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Recreation Management Program
Master’s Program in Recreation Management - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Online Degrees
By Kate Evans, PhD, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) found that their traditional oncampus master’s program in recreation management was not accessible to working professionals. There was a significant need to provide access to students that needed to continue full-time employment, had family obligations and could not relocate. Moving on this need, faculty in the department of recreation management and therapeutic recreation developed a fully online master of science program in recreation management – professional development in collaboration with UWL Extended Learning. The program, geared toward working recreation professionals, focuses on advanced management skills that recreation professionals need to advance in their careers. “This degree serves the needs of recreation professionals who are not in a position to leave their careers to come back to school, but who want or need to advance their education to move forward in their career,” Kate Evans, Ph.D., academic director explains. “We created the program so they can continue to work and use their professional experiences while learning.” Students progress through the program in a cohort with other learners, often with other recreation professionals from across the country. This cohort model offers collaborative learning opportunities consisting of projects, discussions and research-based content and best practices in the field of recreation. Each fall, a new cohort of students begin coursework consisting of 30 credits. Throughout these courses, students are encouraged to integrate their professional experiences and needs of their organizations into the course assignments where possible. In the culminating capstone course, students integrate their skills and knowledge learned across the program into an actionable plan for addressing an issue in recreation service delivery. Students are provided the option to present their capstone project at UWL, connect with their instructors and peers, and participate in the university’s commencement ceremony. Designed for working professionals who balance competing obligations, the program will: • Allow time for work and family • Build on prior education and existing experience in the field
• Focus on management skills required for attaining and advancing in recreation management positions
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The outcomes of the program are to create leaders in the parks and recreation industry that will: • Advance social justice • Provide recreation access to diverse populations and understand how the experiences of those populations influence leisure and leisure service delivery • Understand and implement pricing strategies including price fairness and price perceptions • Understand the influence of technology and societal changes on leisure and the role of leisure in modern society • Collect and analyze data and utilize management strategies for applying and communicating evaluation results • Apply principles of group dynamics and functioning to staff/team development and trainings, organizational leadership, facilitation, board development and assessment/evaluation strategies • Prepare for visitors and make strategic decisions with both residents and visitors in mind • Explore alternative funding models including fund development, grants and capital campaigns as well as collaborative approaches including partnerships, outsourcing and privatization There is no GRE requirement. A culminating capstone project is required instead of a thesis, and for those working in a recreation management role, the capstone project can be completed and implemented in conjunction with their current job position. Additional highlights of the program include:
• Advance (from start to finish) with the same group of aspiring and current recreation professionals • Network with others from a variety of recreation settings • Complete 30 credits in six semesters/ two years UWL’s strong recreation management faculty, high placement record and affordable tuition make the master of science in recreation managementprofessional development a program of choice for those interested in entering and advancing in the field of recreation management. For more information on the program, join the March 9, 2021 information session or visit www.uwlax. edu/grad/recreation-management-pd/
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