Program Overview

Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management

The online Master of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management (MPRTSM) degree program provides students with the credentials, knowledge, and practical insight required to advance careers in parks, recreation, tourism, and sports industries. Recognizing that most of our students need to continue working full-time while earning this degree, the program is tailored to working adults. It is intentionally designed to meet the very specific needs of professionals looking to advance their careers in these highly competitive industries.

Delivery Format

The program is delivered online, with courses including lecture videos, activities, and other media, accessed from NC State’s WolfWare website. Using online communication tools, students in these courses interact extensively with both the instructor and their peers.

Entrance Exam

No entrance exam is required for admission to the program.

College of Natural Resources

The program is part of the College of Natural Resources.

Program Overview

The program emphasizes key management functions indicative of parks, recreation, tourism, and sport industries, ensuring students graduate with a mastery of advanced principles and procedures of management and ethical leadership (e.g., administration, marketing, organizational behavior, risk management, finance, and budgeting) for the delivery of recreation, parks, tourism, and sport services.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following admission criteria:

• A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0
• Official transcripts documenting all prior degrees
• Three professional letters of recommendation (applicants are encouraged to include one academic letter)
• Personal Statement: 1-2 pages addressing professional goals, contributions of personal/professional/social experiences, and special section if GPA <3.0
• Evidence of two years of professional work experience (or 12 hours of graduate coursework)

Plan of Study

Graduate from one of the country’s leading master’s programs in two years while still working. Courses are aligned with the needs of each industry and are taught by an experienced faculty dedicated to providing students with the skills they will need to gain a competitive advantage in their chosen field. Students can continue to work full-time while taking one course at a time and still complete all degree requirements in two years.

Program Basics

• 31 credit hours to graduate
• Accelerated course format delivered through a variety of online technologies that facilitate student-to-student and student-to-instructor interactions
• Students typically take one course at a time for eight weeks (two courses per 15-week semester)
• Students are admitted as a cohort in the fall semester of each year

Career Prospects

The program prepares students for careers such as:

• Community Center Director
• Recreation Program Director
• Events Coordinator
• Sport Facility Manager
• Sport Marketing and Sales Representative
• Park Operations Manager
• Parks and Recreation Director

Accreditation

North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees.