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Indiana University Online

Recreation, M.S.: Recreation Administration

Take on a leadership role when you earn your Master of Science in Recreation: Recreation Administration from IU Online. Gain knowledge in leisure and recreation, human resource management, finance, kinesiology, and more in this fully online program.

Course Delivery: 100% Online

Total Credits: 35

In-State Tuition Per Credit: $528.99

Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit: $634.42

Cost of attendance may vary by campus. View the total cost calculator

Degree Overview

Courses in the IU Online Master of Science in Recreation: Recreation Administration cover such topics as philosophy of leisure and recreation; human resource management; finance and budget; research in health, kinesiology, and recreation; and statistics in public health. You will complete either a capstone project that applies key principles to an in-depth study or an experiential internship.

The degree prepares you to manage recreation and leisure services in a variety of settings, including public agencies, private and commercial organizations, parks, and campus-recreation and military-recreation organizations.

You’ll graduate with an Indiana University degree respected by employers worldwide—and you can work on yours anytime and anywhere. Plus, you’ll enjoy personalized support services throughout your academic journey.

And the benefits start long before graduation. More than half of IU Online students advance in their careers before they complete their degree.

To be accepted to this program, you must have a bachelor's degree.
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)

Your IU Online M.S. in Recreation: Recreation Administration prepares you for careers in:

  • Parks and recreation departments
  • Campus recreation programs
  • Private/commercial agencies
  • General park administration
  • Military recreation

To graduate with the M.S. in Recreation: 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 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 project that summarizes the knowledge and skills obtained from coursework, or (2) an internship that requires you to apply concepts and principles learned from coursework.

Core

Core Classes for the MS in Recreation and Administration
Course Number Course Name Credits
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

Electives for the MS in Recreation and Administration
Course Number Course Name Credits
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.

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