Recreation Sciences and Sport Management MS

Program Coordinator: Stacy Warner (2406 Carol Belk Building; 252-328-0095; warners@ecu.edu)

The Department of Recreation Sciences and Sports Management offers a Recreation Sciences and Sport Management, MS with three concentrations – recreation management, recreational therapy administration, and sport management. The program is designed for individuals employed in or seeking employment in a diverse range of settings.

The concentration in recreation management prepares students for positions in multiple settings including community parks and recreation, human dimensions of recreation resource management, and travel and tourism.

The concentration in recreational therapy administration provides advanced education for clinical, administrative, and research positions in recreational therapy and healthcare-related careers. Individuals pursuing the recreational therapy administration concentration who do not meet national certification requirements upon admission will be required to take supplemental coursework while enrolled in the graduate program.

The concentration in sport management offers innovative training in sport administration, marketing, finance, leadership, legal aspects, and contemporary sport issues to prepare students for careers in collegiate, community, professional, and nonprofit sport settings.

The degree requires a minimum of 36 s.h. as follows: 

• RCSC 6110 - Research Methods in Recreation Sciences and Sport Management
• RCSC 6131 - Management and Leadership in Recreation and Sport
• RCSC 6150 - Scholarship of Recreation Sciences and Sport Management
• RCSC 6300 - Statistics and Analysis in Health and Human Performance

(Choose one concentration.)

Recreation management - 12 s.h.
• RCSC 6210 - Strategic Planning and Grant Writing in the Profession
• RCSC 6121 - Tourism Planning and Entrepreneurship
Choose 6 s.h. from the following courses:
• MKTG 6162 - Marketing Management
• PADM 6120 - Public Budgeting and Finance
• RCSC 6080 - Recreation and Sport Facilities Management
• RCSC 6090 - Aquatic Facility Management
• RCSC 6120 - Ecotourism and Park Management
• RCSC 6130 - Conservation Psychology
• RCSC 6170 - Youth Development Services and Organizations
• RCSC 6230 - Trends and Issues in Recreation Management
• RCSC 6501 - Capstone Experience in Recreation Sciences
• RCSC 6801 - Special Topics in Recreation Management
• RCSC 6802 - Special Topics in Recreation Management
• RCSC 6803 - Special Topics in Recreation Management
• RCTX 6004 - Disability and Adaptive Sport
• RCTX 6100 - Leisure, Aging, and Health
• SMGT 6001 - Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics
• SMGT 6106 - Contemporary Sport
• SMGT 6132 - Legal Aspects of Sport Management
• SMGT 6133 - Sport Marketing and Public Relations
• SMGT 6136 - Financial Management in Sport
• SUTO 6000 - Principles of Tourism and Sustainability
• SUTO 6100 - Environmental Systems and Sustainability
• SUTO 6200 - Development and Management of Sustainable Tourism
• SUTO 6300 - Policy and Planning for Sustainable Tourism
Note:

RCSC 6990 will be required of recreation management students who do not have approved prior experience or internship in recreation.
Recreational therapy administration - 12 s.h.
• RCTX 6140 - Recreational Therapy Trends and Issues
• RCTX 6310 - Program Development and Management in Recreational Therapy
• RCTX 6320 - Client Assessment, Evaluation, and Documentation in Recreational Therapy
Choose 3 s.h. from the following courses:
• RCSC 6100 - Risk Management and Legal Issues in Recreation Sciences
• RCTX 5000 - Theoretical Foundations of Aquatic Rehabilitation
• RCTX 5001 - Applied Techniques in Aquatic Rehabilitation
• RCTX 6001 - Biofeedback: Principles and Practices
• RCTX 6002 - Biofeedback Laboratory
• RCTX 6003 - Advanced Biofeedback Laboratory
• RCTX 6004 - Disability and Adaptive Sport
• RCTX 6100 - Leisure, Aging, and Health
• RCTX 6801 - Special Topics in Recreational Therapy
• RCTX 6802 - Special Topics in Recreational Therapy
• RCTX 6803 - Special Topics in Recreational Therapy
Note:

RCSC 6990 is required for recreational therapy administration students who are not currently state or nationally credentialed in recreational therapy.
Sport Management - 15 s.h.
• RCSC 6005 - Recreational Sports and Activities Management OR
• SMGT 6001 - Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics


• SMGT 6106 - Contemporary Sport
• SMGT 6132 - Legal Aspects of Sport Management
• SMGT 6133 - Sport Marketing and Public Relations
• SMGT 6136 - Financial Management in Sport
Notes:
• May not count RCSC 6005 as an approved elective if selected as a core course.
• May not count SMGT 6001 as an approved elective if selected as a core course.

(Choose an option by concentration.)

Recreation management:
Thesis option (12 s.h.)
• • Requires a comprehensive examination
• RCSC 7000 - Thesis (6 s.h.)
• 6 s.h. of approved electives
• Requires a comprehensive examination
Non-thesis option (12 s.h.)
• Requires a comprehensive examination
• RCSC 6501 - Capstone Experience in Recreation Sciences (3 s.h.)
• 9 s.h. of approved electives
• Requires a comprehensive examination
Recreational therapy administration:
Thesis option (12 s.h.)
• Requires a comprehensive examination
• RCSC 7000 - Thesis (6 s.h.)
• 6 s.h. of approved interventions-based electives
• Requires a comprehensive examination
Non-thesis option (12 s.h.)
• Requires a comprehensive examination
• RCTX 6502 - Capstone Experience in Recreational Therapy (3 s.h.)
• 9 s.h. of approved interventions-based electives
• Requires a comprehensive examination
Sport management:
Thesis option (9 s.h.)
• Requires a comprehensive examination
• SMGT 7000 - Thesis (6 s.h.)
• 3 s.h. of approved electives
• Requires a comprehensive examination
Non-thesis option (9 s.h.)
• Requires a comprehensive examination
• Requires 9 s.h. of approved electives from one of the following options:
Approved electives list
• KINE 6108 - Analysis of Teaching Practice in Physical Education
• KINE 6110 - Global Perspectives and Content Knowledge in Physical Education
• KINE 6445 - Sport Psychology
• KINE 6450 - Group Dynamics in Physical Activity and Sport
• LDHE 8070 - History and Philosophy of Higher Education
• LEED 8065 - Ethics and Equity in Higher Education Athletics Leadership
• LEED 8075 - Philanthropy and Fundraising in Higher Education
• RCSC 6005 - Recreational Sports and Activities Management
• RCSC 6080 - Recreation and Sport Facilities Management
• RCSC 6090 - Aquatic Facility Management
• RCSC 6120 - Ecotourism and Park Management
• RCSC 6130 - Conservation Psychology
• RCSC 6170 - Youth Development Services and Organizations
• RCSC 6230 - Trends and Issues in Recreation Management
• RCTX 6004 - Disability and Adaptive Sport
• RCTX 6100 - Leisure, Aging, and Health
• SMGT 6001 - Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics
• SMGT 6801 - Special Topics in Sport Management
• SMGT 6802 - Special Topics in Sport Management
• SMGT 6803 - Special Topics in Sport Management
Notes:
• May not count RCSC 6005 as an approved elective if used as part of the non-thesis option.
• May not count SMGT 6001 if used as part of the non-thesis option.
• Students may be able to count electives to the Sport and Coaching Leadership Certificate or the Higher Education in Athletics Certificate. Before selecting electives for one of these certificates, please discuss electives with the program coordinator.