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Admission Requirements — Master of Science in Recreation Administration

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The typical Recreation Administration graduate student has been or is fully employed and has had three to four years of experience in the profession. Students are often encouraged by their employers to obtain the master's degree for their own professional development and to advance their career.

Students seeking to enter the Recreation Administration program must submit:

• A completed graduate application for admission (online form available and encouraged)
• Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions attended
• Three letters of reference from persons able to attest to the student's academic and/or professional potential (online recommendation form available)

Students must also:

• Possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field providing appropriate background for graduate study in the student's chosen program. Students whose undergraduate backgrounds are in fields other than those in which they are seeking to enter graduate study may be required to complete prerequisite coursework before beginning graduate courses.
• Have an academic record indicative of a high probability of success in graduate study with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher. Students with a lower average GPA may be admitted on a "conditional basis." If they are admitted conditionally, they must demonstrate "B" or better work during their first term.

Students are not required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for admission.

The faculty encourages students with degrees in related areas such as education, social work, arts and sciences, and business administration to apply to the program. Student work experiences related to recreation services, human services and administration are also strongly considered by the faculty for program admission.

Graduate Student-at-Large Status
A student who wishes to enroll in a graduate course, but is not seeking a degree, may do so as a student-at-large by filing a graduate student-at-large application. A maximum of 6 semester hours may be applied to a graduate degree program at Aurora University. Enrollment in specific courses by students-at-large may be restricted by prerequisites or other requirements of individual graduate programs. Financial aid is not available to students-at-large.

Provisional Admission
A student seeking regular admission whose official transcripts or other required documents have not arrived by the established deadline due to circumstances beyond the student's control and who otherwise meets all requirements for admission to a graduate program may be admitted provisionally for one term. A provisional student whose admission status is not complete by the first day of the next term excluding summer will be administratively dropped from the program. Financial aid is not available to provisional students.

Admission of Foreign Students
Students whose native language is not English are required to have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 or ELS Level 109 for admission. In addition, proof of financial responsibility is required as specified by the Office of Admission and Financial Aid. Transcripts from foreign colleges and universities are evaluated in accordance with the guidelines of the AACRAO World Education Series. Evaluations by recognized outside evaluation services and certified English translations may be required at student expense, at the discretion of the Registrar.

Residency Requirement
A minimum of 50% of the total credits required for the completion of a master's degree or post-baccalaureate certificate or credential must be earned at George Williams College of Aurora University.

Prerequisite and Deficiency Courses
In order to take full advantage of the graduate program in recreation administration, it may be necessary for some students to complete prerequisite course work or practicum experiences.  Upon admission, students without an academic or experiential background appropriate to their specialization area will be notified of deficiency requirements by the Recreation Administration Graduate Program Chairperson. In most instances, these requirements may be fulfilled concurrently with graduate work in the program. Questions about other courses or workshops that might meet these requirements should be directed to the Recreation Administration Department Graduate Program Chairperson.