Graduate

Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Administration

Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Administration. A basketball game in the Ole Miss Pavilion

About this Page

The M.S. in Sport & Recreation Administration provides students the opportunity to learn and develop sport management competencies to pursue careers in the dynamic and evolving sport industry and other leisure professions.

The program affords an exceptional educational experience that unites classroom instruction and practical in-field applications while working with an experienced and nationally renowned faculty committed to working closely with each student.

All students are encouraged to gain field experience while pursuing their degree. These opportunities augment the knowledge base and skills developed and expand opportunities upon graduation.

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    Program Information

    Program Type

    Major

    Area of Study

    Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology

    Duration

    1-2 years

    Degree

    M.S. in Sport and Recreation Administration

    Program Location

    Oxford

    Online

    Emphases

    N/A

    Required Credit Hours

    30

    Degree Requirements and Application Process

    Find course requirements and application procedures for the Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Administration below. For more information, please visit the online catalog or see the Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management Graduate Handbook.

    A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate study is required for the M.S. in Sport and Recreation Administration.

    • Students will be admitted to the program based on faculty evaluation of their admission documents and academic and professional experiences.
    • Students choose no later than the conclusion of their first 9 hours one of the three tracks.

    Every M.S. student completes a minimum of 9 hours in the core program area, research and statistics (9 hours). Students will also select either the administration or analytics track, each consisting of 12 hours. Students will also have the option to select one option area (6 hours).

    Core Curriculum (9 hours)

    • SRA 660 - Finance and Economics (3)
    • SRA 671 - Recreation Admin. Program Administration (3)
    • SRA 672 - Business of Sport and Recreation (3)

    Research and Statistics (9 hours)

    • SRA 503 - Data Analytics Methodologies (3)
    • SRA 511 - Applied Statistics (3) OR approved statistics course
    • SRA 625 - Research Design and Evaluation (3)

    Track (6 hours)

    • Administration
      • Adviser-approved electives related to administration
    • Analytics
      • Adviser-approved electives related to analytics

    Options

    • Thesis (6)
    • Non-Thesis Option (6 from HESRM 500+ level courses)
    • Internship (6)

    OTHER ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

    Students who have not completed an internship or who lack professional work experience within the sport and recreation field will complete a 3- hour internship (SRA 627) as one of the electives within the degree program.

    Applications for admissions to graduate programs must be submitted to the University of Mississippi Graduate School through the online application process. 

    Students must submit an online application through the Graduate School website. Complete online applications will include:

    • A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement of career goals that details your objectives, motivation, and readiness to pursue graduate study.
    • Official GRE scores (optional) - The GRE is optional for prospective students applying to the graduate program. It is recommended that students with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 submit a GRE score as part of their application. Along with the undergraduate GPA and GRE, the graduate faculty consider additional application materials to comprehensively evaluate each applicant and determine capability of successfully studying in the graduate program. This includes the written statement discussing career goals, objectives, motivation, and readiness to pursue graduate study and the applicant’s prior experience, accomplishments, or proficiencies stated on the resume or curriculum vitae.
    • Official transcripts from all institutions where a degree was obtained AND from institutions attended for any graduate work sent to the Graduate School.

      We recommend a cumulative grade-point average (last 60 hours) of 3.0 for admission into the Master’s program.

      Selection for admission requires a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline.
    • Resume or CV (optional)
    • Official English proficiency test scores for non-native English speakers must be sent to the graduate school.

      Submit one of the following accepted English proficiency tests within 2 years of applying to tohe graduate program:
      • TOEFL
      • IELTS
      • Pearson’s Test of Academic English

    Instructions for submitting application materials such as test scores and transcripts can be found on the Graduate School website.

    For questions about the submission process, contact the Graduate School.

    A sport and recreation higher education program is judged by the level of performance its graduates are perceived to have attained. While a thorough knowledge in a variety of areas is essential in the preparation of the competent entry-level recreation professional in leisure service delivery positions, it provides only the basis upon which the individual will function professionally.

    The application of the generalist sport and recreation education process can take place only in real life situations. It is essential that an internship provide opportunity to personalize the knowledge in a practical environment. To facilitate this goal, a 400-hour internship experience is mandated and is an integral part of the sport and recreation administration curriculum at the University of Mississippi.

    It is intended that knowledge obtained in the classroom and practical service-learning experiences will be utilized during the internship experience. The major purpose of the internship is to provide the student opportunities to apply and personalize this broad knowledge base. Our internship is required by our accrediting body, the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).

    In Learning Outcomes: Standards and Assessment, COAPRT explains the learning outcomes of an accredited programs in this way:

    • Students graduating from the program shall demonstrate, through a comprehensive internship of not less than 400 clock hours and no fewer than 10 weeks, the potential to succeed as professionals at supervisory or higher levels in park, recreation, tourism, or related organizations (7.04)

    At the completion of the internship, the student should be able to function as a competent front-line supervisor as a sport and recreation professional.

    The student, the agency, and the University all benefit from this experience as practitioner professionals and University faculty work together to provide worthwhile experiential opportunities for students prior to their internship. Every professional should be interested in the recruitment and professional preparation of talented young people. Our internship, therefore, makes a valuable contribution to the preparation of tomorrow's leaders in sport and recreation administration.

    Getting Ready for the Internship

    Before students start their internships, they must have:

    •  Twelve hours from SRA Major Emphasis (SA or RA) Coursework or Additional Requirements for Students with a RT minor are required (see RT faculty internship advisor or SRA Coordinator)
    •  2.5 GPA for all SRA Courses completed in Sport and Recreation Administration.

    Students must also complete, verify, and file the following documents with the Sport and Recreation Administration advisor before they begin their internships experience:

    • Signed Agreement by on-site internship supervisor, student, and faculty advisor.
    • Current copy of student’s CPR/First Aid certification cards (front and back). The certifications must be valid until the end of the student’s internship.
    • Complete pre-internship competency exam with acceptable score.

    Sport and Recreation Internship site selection (without RT Minor)

    Students without a RT Minor interested in an sport and recreation internship site, should remember that:

    • The site selected for visitation may be identified through consultation with the SRA advisor and SRA Internship Coordinator or Instructor
    • The agency selected should be appropriate to an area of pre-professional interest.
    • The Student’s advisors have the authority to accept or reject the student’s choice for the internship.

    Recreational Therapy Internship site selection

    Students with a RT Minor interested in a recreational therapy internship site, should remember that:

    • The site selected for visitation may be identified through consultation with the SRA advisor and SRA Recreational Therapy Internship Coordinator or Instructor
    • Internship Site Supervisor must be a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
    • Internship must be a minimum of 560 hours over at least 14 weeks
    • All prerequisites for the SRA Internship must be met plus completed at least 18 hours toward the RT minor.
    • The Student’s advisors have the authority to accept or reject the student’s choice for the internship.

    The undergraduate major in Sport and Recreation Administration at the University of Mississippi is accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT).

    aca-logo

    COAPRT recognizes academic programs in colleges and universities that prepare new professionals to enter the parks, recreation, tourism and related professions. COAPRT Accreditation is a status granted to an academic program that meets or exceeds stated criteria of educational quality. In the United States, accreditation of professional preparation curricula is conferred by non-governmental bodies, which are often closely associated with professional associations in the field. COAPRT accredits baccalaureate degree programs in this profession.

    The UM sport and recreation degree programs have been accredited since 2000 and will be reviewed for re-accreditation in 2022.   In 2015, based on University strategic planning initiatives, faculty evaluation, and advisory board recommendations, the program was renamed Sport and Recreation Administration.

    nrapa

    mrpa

    Sport and Recreation Administration students attend at least one professional conference within the field prior to graduation to gain insight about the profession, attend continuing education programs, and meet other professionals.

    COAPRT standard 2.05.05

    The program annually posts 7.0 series aggregated data and additional evidence reflecting program academic quality and student achievement on their program and/or departmental website. Such information shall be consistent with FERPA requirements. 

    The UM sport and recreation degree programs have been accredited since 2000 and were reviewed for re-accreditation spring, 2022. In 2015, based on university strategic planning initiatives, faculty evaluation, and advisory board recommendations, the program was renamed Sport and Recreation Administration. 

    The University of Mississippi sport and recreation degree program curriculum is compliant with COAPRT standards and focused on preparing students for professional careers as certified professionals. This includes the Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and Certified THerapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). Fiqure 1a. illuminates the focus of the "Education-to-Vocation" model beginning with learning-based profession outcomes with practical classroom field experiences, to a 400-hour internships experience associated certification. 

     

    The UM degree program curriculum is focused on competencies needed to become professionally certified and simultaneously linked to COAPRT accreditation standards. Our model prepares students for positions with the competitive sport, recreation, tourism and related professions.

    Continuous data-based assessment and evaluation of the curriculum is completed by the SRA faculty annually to decide the strengths and weaknesses of the curriculum in relation to both contemporary professional standards as well as COAPRT accreditation standards. Data analyses of the curriculum and programmatic changes within the UM Sport and Recreation Administration Program (2016-2021) linked to COAPRT standards 7.01, 7.02. 7.03 are found here:

    Evidence 7.01-7.03 PDF

    Internship Site Evaluators assessment of Students ability in CPRP competencies

    1= Excellent Proficiency ————————– Poor Proficiency =5

     FinanceHuman ResourceOperationsProgrammingPlanningProfessional Communication
    20161.711.581.551.361.501.25
    20171.501.521.331.301.601.50
    20182.141.671.631.581.601.65
    20192.261.741.851.621.751.71
    20201.861.531.251.431.251.38
    20211.891.761.781.631.681.74
    Supervisor-rated Proficiency Score averages 2016-2021
     MeanRanking
    Programming1.54#1
    Human Resource1.64#2
    Operations1.65#3
    Professional Communication1.67#4
    Planning1.68#5
    Finance1.94#6

    The contemporary Sport and Recreation Administration degree program curriculum culminates in a professional internship experience that requires students to apply the knowledge from their degree program (COAPRT 7.04).

    In 2021:

    • 91% of graduating students reported that the University of Mississippi COAPRT-based curriculum effectively prepared them for internship responsibilities.
    • 100% of graduating students reported that their internship used knowledge gotten from their sport and recreation coursework.
    • 86% of graduating students reported that the SRA degree program RACE (Recreation administration Continuing Education) experiences supplied professional preparation for their internship experience.
    • 86% of graduating students showed that their University of Mississippi advisors were helpful in advising toward a career-oriented internship.
    • 79% of students achieved or exceeded the rating of Excellent from their on-site internship supervisors.
    • All students (100%) completing the internship were certified in CPR and First Aid prior to the internship.

    The world of Sport and Recreation Administration is a wide and varied one. 

     

    Students have ample opportunity to explore that world during their time in the program. Here are a few related organizations you can check out, if you'd like to explore the wider world of Sport and Recreation Administration.

    What does SRA look like on the job market?

    62k

    Median income for Park Managers in 2022.

    82K

    Median income for Recreation Coordinator in 2022.

    120K

    Median income for Sports Agents in 2022.

    14%

    Job outlook for Fitness Trainers and Instructors for 2022 to 2032 (much faster than average). 

    What jobs can I get with a Master of Science in Sport and Recreation?

    • Athletic Director
    • Facilities Management
    • Campus Recreation
    • Sports Agent
    • Sport Information Director
    • Sport Marketing Specialist
    • Guest Relations Manager
    • Corporate Partnership Manager

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    Brennan Berg

    We're here for you!

    We are here to answer any questions about a Master in Science in Sport and Recreation Administration. Don't hesitate to reach out!

    Brennan Berg

    Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Administration Program Director

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