Recreation and Sports

Tarleton State University’s Master of Science (M.S.) in Management degree with a concentration in Recreation and Sports prepares students with foundational business and management skills, which are further sharpened for application specifically within the recreation and sports industries. The program stresses efficient team leadership and the creation of effective data-based programming in sports, public recreation, and athletic facilities.

Flexible Curriculum

The M.S. in Management degree at Tarleton State University is taken entirely online, flexibly meeting the needs of working professionals with busy schedules. Furthermore, there are no leveling courses required for enrollment, allowing for students to get started pursuing their master’s degree quicker. The degree can be completed in as little as one year with many courses available in 8-week or 16-week formats.

With a well-rounded curriculum that increases knowledge across all professional aspects of the recreation and sport industries, the degree is well-suited for students with an undergraduate academic background in kinesiology that have an interest in facility or organization management.

rec and sports

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Master’s in Management Core Courses

The M.S. in Management degree consists of 18 credit hours of core coursework that lays the foundation in essential business, analytical, and operational concepts needed for success in a management role, including:

  • Leadership Development or Managing Operations and Services
  • Strategic Business Planning & Policy
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Project Management
  • Managerial Statistics
  • Evidence Based Decision Making

Recreation and Sports Concentration Coursework

Beyond the core coursework for the M.S. in Management degree, students within the Recreation and Sports concentration pursue an additional 18 credit hours of coursework that allows students to specialize further in an array of sports-related disciplines.

ClassNumberClass Name
KINE5305Administration of Athletics
KINE5317Leadership and Professional Development
KINE5326Facilities in Kinesiology, Athletics, and Recreation
KINE5343Law for Sport and Recreation
KINE5385Seminar (Sports Finance)

Students will also choose one additional elective from the following courses:

ClassNumberClass Name
KINE5304Principles of Sport Organization
KINE5312Contemporary Issues in Sports Medicine
KINE5313Administrative Practices in Sports Medicine
KINE5399Internship

Thesis option is also available.

Program Outcomes

The program’s curriculum ensures students have a firm grasp on contemporary issues across kinesiology, leadership, law, and administrative practices in a sport context. With this comprehensive coverage, the Recreation and Sports degree provides the knowledge and skill set required for career advancement, including the ability to plan, construct, and maintain facilities and programming in the recreation or sport arena, as well as manage the individuals executing daily operations.

Career Paths

Graduates of the Recreation and Sports concentration enter a variety of influential community and public-facing roles such as:

  • Manager of Recreational Facilities
  • Physical Therapy Clinic Manager
  • Director/Manager of Parks and Recreation
  • Recreational Program and Sports Supervisor

M.S. in Management Degree Accreditation

Tarleton State’s Master of Science in Management degree program is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and a Member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This reflects our commitment to providing a degree program that builds modern, in-demand knowledge and skills within the field.

Tarleton’s Facility Management & Innovative Sports Programming

Selecting the Recreation and Sports concentration of Tarleton State’s Master of Science in Management degree provides you the first step in pursuing a rewarding career in the management, leadership and staffing, and operation of community, amateur, and professional facilities and programming.

Ready to get started? Request more information or submit your application to Tarleton State University.

Related Programs

Not what you were looking for? Tarleton State University offers over 100 different degrees and certifications that may be of interest to you, including:

Learn more about graduate studies at Tarleton!