Recreation & Leisure Studies

Master's Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

The recreation and leisure studies program is overseen by the Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, one of four departments in the College of Education at the University of North Texas. The department offers course work leading to a master of science degree with a major in recreation and leisure studies. This degree can lead to challenging and rewarding leadership positions in various leisure settings including public recreation agencies, voluntary leisure organizations, private and commercial businesses, military bases, parks, camps, schools, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and psychiatric programs. To enhance your career options, you can choose to specialize in program management or therapeutic recreation. These connections may lead to other educational and professional opportunities for you.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the program, you must meet the general requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the following program requirements.

1. a minimum 3.0 GPA on the last 60 undergraduate semester hours or a 2.8 on all undergraduate work
2. completion of the GRE
3. a resume, two letters of reference, a candidate statement that includes career objectives, goals, interest area and why you want to pursue a master's degree
4. a two to three page writing sample

Items 3 and 4 should be submitted directly to the program coordinator of the recreation and leisure studies program.

Degree requirements

The M.S. with a major in recreation and leisure studies is a 36-hour degree program with thesis and non-thesis options available. You will take 15 hours of core courses, 9 hours of courses in program management or therapeutic recreation, and 6 to 9 hours in a minor area taken in consultation with your adviser. With the thesis option, you must complete RECR 5950 - Master's Thesis. Under the non-thesis option, you will take RECR 5110 - Critical Analysis of Professional Literature, a course decided upon in consultation with your major professor, and you must pass a comprehensive examination near the completion of your studies.

If you do not have professional recreation experience or course work in recreation, you may be required to complete up to 9 hours of corequisite courses and RECR 5860 - Practicum in Leisure Services.

Core courses

• RECR 5010 Perspectives in Leisure
• RECR 5050 Administration and Supervision of Recreation and Sport
• RECR 5070 Psychosociological Dynamics of Leisure Behavior
• RECR 5100 Research Perspectives in Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation
• RECR 5120 Concepts in Therapeutic Recreation

Program management electives

• RECR 5060 Areas and Facilities for Recreation and Sport
• RECR 5080 Recreation Program Design
• RECR 5850 Proseminar in Leisure Services Management

Therapeutic recreation electives

• RECR 5800 Studies in Recreation (offered as Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation or as Management and Therapeutic Recreation)
• RECR 5870 Trends and Issues in Therapeutic Recreation

Financial assistance

Recreational sports graduate assistantships and employment

The recreational sports office employs graduate assistants, supervisors, game officials, court monitors, lifeguards, aerobic instructors and student secretaries. You are encouraged to apply if you have experience and/or major in recreation, although training will be provided if you lack experience. The pay scale varies according to experience and length of service with the office. You should contact the recreational sports office at 940-565-2275 if you are interested in these positions. To apply for any open position, contact the Career Center located in the University Union.

Teaching fellowship opportunities

Teaching fellows teach in undergraduate program areas. Instructional opportunities exist in a variety of health-related fitness, physical activity, health promotion and recreation classes. Teaching fellows earn a stipend of approximately $8,000 for nine months. Summer opportunities are often available. Teaching fellows must be formally admitted to one of the department's graduate programs and enroll in a minimum of 6 hours of course work in each of the fall and spring semesters.

Departmental scholarships

The department, college and university award many graduate scholarships each year. These scholarships typically apply to tuition and fees for two semesters. The amounts of the awards depend on the scholarship. More information is available on department, college and university web sites.

Certification

If you wish to pursue therapeutic recreation certification, you will be advised on an individual basis on how to prepare for eligibility to sit for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification examination. This may require additional courses that do not count toward your degree plan and a structured field placement.