative positions, managing recreation and leisure services in a variety of settings, including public agencies, private and commercial organizations, parks, and campus-recreation and military-recreation organizations.

Your IU Online MS in Recreation Administration prepares you for careers in:

Parks and Recreation Departments
Campus Recreation Programs
Private/Commercial Agencies
General Park Administration
Military Recreation

Degree Requirements

To graduate with the MS in Recreation Administration, you must complete a minimum of 35 credit hours.

Requirements are broken down as follows:

Recreation administration foundation courses (21 credit hours)
Elective courses (9-12 credit hours)
Capstone experience (2-5 credit hours)

NOTE: Your elective coursework must be completed in fields of Management and Administration, Theory and Foundations, and Topics and Trends. Electives must be approved by your academic advisor.

You have two options for completing the required capstone experience: (1) an intensive master's project that summarizes the knowledge and skills obtained from coursework, or (2) an internship through which concepts and principles learned from coursework are applied.

Admissions

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

A bachelor's degree

NOTE: This program is authorized, exempt, or not subject to state regulatory compliance and may enroll students from all 50 states

To apply to this program:

Complete an online application that includes:

Transcripts
Three letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose (600 words or less)
Resume
GRE scores
TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)

Courses

Core

Capstone Courses	SPH-R 598 Master's Project in Administration (2-4 credits) --or-- SPH-R 697 Internships in Recreation and Parks (3 credits)	2-4 Credits
SPH-Q 501	Introduction to Statistics in Public Health	3 Credits
SPH-R 510	Philosophy of Leisure and Recreation	3 Credits
SPH-R 512 or 511	SPH-R 512 Administrative Theory and Management Practices in Leisure Services --or-- SPH-R 511 Organizational Leadership of Leisure Services	3 Credits
SPH-R 542	Fiscal Management in Recreation Administration	3 Credits
SPH-R 544	Legal Aspects of Recreation Administration	3 Credits
SPH-R 585	Leisure as a Determinant of Health	3 Credits
SPH-X 590	Introduction to Research in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation	3 Credits

Elective

EDUC-Y 520	Strategies for Educational Inquiry	3 Credits
SPH-B 535	Contemporary Issues in Aging and Health	3 Credits
SPH-R 524	Fundraising for Public and Nonprofit Agencies	3 Credits
SPH-R 531	Planning & Design for the Built Environment	3 Credits
SPH-R 571	Recreational Sports Administration	3 Credits
SPH-R 573	Current Events in Recreation Administration	2 Credits
SPH-R 574	Human Resource Management in Recreation	3 Credits
SPH-R 685	Trends in Survey Methods & Public Health Research	3 Credits
SPH-R 691	Readings in Recreation	2-3 Credits
SPH-R 693	Independent Study and Research	3 Credits
SPH-R 695	Practicum in Recreation and Parks and Tourism Studies	1-3 Credits

Find course descriptions with our Search Schedule of Classes/Courses tool.

Tuition & Fees

Cost for Indiana Residents

Per Credit Hour
Tuition: $518.62

3 Credit Hours
Tuition: $1555.86

Note: Additional fees will apply.

Cost for Out of State Residents

Per Credit Hour
Tuition: $621.98

3 Credit Hours
Tuition: $1865.94

In accordance with Federal Financial Aid requirements, IU has calculated a “Cost of Attendance” for this program based on the most common enrollments from students who are enrolled full time for the academic year. We’re showing you the estimated cost of attendance for the full 2023–24 academic year (fall and spring semesters). Cut these numbers in half to figure out the cost of a single semester. Your actual costs for housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses will vary based on:

• The number of credit hours you take
• Whether you’re an Indiana resident
• Your personal choices
• Your travel habits

Your cost of attendance may differ from these estimates.

Full time Students

Part time Students

Direct Costs:

Tuition & Mandatory Fees

Indiana Residents

See per credit hour rate listed above

Non-residents

See per credit hour rate listed above

Direct Costs:

Tuition & Mandatory Fees

Indiana Residents

See per credit hour rate listed above

Non-residents

See per credit hour rate listed above

Indirect Costs:

Food & Housing $15,456

Books & Supplies $830

Transportation $2958

Personal Expenses $4078

Indirect Costs:

Food & Housing $15,456

Books & Supplies $302

Transportation $2958

Personal Expenses $4078

If you would like a more detailed estimate of expenses, please use IU's Tuition and Fee Calculator.

IU Tuition & Fee Calculator

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