Recreation, Sport & Tourism, MS
for the degree of Master of Science in Recreation, Sport & Tourism (on campus & online)
The M.S. degree may be undertaken as a terminal professional track program or serve as the first step toward the Ph.D. program.
The Department of Recreation, Sport & Tourism offers programs of study leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The Master of Science program educates students about leisure behavior, public parks and recreation systems, sport and tourism, in various private, public and semi-public settings providing leisure services. The Ph.D. program is designed to develop researchers and educators in the study of leisure behavior, the management of recreation, tourism, and sport systems that provide leisure services, or both.
Admission
The Graduate College admission requirements apply. Specifically, the admission requirements are a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last two years of undergraduate work and any graduate work completed. In accordance with Graduate College requirements, applicants must receive a minimum score on the TOEFL of 103 and on the IELTS a minimum score of 7.5. Students are also required to provide an academic statement of purpose, a personal statement, and three letters of reference (at least one should be an academic reference). Campus-based MS students may be admitted for the fall or spring semesters. Online MS students may be admitted for the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
for the degree of Master of Science in Recreation, Sport & Tourism (on campus & online)
A candidate for the M.S. degree must spend at least one semester on campus. A full-time student can complete the program in three or four semesters.
Students in the online program complete the Non-Thesis option. See below.
For additional details and requirements for all degrees, please refer to the department's website and the Graduate College Handbook.
Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RST 501 | Foundations and Current Issues in Recreation, Sport & Tourism | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Managing Recreation, Sport & Tourism Organizations | ||
| Marketing in RST | ||
| Financial Management and Budgeting in Recreation, Sport & Tourism | ||
| Select one Option Area Course from: | 4 | |
| Critical Issues Recreation Mgt | ||
| Critical Issues Sport Mgt | ||
| Critical Issues Tourism Mgt | ||
| Additional Coursework | ||
| (500 or 400 level grad credit courses outside of RST chosen in consultation with the advisor) | ||
| Support Option | 8 | |
| Research Methods | 8 | |
| RST 599 | Thesis Research | 4 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Minimum Hours Overall Required Within the Unit: | 12 at the 500 level |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required overall: | 16 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Coursework: | 28 | |
| RST 501 | Foundations and Current Issues in Recreation, Sport & Tourism | 4 |
| RST 504 | Applied Evaluation and Needs Assessment in RST | 4 |
| RST 512 | Managing Recreation, Sport & Tourism Organizations | 4 |
| RST 515 | Marketing in RST | 4 |
| RST 516 | Financial Management and Budgeting in Recreation, Sport & Tourism | 4 |
| RST 519 | Strategic Management in RST | 4 |
| Select one Option Area Course from: | 4 | |
| Critical Issues Recreation Mgt | ||
or RST 520 | Critical Issues Sport Mgt | |
or RST 530 | Critical Issues Tourism Mgt | |
| Additional Coursework (500 or 400 level grad credit courses outside of RST chosen in consultation with the advisor) | 8 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Other Requirements
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap | |
| Minimum Hours Overall Required Within the Unit: | 12 at the 500 level |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required overall: | 16 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
for the degree of Master of Science in Recreation, Sport & Tourism (on campus & online)
- Graduates will have an in-depth understanding of the conceptual and theoretical foundations (i.e., concepts, theories, applications, and principles) of recreation, sport, and tourism.
- Graduates will have an in-depth understanding of societal issues and how recreation, sport, and tourism is integral to addressing contemporary societal issues.
- Graduates will have an in-depth understanding of managing recreation, sport and tourism organizations.
- Graduates will develop understanding and competence in marketing planning, strategy, implementation and evaluation in recreation, sport and tourism.
- Graduates will develop understanding and competence in budgeting and finance in recreation, sport, and tourism.
- Graduates will develop understanding and competence in strategic planning and management in recreation, sport and tourism organizations.
- Graduates will develop understanding and competence in applied evaluation and needs assessment methods in recreation, sport and tourism.
Graduate Degree Programs in Recreation, Sport & Tourism
- Majors
- Recreation, Sport & Tourism, MS (on campus & online)
- Recreation, Sport & Tourism, PhD
for the degree of Master of Science in Recreation, Sport & Tourism (on campus & online)
Department of Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Department Head: Bill Stewart
Director of Graduate Studies: Monika Stodolska
Graduate Coordinator: Mike Mulvaney
Recreation, Sport & Tourism Department website
219 Huff Hall, 1206 South Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61821
(217) 333-4410 | Recreation, Sport and Tourism email
College of Applied Health Sciences
College of Applied Health Sciences website