*Please note: Admissions for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 to the RMP MS Graduate Program at UNH are paused as we revamp the program. We look forward to welcoming new students into an enhanced program in Fall 2026.
WHY GET A MASTER’S DEGREE IN RECREATION ADMINISTRATION?
The Recreation Administration M.S. program prepares individuals for dynamic, exciting, and high-impact upper-level professional careers in recreation, parks, outdoor adventure, and tourism settings. The program is designed for those seeking professional practice, advancement in their current career, changes in career settings, and/or research positions and doctoral programs. The Recreation Administration M.S. program provides students with a solid foundation in research, theory, and practice and prepares leaders for professional careers in the growing fields of outdoor recreation management, parks and protected areas management, natural resource management, tourism and commercial recreation management, community recreation management, outdoor education and leadership, adventure programming, nonprofit administration, youth and senior services, camp administration, sports and fitness management, and more.
WHY CHOOSE UNH’S RECREATION ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM?
The UNH Recreation Administration M.S. program is led by world-class faculty members with academic expertise and professional industry experience, creating the perfect blend of theory and practice in small class sizes that encourage interaction and discussion. Faculty members are dedicated to supporting students and providing learning opportunities, both in the classroom and in the field, that connect students to real-world professional issues. The Recreation Administration M.S. program also offers exceptional opportunities for coursework, field work, and research through our various top-notch laboratories, learning facilities, and centers such as the Applied Recreation Research Collaborative (ARRC) lab, The Browne Center for innovative learning, and Northeast Passage – a world renowned therapeutic recreation provider.
POTENTIAL CAREER AREAS
- Nonprofit park and recreation agencies
- State park and recreation agencies
- Federal park and recreation agencies
- Campus recreation organizations
- Event and planning organizations
- Commercial recreation organizations
- Community recreation programs
- Adventure programs
From the CHHS Blog
Curriculum & Requirements
Beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, the Recreation Management and Policy: Recreation Administration M.S. is pausing admissions to the program. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.
The Recreation Administration option prepares professionals with advanced knowledge and skills to plan, administer, and evaluate recreation and outdoor recreation programs and services across a variety of sectors, including: sports and fitness, community recreation, campus recreation, nonprofit administration, commercial recreation and events, tourism, camps, outdoor education, adventure programming, outdoor recreation, parks and protected areas, conservation, natural resources, and senior or youth-serving agencies. Postgraduate employment opportunities include working as leaders, directors, planners, and managers of agencies and programs that provide healthy recreation and outdoor activities for people across the lifespan.
Specializations are available in campus recreation, outdoor education, and leadership through our partnerships with UNH Campus Recreation and The Browne Center. A specialization is available in adaptive sports through our partnership with Northeast Passage.
Applied research opportunities are available through our Applied Recreation Research Collaborative (ARRC Lab), which provides public, private, and non-profit recreation resource managers and practitioners with data-driven solutions to inform decision-making and policy.
Degree Requirements
The 30 credit Recreation Administration option consists of required and elective coursework. In consultation with a faculty adviser, students will select either a capstone portfolio or thesis track. Full-time students typically take up to two years to progress through the RA option degree requirements. If a student takes leveling courses, they may need to complete more than two years. Part-time students may take longer to complete the degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Competencies | ||
| RMP 800 | Concepts of Recreation and Leisure | 3 |
| RMP 806 | Recreation Administration and Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Required Research Competencies | ||
| RMP 992 | Research Methods in Recreation Management and Policy | 3 |
| or RMP 824 | Research, Evaluation, and Data-Driven Decisions | |
| SW 962 | Data Analysis and Statistics | 3 |
| or EDUC 881 | Introduction to Statistics: Inquiry, Analysis, and Decision Making | |
| Capstone 1 | ||
| Select Thesis or Portfolio Track | ||
Thesis Track: | ||
RMP 899 | Master's Thesis | |
and 4 additional Elective Courses | ||
Portfolio Track: | ||
RMP 995 | Capstone Seminar | |
and 5 additional Elective Courses | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select RMP elective courses from the following: | 12-18 | |
RMP 811 | Recreation Resource Management | |
RMP 820 | Adaptive Sport Facilitation for Recreation Therapy and Related Professions | |
RMP 872 | Law and Public Policy in Leisure Services | |
RMP 875 | Entrepreneurial and Commercial Recreation | |
RMP 912 | Non-Profit Administration and Leadership | |
RMP 924 | Fund Development and Grantwriting | |
RMP 964 | Graduate Internship | |
RMP 970 | Teaching Practicum | |
RMP 980 | Independent Study | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses 2 | ||
| (outside RMP Dept) | ||
ADMN 852 | Marketing Research | |
ADMN 960 | Marketing/Building Customer Value | |
ADMN 970 | Economics of Competition | |
ADMN 982 | Creating Winning Strategies | |
KIN 802 | Health Content and Youth Risk Behaviors | |
KIN 840 | Athletic Administration | |
KIN 841 | Social Issues in Contemporary Sports | |
KIN 865 | Advanced Topics in Coaching | |
KIN 880 | Psychological Factors in Sport | |
KIN 881 | Introduction to Adapted Physical Education | |
PHP 902 | Environmental Health | |
PHP 904 | Social and Behavioral Health | |
PHP 922 | Public Health Economics | |
PHP 924 | Policy and Practice of Community Health Assessment | |
RAM 867 | ||
SW 840 | Implications of Race, Culture, and Oppression for Social Work Practice | |
- 1
Thesis track choose 4 electives; Portfolio track choose 5 electives. Both tracks may also choose electives outside Dept.
- 2
This is not an all inclusive list.
This graduate program is approved to be taken on an accelerated basis in articulation with certain undergraduate degree programs.
General Accelerated Master's policy, note that some programs have additional requirements (e.g. higher grade expectations) compared to the policy.
Please see the Graduate School website and contact the department directly for more information.
Program 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.
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: It is recommended to apply early as priority and funding consideration is given to applications received by February 1. Applications accepted until August 1 if space available. Please note that fall 2024 is now full and closed for admissions.
- Spring: It is recommended to apply early as priority and funding consideration is given to applications received by December 1. Applications accepted until September 1 if space available.
- 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 or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. 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 from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of recommendation: 2 required
Two separate recommendation letters written by someone who can speak to the applicant’s work and academic performance must be submitted. Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Please provide typed responses to the following questions. Each response should be limited to a maximum of 300 words.
- Why are you seeking to earn an MS Degree in Recreation Management and Policy from the University of New Hampshire? How does your previous academic background and work experience contribute to the Department of Recreation Management and Policy as a graduate student?
- Which specific RMP MS Option are you interested in pursuing and why? The RMP MS program offers three unique RMP MS options to students:
- Which specific RMP MS faculty member are you interested in working with and why?
- *Note: Accelerated Masters applicants do not need to answer this question.
- Are you interested in pursuing the RMP MS thesis or portfolio option and why?
- *Note: Accelerated Masters applicants do not need to answer this question.
- RMP MS thesis students conduct rigorous independent research to examine a specific problem/question. The end product is either a traditional monograph-style thesis or a peer-reviewed journal article. This option prepares graduates for either professional practice and/or advanced doctoral programs. For more information, please see the RMP Graduate Handbook (pages 15-17).
- RMP MS portfolio students conduct rigorous capstone projects in each of their courses to acquire a portfolio of knowledge, skills, and abilities. The end product is a comprehensive portfolio of acquired competencies. This option prepares graduates for professional practice. For more information, please see the RMP Graduate Handbook (pages 18-20).
- What are your future career goals – what do you plan to do after completing the RMP graduate program and how with this degree help you obtain said goal?
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.
Additional Department Requirements
The RMP MS admission application process has 3 steps:
1) Applicants must attend an RMP MS information sessions via Zoom.
2) Applicants must directly contact via email the RMP MS faculty member with whom they wish to work and set up a Zoom or phone interview.
3) Applicants must apply for admission online to the RMP MS program through the UNH Graduate School online portal no later than the posted deadline.
Dual Degree Option:
The Social Work and Recreation Management and Policy programs have a dual degree option:
The Master of Social Work and Master of Science Program in Recreation Management and Policy
Please contact either department for additional details.
International Applicants
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.
