Recreation Management
Design, facilitate, and lead meaningful recreational experiences.
Open the doors to a rewarding career where you’ll help people live healthier, happier lives through outdoor adventures, tourism, recreation programs, and more.
Whether you're looking to enter the field or advance your existing career, UWL's Master of Science in Recreation Management program offers flexibility to meet your unique needs. With four distinct tracks, you can choose the path that aligns with your career goals. Our program offers both blended and online, asynchronous options.
A program within Recreation Management & Recreational Therapy
Our program offers multiple tracks to match your prior experience and career aspirations. A blend of online and in-person classes provides flexibility for students in the entry-level, advanced, and dual degree tracks, while working professionals can take advantage of a 100% online, asynchronous option:
- Entry-level track: Ideal for students without a background in recreation management, this track will provide you with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to enter this exciting profession.
- Advanced track: For students with prior experience, this track builds on your existing expertise and introduces evidence-based practices to further elevate your career prospects.
- Dual degree track: Accelerate your education by completing a dual degree including a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Outdoor, Recreation, Tourism, and Event Management and a Master of Science (MS) in Recreation Management in just five years—saving you time and giving you a competitive edge in the job market.
- Professional Development track: Our 100% online, asynchronous program is designed to serve recreation management professionals while they continue working in their careers.
Why UWL's Recreation Management master's program?
Every course includes real-world assignments, ensuring you can apply what you learn immediately in your current job—whether you’re already in the field or looking to transition into recreation management.
Faculty members bring extensive professional experience to the classroom and integrate their own research into coursework. As a student, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge research projects.
The program connects students with industry partners, providing practical exposure and opportunities to work on community-based projects.
UWL’s Tourism Research Institute offers students a unique opportunity to conduct tourism and recreation research across Wisconsin, while also supporting local organizations with valuable data.
Choose the capstone option that best suits your needs:
- Thesis: Ideal for those considering doctoral studies.
- Graduate project: A hands-on project for students looking to apply their skills in real-world settings.
- Internship: A culminating experience where you can gain practical, on-the-ground experience in the field.
Featured courses
Important dates
Students may start in fall, spring, or summer. The majority of students, however, begin their program in the fall. Scholarship opportunities and graduate assistantships typically have winter deadlines. Apply early if you're interested in these options.
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