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Graduate Catalog 2004-2006: Programs

Master of Science in Recreation Administration

George Williams Campus of Aurora University
School of Experiential Leadership
Master of Science in Recreation Administration

The Recreation Administration Program is only available at the George Williams Campus of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. This program offers a graduate master of science degree whose purpose is to enable students to develop personally and professionally and to gain knowledge and skills needed for administrative leadership positions in recreation agencies and organizations. Recreation Administration involves directing and managing the programs and business operation systems of recreation and leisure agencies such as park districts, outdoor experiential education centers, state and national parks, recreation centers, youth organizations, private clubs, and resorts. Recreation Administration professionals manage the $350 billion annual revenues generated by the leisure services industry.

Degree Requirements:

The Recreation Administration master of science degree includes a minimum of 36 semester hours. The number of credit hours depends on the student's undergraduate work and the specialization selected. The Recreation Administration Program includes a required (21 semester hour) core curriculum and students choose one of two (15 semester hour) specializations listed below for a total of 36 semester hours:

• Administration of Leisure Services
• Outdoor Pursuits Administration.

Each specialization includes a progression through advanced skills, formulation of a professional philosophy, organizational methodology and administrative systems. Students are also required to demonstrate competency in basic statistics before they complete the program.

Required Core Curriculum
21 semester hours
REC6000 Research in Recreation Administration 3 semester hours
REC6030 Leisure Philosophy and Behavior in Recreation Services 3 semester hours
REC6750 Leisure Services Administration Assessment and Evaluation 3 semester hours

All Recreation Administration graduate students must complete one Internship/Research Requirement option listed below for 12 semester hours

• Option I REC6730 Research Project 6 semester hours
  Development and REC6740 Research Project Completion 6 semester hours
• Option II REC6780 Internship 12 semester hours
• Option III REC6990 Thesis 12 semester hours

Students may elect to do their internship or research project in the leisure services program or outdoor agency where they are employed by submitting a proposal and the faculty approving it to meet departmental guidelines.

Master of Science in Recreation Administration Specializations:

In addition to the Recreation Administration core curriculum students complete a 15 semester hour specialization.

• Administration of Leisure Services 15 semester hours
• Outdoor Pursuits Administration 15 semester hours

Administration of Leisure Services 15 semester hours

This program gives students the flexibility to adequately prepare for or advance in the career of leisure services administration in either the nonprofit or the profit sector. It also provides them the opportunity to complete developmental projects or internships in a recreation department or park district where they are employed. The program enables students to take additional background in business to make them more competitive in public administration.

Required
REC5100 Commercial Recreation Management 3 semester hours
REC6340 Political and Policy Implications for Recreation Administration 3 semester hours
REC6350 Administration of Recreation and Leisure Services 3 semester hours
REC6370 Facilities Management 3 semester hours
REC or MBA Elective (selected with Recreation Administration advisor) 3 semester hours

Outdoor Pursuits Administration 15 semester hours

The program format gives students the flexibility to prepare for or advance their career in organized camping, outdoor pursuits recreation, commercial outdoor recreation, experiential outdoor education, and youth at risk programs. Students may complete selected course work at the George Williams Campus and several outdoor resident centers in northern Illinois.

Required:
REC5000 Administrative Practicum in Outdoor Experiences 3 semester hours
REC5100 Commercial Recreation Management 3 semester hours
REC5020 Adventure Education Administration 3 semester hours
REC5420 Philosophy and Methods of Outdoor Education 3 semester hours
REC6400 Conference Center Administration 3 semester hours

Optional Additional Electives

The minimum requirement for the Master of Science degree is 36 semester hours. All Recreation administration graduate students may take additional electives outside the program related to their specialization and career goals, i.e., education, social work, or business administration in addition to their required Recreation Administration program courses. Courses are selected upon advisement of the program graduate coordinator and dependent on the student's graduation timeline.

Resources

The Recreation Administration program has a strong alumni network of over 1,000 graduates who hold professional positions in leisure services, outdoor experiential leadership, youth at risk agencies, and related human services fields. Currently the program places over 96% of its students in professional positions upon graduation. The program utilizes several outdoor resident centers in its programs. These include the George Williams Campus in Wisconsin and cooperating outdoor education centers in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Graduate Assistantships

Full and partial graduate assistantships are available for student placement in outdoor centers, park districts, community-based agencies and at the George Williams Campus. Recreation Administration graduate assistants gain experience in program experimentation, delivery, and administrative leadership as they complete their programs of study. However, they must have the professional qualifications to qualify for a position.

The program also awards several administrative graduate assistantships each year to assist with its operations and assist faculty in teaching or conducting research. Graduate assistantship forms are available for students online at www.aurora.edu/recadmin or upon request from the Recreation Administration Graduate Program Chairperson. Students must be accepted into the graduate program prior to receiving a graduate assistantship. Due to the national and international reputation of the program, it is best to apply in early January and assistantships are awarded until filled for the next academic year.

Class Locations

Graduate classes are offered in northern Illinois and at the George Williams Campus of Aurora University in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

Professional Advisory Council

The program faculty is assisted by a professional advisory council of practitioners in the field. The council advises the program faculty on curriculum development and current areas of professional practice.

Recreation Administration Program Graduate Students

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 encouraged by their employers to obtain the masters degree for their own professional development and to advance their career.

Professional Member Associations

The program is aligned with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the American Association of Leisure and Recreation (AALR). The program is a member of the Association of Experiential Education, American Camp Association, Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), and the Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association (WPRA).

The graduate degree program classroom portion can be completed within one year by full-time students and in two to three years by part-time students, with the internship or research project options completed in absentia.

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 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 Graduate Program Chairperson.

Recreation Administration Graduate Programs Admissions Requirements

Students seeking to enter the Recreation Administration program must submit a "Graduate Student Application" with the following materials to the Office of Admission:

• Students wishing to pursue a graduate degree, certificate, or credential at Aurora University must submit:
  1. A completed graduate application for admission (an online version of the form is available and encouraged);
  2. Official transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate institutions attended;
  3. Submission of three letters of reference from persons able to attest to the student's academic and/or professional potential (letter of recommendation form may be downloaded from our web site).
• Have 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 or deficiency course work before beginning graduate courses.
• Have an academic record indicative of a high probability of success in graduate study with an undergraduate cumulative grade point standing of 2.8 or better. Students with a lower average may be admitted on a "conditional basis." If they are admitted on a "conditional basis," they must demonstrate 'B' or better work during their first term.
• Complete an in-person or phone interview with the Recreation Administration Program Chairperson.
• 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 for any length of time 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 Admission and Financial Aid Office. 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 Aurora University.

School of Experiential Leadership Faculty