MA in Recreation and Leisure Studies

Students enrolling in the master of arts in recreation and leisure must meet the following minimum admission requirements:

  • A bachelor’s or professional degree earned from a department of approved standing and granted by an accredited college or university.
  • A 2.70 or equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA) for all previous undergraduate academic work.
  • Prerequisite academic work that indicates the applicant should be able to pursue effectively the master of arts in recreation and leisure studies.
  • Proof of health and accident insurance.
  • Satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if from a country where English is not the primary language.
  • Provisional acceptance to the program may be considered for applicants not meeting the requirements for regular student status admission.

Course Requirements 

Recreation Administration Track (30 Credit Hours)
RCRT 6100Recreation I: Leisure and Society4
RCRT 6110Recreation II: Leadership4
RCRT 6120Recreation III: Facility Design4
RCRT 6130Recreation IV: Liability & Risk4
RCRT 6140Recreation V: Financial Resources4
RCRT 6150Recreation VI: Administration4
RCRT 6160Recreation VII: Evaluation3
RCRT 6940Recreation VIII: Internship3
Total Hours30
Recreation Therapy Track (44 Credit Hours)
RCRT 5300Inclusion and Recreational Therapy Services3
RCRT 5320Administration In Recreational Therapy3
RCRT 5565Recreational Therapy Interventions 23
RCRT 5570Recreational Therapy Interventions 32
RCRT 5710Outdoor and Adaptive Sports Program Delivery in Recreational Therapy Practice3
RCRT 5720Introduction To Recreational Therapy3
RCRT 5730Physical and Neurological Diagnosis and Conditions in Recreational Therapy Practice3
RCRT 5760APIE in Recreation Therapy3
RCRT 5790Psychological Diagnosis and Conditions in Recreational Therapy Practice3
RCRT 5810Recreational Therapy Fieldwork 11
RCRT 5820Recreational Therapy Fieldwork 21
RCRT 5830Recreational Therapy Fieldwork III1
RCRT 5930Internship Competency in Recreational Therapy1
RCRT 6110Recreation II: Leadership4
RCRT 6130Recreation IV: Liability & Risk4
RCRT 6160Recreation VII: Evaluation3
RCRT 6940Recreation VIII: Internship3
Total Hours44

For the degree in recreation administration, immunizations, background checks, and a "fit for duty" test may be required by host agencies for internships. Students must provide their own transportation to internship sites. 

Students in the recreation therapy program must provide verification of immunizations:

  • Mantoux,
  • Rubella Titer/Roseolla (MMR),
  • Hepatitis B status, as well as
  • current CPR certification.

Additional immunizations may be required by host agencies for clinicals or internships. Host agencies may also require background checks and/or “fit for duty” tests. Students must provide their own transportation to volunteer, clinical or internship sites. More information can be found at: http://www.utoledo.edu/hhs/rec-admin/

Summary of Recreation and Leisure Studies Technical Standards

Students completing the master’s degree in recreation and leisure studies must possess/demonstrate the competencies needed for the provision of recreation and/or recreation therapy services at the administrative level. Students must understand the context of recreation services in contemporary society, be able to identify and adapt to the issues and trends effecting the recreation profession and the communities in which services are provided, demonstrate the ability to be effective administrative leaders and effective fiscal resource managers, as well as demonstrate the ability to competently engage in the evaluation of programs and services. Students must also demonstrate the capacity to engage in critical thinking and effective problem solving and decision making. In addition, students must demonstrate the ability to apply the aforementioned knowledge and skills from a multicultural, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory perspective.

Recreation Administration Track Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First TermHours
RCRT 6100 Recreation I: Leisure and Society 4
RCRT 6110 Recreation II: Leadership 4
RCRT 6120 Recreation III: Facility Design 4
 Hours12
Second Term
RCRT 6130 Recreation IV: Liability & Risk 4
RCRT 6140 Recreation V: Financial Resources 4
RCRT 6150 Recreation VI: Administration 4
 Hours12
Third Term
RCRT 6160 Recreation VII: Evaluation 3
RCRT 6940 Recreation VIII: Internship 3
 Hours6
 Total Hours30

Recreation Therapy Track Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First TermHours
RCRT 5570 Recreational Therapy Interventions 3 2
RCRT 5720 Introduction To Recreational Therapy 3
RCRT 5730 Physical and Neurological Diagnosis and Conditions in Recreational Therapy Practice 3
RCRT 5760 APIE in Recreation Therapy 3
 Hours11
Second Term
RCRT 5300 Inclusion and Recreational Therapy Services 3
RCRT 5565 Recreational Therapy Interventions 2 3
RCRT 5790 Psychological Diagnosis and Conditions in Recreational Therapy Practice 3
 Hours9
Third Term
RCRT 6160 Recreation VII: Evaluation 3
 Hours3
Fourth Term
RCRT 5710 Outdoor and Adaptive Sports Program Delivery in Recreational Therapy Practice 3
RCRT 5810 Recreational Therapy Fieldwork 1 1
RCRT 5820 Recreational Therapy Fieldwork 2 1
RCRT 6110 Recreation II: Leadership 4
 Hours9
Fifth Term
RCRT 5320 Administration In Recreational Therapy 3
RCRT 5830 Recreational Therapy Fieldwork III 1
RCRT 5930 Internship Competency in Recreational Therapy 1
RCRT 6130 Recreation IV: Liability & Risk 4
 Hours9
Sixth Term
RCRT 6940 Recreation VIII: Internship 3
 Hours3
 Total Hours44
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in the role of recreation and leisure in contemporary society, including, but not limited to: historical and conceptual foundations; the psychological, sociological and physiological significance of play, recreation, and leisure; the significance of the technological, economic, and political effects of recreation and leisure; the organizational structure, purpose and function of various recreation and leisure services agencies; current issues and trends; and the responsibility of the leisure service profession to make available opportunities for leisure as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6100 Recreation I: Leisure and Society with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in the role effective leadership has in the provision of recreation and recreation-related services, including, but not limited to competencies, skills, and styles; leading across the lifespan; cultural adaptability; communication; group dynamics; influencing and inspiring desired behaviors; conflict resolution and mediation; values ethics; face-to-face leadership techniques; mitigating risk; and professionalism as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6110 Recreation II: Leadership with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in the role facility design has in the provision of recreation and recreation-related services, including, but not limited to past and present of recreational facility development; basic design considerations; the design process; functional considerations of Design; interpreting plans; Research, regional, and site analysis stages of the site design process; evaluating facilities; client-consultant relationships; and developing a design plan as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6120 Recreation III: Facility Design with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in the role effective risk mitigation has in the provision of recreation and recreation-related services, including, but not limited to how to manage risks; risk management and the law; risk management planning; risk management and employees; managing risks at events; managing facility risk; security and personal safety; developing an emergency action plan; and managing risk at special facilities as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6130 Recreation IV: Liability Risk with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in the role financial resources has in the provision of recreation and recreation-related services, including, but not limited to sector and industry comparisons; functions and organization; budgeting preparation, formats and presentation: planning reports; revenue sources; pricing; revenue management; grant-seeking; philanthropy and fundraising; sponsorship; entrepreneurship; capital budgeting; business planning; and economic principles as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6140 Recreation V: Financial Resources with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in effectively understanding the administrative process and procedures of a recreation or recreation-related agency, including, but not limited to strategic management; organizational environment; customer service; legal aspects; human resources; computer operations; financial management and budgeting; public relations; fundraising; and maintenance as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6150 Recreation VI: Administration with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in the role evaluative research has in the provision of recreation and recreation-related services, including, but not limited to systematic inquiry; difference between evaluation and research; trilogy of evaluation and research; evaluation models; designing evaluation and research projects; political, legal, ethical, and moral issues; qualitative and quantitative data; designs and methods; data trustworthiness; sampling; measurement instrument development; descriptive-survey evaluation and research; experimental designs; mixed methods; data analysis techniques; statistical significance; and data reporting as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6160 Recreation VII: Evaluation with a minimum grade of “B”.
  • During completion of the MA Recreation Leisure Studies Program the student will engage in learning activities requiring demonstration of remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating and/or creating to develop competence in effectively understanding the administrative process and procedures of a recreation or recreation-related agency, including, but not limited to strategic management; organizational environment; customer service; legal aspects; human resources; computer operations; financial management and budgeting; public relations; fundraising; and maintenance as evidenced by successful completion of RCRT 6940 Recreation VIII: Internship with a minimum grade of “B”.