FAQs

The Recreation Management M.S.-Professional Development degree guides students through the latest approaches, trends, and research related to the provision of leisure services. The program prepares students for administrative and supervisory positions in any number of recreation and leisure settings by building on their previous experiences and education. The skills students gain in the Master’s program will help them navigate a dynamic professional environment. Graduates will enhance their capacity for critical assessment and evaluation of data, meeting the needs of an ever-diversifying population, employing creative methods for raising funds and leveraging resources, interacting with and leading staff, boards, and stakeholders, and the integration of all of these skills and more into creatively and effectively solving the complex problems facing leisure service organizations today.

This is a two-year program with 2 seven-week courses offered each term for five consecutive terms, including summer. Students will begin in the fall semester and graduate following the spring term of their second year.

You have seven years from the start of your first course to complete your degree, however, we would encourage you to stay within the 2-year plan. Please go to the Graduate Catalog for more information about this policy.

The online Master of Science in Recreation Management - Professional Development degree is not a not a traditional research, thesis-track program. This program focuses on advanced management skills that allow working professionals the opportunity to build on a base of recreation education and/or experience to advance in their knowledge, skill sets, and careers. As such, ideal candidates for this program are prospective students who have either a degree in recreation or leisure or those with a current professional background in recreation or leisure related fields. Although our program is designed for working recreation professionals, other students will be considered for admission dependent upon their application materials and available space in the program. Students interested in a research based degree program may wish to explore UWL’s on-campus graduate program--Master of Science in Recreation Management.

The Recreation Management - Professional Development M.S. degree consists of 30 credits. Course descriptions and course schedules are listed on our website. You may also view course descriptions in our Graduate Catalog.

If you stop out in the middle of a semester, you must notify the program director and contact the Office of Student Life. If you leave after successful completion of a semester, you must notify only the program director. If you are in good academic standing, you will be able to apply as a re-entry student to return to the degree program.

All of the classes are taught completely online. 

No, however there will be an opportunity to come to campus to present your capstone project and attend the commencement ceremony!

Students in each cohort work together through the courses. You will have weekly synchronous class meetings, but these will be in the evenings, will occur only once a week, and will be set at the start of the course to facilitate your scheduling. Additionally, you must keep pace with the class as facilitated by the instructor. For example, you will have deadlines for participating in discussions and submitting assignments. The flexibility is found in your ability to access the class weekly and complete the coursework at any time of the day or night.

The GRE is not required for degree program admission and neither a thesis nor a comprehensive exam is required to complete the degree program.

Graduate transfer requests will be reviewed by the Recreation Management faculty on a case-by-case basis to determine courses that may be transferred in. Please refer to the campus graduate credit transfer policy.

Admitted students progress through the degree together and will be given course enrollment priority.  Decisions about allowing students into classes as a "special student" are made on a case-by-case basis and with the approval of the program director.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, tuition is $575 per credit plus additional fees.  The cost is the same for everyone regardless of residency.

Contact the Financial Aid Office. You must be enrolled at least half-time (5 credits) to be eligible for financial aid. Online students are eligible for a minimum number of Graduate Studies grants. Generally, most graduate students find that they must take out loans to finance their graduate education.