Graduate Program Overview
The Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration offers a Master of Arts degree in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration, with options in Recreation and Parks Administration and Therapeutic Recreation. The Department also offers a concentration on the Master of Science in Administration program, an interdisciplinary degree.

The graduate programs in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services Administration are strengthened by the diverse academic and professional background of the faculty. The faculty members provide information, suggest areas of study and research, and furnish expertise in the areas of administration (community, commercial, travel, and tourism) including personnel management, financing and marketing; and therapeutic recreation including administration, programming, federal regulations, and advocacy.

Graduates of the department have been well accepted in the professional fields as well as at doctoral level programs at other institutions. Over 750 graduates of these master’s programs are now located throughout the United States.

Graduate assistantships are available in the RPL Department. Opportunities involve research, teaching assignments, and/or assisting in the management of the undergraduate internship programs. Assistantships are available on an academic year basis. Decisions are made in the spring for the upcoming academic year.

The graduate program continues to evolve to meet the changing needs in the field of recreation, parks, and leisure services. Course scheduling can be arranged so a student attends classes on a full-time or part-time basis.

For general information on graduate studies at CMU, please visit the College of Graduate Studies.