Recreation Management and Policy: Adaptive Sports (M.S.)

The Adaptive Sports Option prepares professionals for middle to upper-level administrative positions within the adaptive sports sector of the field, including positions within parks and recreation departments, rehabilitation hospitals, Veteran’s Administration hospitals and outpatient clinics, non-profits agencies, public school settings, grassroots adaptive sport organizations, national and international adaptive sport organizations, and/or commercial sport and recreation providers.

The Adaptive Sports Option leverages our unique partnership with Northeast Passage, a nationally recognized TR and adaptive sports program associated with the RMP Department, and Chapter of Move United. Graduate students will be exposed to Northeast Passage’s Adaptive Sports and Recreation program, which offers a spectrum of services from entry-level instruction to ongoing recreation and competitive sports opportunities for people with disabilities.

Degree Requirements

The 32-33 credit Adaptive Sports option consists of required and elective coursework. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students will select either a thesis or portfolio track. The core curriculum combines courses in adaptive sports and recreation facilitation, program administration in sport and recreation, law and public policy, non-profit administration and leadership, fund development and grant writing, and a supervised fieldwork experience in an adaptive sports setting. Students develop research competencies through a capstone portfolio or thesis specifically tailored to adaptive sport practice. Students also take one elective course to support desired specialization.

Full-time students typically take up to two years and one summer session to progress through the Adaptive Sport option degree requirements. Part-time students may take longer to complete the degree.

This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.

General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.

Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.

• Students will know the roles and interrelationships of diverse leisure service delivery systems, as well as professionalism in the discipline.
• Students will know and apply the psychological, sociological, and social psychological theories and philosophies associated with leisure and recreation behavior.
• Students will develop the ability to translate and apply relevant theory to park and recreation programs and services.
• Students will know the historical and cultural perspectives associated with the park and recreation field, and will apply issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion to park and recreation management.
• Students will apply financial, budgetary, planning, marketing, program evaluation, and human resource knowledge and skills to meet present and future organizational needs and challenges.
• Students will implement leadership skills that advance the park and recreation profession and broader society.
• Students will design and conduct research, analyze and interpret data, and apply research findings to the park and recreation profession.
• Students will explore the interrelationships of allied professions with the park and recreation profession.
• Students will know how to promote the benefits of recreation and leisure to enhance individual, social, economic, and environmental well-being and quality of life.
• Students will demonstrate effective conceptual and technical communication skills, both in oral and written form.