Master of Science in Recreation Management - Professional Development

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s fully online Master of Science in Recreation Management - Professional Development is a versatile program that will enrich your professional experience and inspire you to achieve more. This program empowers professionals currently working in the field to build on a base of recreation education and/or experience to advance knowledge, skills and careers.

Each fall, a new group of students will begin coursework consisting of 30 credits. You will progress through the program with other learners engaging in collaborative learning opportunities consisting of projects, discussions and research based content and best practices in the field of recreation management.

The culminating course will be the Capstone Seminar in Recreation Management in which you will integrate your skills and knowledge into an actionable plan for addressing an issue in recreation or leisure service delivery. You have the option to present your capstone project at UWL, connect with your instructors and peers, and participate in the university's commencement ceremony.

To qualify for unconditional admission (i.e., not on probation) to graduate study, a student must have:

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
• An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.85 on a 4.00 scale, or
  • An average of at least 3.00 in the last half of all undergraduate work, or
  • An average of at least 3.00 for no less than 12 semester credits of graduate study at another accredited graduate school.

Admission to the Program:

The Recreation Management Program follows a comprehensive review process in selecting students for admission to the online Professional Development Option. 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. The factors that will be considered in the review of your application include:

Primary Factors:

• A baccalaureate degree in recreation or leisure from an accredited institution; OR
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of one year of experience working in the recreation or leisure field.

Secondary Factors:

• A minimum of 1 year of full-time experience working in the recreation or leisure field
• Staff supervisory experience

Required Documents:

• Completed Application
• Official transcripts
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation reflective of your professional and/or academic experiences are required
• Personal Statement: A personal statement describing your belief about the importance of recreation, your personal and professional experiences and passions related to recreation, and the reasons you would like to pursue a graduate degree in recreation. Please also include any additional information about yourself that you would like us to consider that speaks to your ability to contribute to our program or our University.

After admission to the program, candidates for a graduate degree must:

Complete any preliminary course work and deficiencies. Complete all courses and other program requirements, including residence requirements prescribed for the degree desired in the respective school or college within a seven-year period from the date of initial enrollment. Earn a minimum of 30 credits for a master's degree; 54 credits for a doctorate or post-master's degree. Earn at least one-half of the minimum number of credits required in the program in graduate-only level courses (700, 800, 900, and non-slash 600 level courses). Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00. Satisfy dissertation, thesis, seminar paper, terminal/graduate projects and internships, or comprehensive examination, where applicable. A dissertation or thesis approved by the committee must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval at least two weeks before commencement. Ordinarily, a seminar paper or project report does not have to be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. However, if the seminar paper or project report is to be archived in Murphy Library, the student must follow the same rules as they apply to the dissertation/thesis requiring approval from the Director of Graduate Studies. File a completed "Intent to Graduate" form online via the WINGS Student Center immediately following registration for the final semester or summer term in residence. December graduates and winter intersession should file by May 1. May and summer graduates should file by December 1. Pay the graduation fee and remove all other indebtedness to the university. Payment of graduation fees does not imply readiness for graduation and does not take the place of applying for graduation. Complete all requirements within 30 days after the official ending date of a term in order for a degree to be awarded for that term. (See #5 above for separate deadline for written capstone experience.)