Program Description

The Adaptive Sports Option prepares professionals for middle to upper-level administrative positions within the adaptive sports sector of the field, including positions within parks and recreation departments, rehabilitation hospitals, Veteran’s Administration hospitals and outpatient clinics, non-profits agencies, public school settings, grassroots adaptive sport organizations, national and international adaptive sport organizations, and/or commercial sport and recreation providers.

The Adaptive Sports Option leverages our unique partnership with Northeast Passage, a nationally recognized TR and adaptive sports program associated with the RMP Department, and Chapter of Move United. Graduate students will be exposed to Northeast Passage’s Adaptive Sports and Recreation program, which offers a spectrum of services from entry-level instruction to ongoing recreation and competitive sports opportunities for people with disabilities (www.nepassage.org).

Requirements for the Program

The 32-33 credit Adaptive Sports Option consists of required and elective coursework. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students will select either a thesis or non-thesis track. The core curriculum combines courses in adaptive sports and recreation facilitation, program administration in sport and recreation, law and public policy, non-profit administration and leadership, fund development and grant writing, and a supervised fieldwork experience in an adaptive sports setting. Students develop research competencies through an applied project or thesis specifically tailored to adaptive sport practice. Students also take one elective course to support desired specialization.

Full-time students typically take two years and one summer session to progress through the Adaptive Sport option degree requirements. Part-time students typically complete the program in three+ years.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Core Competencies
RMP 820	Adaptive Sports and Recreation Facilitation	3
RMP 860	Program Administration in Recreational Sport	3
RMP 872	Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services	3
RMP 912	Non-Profit Administration and Leadership	3
RMP 924	Fund Development and Grantwriting	3
RMP 963	Graduate Field Practicum	2
Required Research Competencies
RMP 992	Research Methods in Recreation Management and Policy	3
SW 962	Data Analysis and Statistics	3-4
or EDUC 881	Introduction to Statistics: Inquiry, Analysis, and Decision Making
Capstone Course (choose 1 track)		6
Thesis Track:
RMP 899	Master's Thesis (Sections I & II - 6 credits total)
Non-thesis Track:
RMP 980	Independent Study
RMP 995	Colloquium Seminar
Select one of the following Electives (not an all-inclusive list)		3
EDUC #852	Contemporary Issues in Learning Disabilities
EDUC 856	Advocating for Diverse and Inclusive Family-School-Community Partnerships
EDUC #857	Contemporary Issues in Autism Spectrum Disorders
KIN 865	Advanced Topics in Coaching (highly encouraged)
KIN 881	Inclusion in Physical Education
OT #822	Introduction to Assistive Technology
OT #824	Assistive Technology and Physical Disabilities
OT #826	Assistive Technology and Sensory, Communicative, and Cognitive Disabilities
SW 812	Understanding Developmental Disabilities
SW 897	Special Topics in Social Work and Social Welfare (Mental Health Aspects of IDD)
SW 897	Special Topics in Social Work and Social Welfare (Youth Emotional Behavior)
Total Credits		32-33

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will know the roles and interrelationships of diverse leisure service delivery systems, as well as professionalism in the discipline.
Students will know and apply the psychological, sociological, and social psychological theories and philosophies associated with leisure and recreation behavior.
Students will develop the ability to translate and apply relevant theory to park and recreation programs and services.
Students will know the historical and cultural perspectives associated with the park and recreation field, and will apply issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion to park and recreation management.
Students will apply financial, budgetary, planning, marketing, program evaluation, and human resource knowledge and skills to meet present and future organizational needs and challenges.
Students will implement leadership skills that advance the park and recreation profession and broader society.
Students will design and conduct research, analyze and interpret data, and apply research findings to the park and recreation profession.
Students will explore the interrelationships of allied professions with the park and recreation profession.
Students will know how to promote the benefits of recreation and leisure to enhance individual, social, economic, and environmental well-being and quality of life.
Students will demonstrate effective conceptual and technical communication skills, both in oral and written form.

Application Requirements & Deadlines

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Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

Fall: Feb. 1 (for funding and GA application); March 15 (final)
Spring: Nov. 1
Summer: N/A
Special: N/A

Application fee: $65

Campus: Durham

New England Regional: ME MA RI

Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester and UNH Non-Degree work.

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must request one official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. International transcripts must be translated into English. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts are required for any school you earned a degree from, attended for at least one year, or attended for 2 or more semesters. Exceptions to this rule may be approved at the discretion of the program you are applying to and the UNH Graduate School Admission’s office.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a careful statement regarding:

Why are you choosing to pursue graduate work in the RMP Department at UNH?
Why are you interested in this specific option of study (choose one: recreation administration, therapeutic recreation administration, or adaptive sports administration)?
How does your professional and/or educational background make you suitable for a career in this specific option of study?
What are your academic and research interests?
What professional and/or academic accomplishments have you achieved to date that will contribute to your success?
What are your future career goals – what do you plan to do after completing the RMP graduate program?

Statements must be included with your submitted application.

Resume

A current resume is required with your submitted application.

Important Notes

All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program specific application questions.

International Applicants

Some academic departments recommend that international applicants, living outside of the United States, and planning on pursuing a research based degree, submit a preapplication form before submitting a full application. If your desired program is not on the form, departments prefer a full application be submitted. Preapplication requests will be carefully reviewed and a decision usually provided within 3 weeks. If your preapplication is approved then it is recommended you then submit a full application. If you are currently living in the United States (on a H1B visa, etc.), or you plan on pursuing a professional master’s degree, then you do not need to submit a preapplication.

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.