Program Overview
Insights into our recreation management degree online
Gain an in-depth understanding of fast-moving, increasingly complex recreational challenges in the M.S. in Recreation with an emphasis in Recreation Management online program. Deepen your credentials for leading programs in youth and municipal organizations, parks and recreation departments—and more.
In this online recreation master's program, you will study facility design and management, recreation programming, commercial recreation, and athletics for active adults. Our core coursework covers broader topics such as data analytics, risk management, grant writing, and human resources.
Our curriculum is aligned with the requirements for Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) certification, which is essential for high-level employment in the industry. Plus, our online students may join campus associations and student organizations—such as the Health Science and Wellness Future Professionals—to broaden networking opportunities with peers.
Accreditation:
Northwest Missouri State University is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and is recognized by the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education™ (DESE) and the Higher Learning Commission.
Also available
Northwest offers a variety of specialized online degree options. Check out our other online graduate programs.
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
Our recreation management online degree program offers affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition, which is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program* |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.S. Recreation – Recreation Management | $391 | $1,173 | $11,730 |
Important Refund Information
| 2nd day of class | Last date for 100% refund for dropped course |
| 4th day of class | Last date for 75% refund for dropped course |
| 6th day of class | Last date for 50% refund for dropped course |
| 8th day of class | Last date for 25% refund for dropped course |
Tuition breakdown:
Transfer your credits for lower tuition
Use our Tuition Estimator to see how affordable your degree could be. Slide the notch to the number of credits you've already earned—which may qualify for transfer credit—to get an estimate of what your degree might cost.
Transcripts sent from other colleges and universities will be evaluated, and accepted credits will be added to the student's A-State record. The Tuition Estimator is not a guarantee or predictor of the number of credit hours that will be accepted.
Calendar
Important dates for our students
Northwest online programs are delivered in an accelerated format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/13/25 | 1/3/25 | 1/6/25 | 1/7/25 | 1/8/25 | 2/28/25 |
| Spring 2 | 3/10/25 | 2/24/25 | 2/27/25 | 3/3/25 | 3/5/25 | 4/25/25 |
| Summer 1 | 5/5/25 | 4/21/25 | 4/24/25 | 4/28/25 | 4/30/25 | 6/20/25 |
| Summer 2 | 6/23/25 | 6/6/25 | 6/11/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/17/25 | 8/8/25 |
| Fall 1 | 8/25/25 | 8/11/25 | 8/14/25 | 8/18/25 | 8/20/25 | 10/10/25 |
| Fall 2 | 10/20/25 | 10/6/25 | 10/9/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/15/25 | 12/5/25 |
Now enrolling:
earning your degree?
Admissions
Follow our streamlined program admission requirements
At Northwest, we've streamlined the admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Please read the requirements for the M.S. in Recreation with an emphasis in Recreation Management online program, including what additional materials you need and where you should send them.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
To apply for this program, you must meet these requirements:
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.75 on the undergraduate transcript from a regionally accredited institution OR an undergraduate overall GPA of 2.50 to 2.74 from a regionally accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA on six hours of required graduate coursework at Northwest in the major program where admission is requested.
- Documentation of ONE of the following:
- Score of 280 or higher on GRE combined score OR
- 3.0 Overall undergraduate GPA OR
- Two years of documented full-time employment (minimum average 30 hours per week) in the field of study OR
- Successful completion of another master's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with at least a 2.75 GPA
If you are a non-Missouri student, you should determine whether this program fits the certification requirements for your state.
Official transcripts can be emailed to [email protected]. To submit official documents by mail, send them to:
Graduate Records SpecialistNorthwest Missouri State University
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468-6001
Have a question? Call us at 844-890-9304.
Click here for State Authorization information.
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- Official transcripts from all institutions attended
Courses
A look at the online recreation management curriculum
For the M.S. in Recreation with an emphasis in Recreation Management online program, the curriculum is comprised of 10 courses (30 credit hours), including 18 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of emphasis courses.
*Tuition and fees are based on current rates. Textbooks and laptops are not included with tuition.
**Most software will be free for student use, but there might be nominal fees associated with some of these.
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