Recreation Management program

Undergrad major Undergrad minor Graduate degree

Do you enjoy being active, working with people and helping them develop and grow?

Join a profession where your work is to bring quality leisure into people's lives.

The Recreation Management program at UWL is the only nationally-accredited recreation management program in Wisconsin and one of the largest undergraduate programs in the U.S. Our students gain practice in the field and network with professionals through internships and community engagement in their coursework.

Recreation Management jobs

The recreation management program offers four different emphasis areas (generalist; tourism and event management; community-based recreation, and outdoor recreation), which allows students to study and prepare for careers most closely related to their interests.

Students are trained for middle management careers in a range of agencies, such as national, state, and local parks and recreation departments, destination marketing organizations, tourism attractions and facilities, event venues, and various non-profit enterprises.

Career options

  • Recreation center supervisor
  • Parks & Recreation coordinator
  • Park ranger
  • Amusement park manager
  • Cruise ship director
  • Camp director
  • Outdoor program coordinator
  • Event coordinator
  • Event planner
  • Outdoor adventure program guide
  • Director of fan experiences
  • Sport director
  • Wellness director
  • Tourism marketing director
  • Convention sales manager
  • Director of hospitality
  • Environmental educator

Graduate education

The rigorous undergraduate curriculum also provides a solid foundation for those choosing to pursue a graduate degree in recreation management. A dual degree option is available for students wishing to complete a bachelor's and master's in reduced time.

What distinguishes UWL's program?

Hands-on experience

Students gain hands-on experience through a 12- week internship designed to serve as a student’s transition from the university curriculum to the profession. Also, students complete an additional 100 hours of hands-on professional experience prior to their internship.

Nationally-accredited

UWL's Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation has been nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism, and Related Professions (COAPRT) since 1988.

Excellent curriculum

Curriculum exceeds national accreditation standards and is a key factor in the department’s national reputation.

Connection to faculty

Faculty play an important role in the educational and professional development of each student. Students are assigned a faculty adviser who is available for advisement on registration, internships, and professional development throughout their academic career.

Reputable faculty

All of the faculty members are involved in leadership positions with national and state recreation professional associations. They also perform research and write extensively on important topics in the recreational field, and several are nationally and internationally renown scholars.

Tourism Research Institute

Tourism Research Institute provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in tourism-related research activities. 

Post-graduation success

The placement rate for recreation management majors is consistently above 90 percent in locations around the U.S.

Areas of study

Recreation Management

Recreation Management students learn the skills and knowledge to pursue professional careers designing, facilitating, and managing recreation, tourism, and outdoor experiences. They work with people from diverse backgrounds in settings such as parks and recreation departments, outdoor adventure agencies, camping organizations, and tourism and event management businesses.

Undergrad minor View a sample plan for Recreation Management Catalogfor Recreation Management Learn more for Recreation Management

Community-Based Recreation Emphasis

The community-based recreation emphasis prepares students for professional roles in programming and management in a wide variety of recreation related fields in the public and non-profit sectors such as municipal parks and recreation departments, state agencies, youth serving agencies, religious-affiliated agencies, social service agencies, and campus recreation.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Community-Based Recreation Catalogfor Community-Based Recreation

Generalist Emphasis

The recreation management generalist emphasis allows students to explore all areas of recreation. Students in the generalist emphasis take the recreation management core curriculum and an additional nine credits selected from the other three emphasis areas.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Generalist Catalogfor Generalist

Outdoor Recreation Emphasis

The outdoor recreation emphasis is for students who want to work in natural resource-based recreation settings. This program helps students develop skills in outdoor programming and leadership, environmental education, outdoor guiding and adventure, and nature-based recreation management.

Undergrad major View a sample plan for Outdoor Recreation Catalogfor Outdoor Recreation

Tourism & Event Management Emphasis

The tourism and event management emphasis is for students interested in creating and managing visitor experiences. Whether it is managing a resort, promoting a destination, leading adventure tours, or planning events, a career in tourism is about helping others enjoy their travel and event experience as much as you enjoy your own.

Undergrad major Undergrad minor View a sample plan for Tourism & Event Management Catalogfor Tourism & Event Management

Undergrad + graduate dual degree Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management (four emphasis options) & Master of Science in Recreation Management Dual Degree Program

Students in this dual degree program in recreation management earn a Generalist Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Recreation Management.

Undergrad major Graduate degree View a sample plan for Undergrad + graduate dual degree Catalogfor Undergrad + graduate dual degree

Sample courses