Study recreation management abroad

Recreation describes the sports and leisure activities people participate in during their spare time. By studying recreation management programs, you’ll gain the knowledge, professional skills, and experience needed to get a headstart in the industry.

You’ll learn how to effectively manage recreation activities and facilities by studying the theories and principles of governance and organization. You’ll also consider the cultural, economic, and psychological value of recreational pursuits to individuals and communities.

Recreation and leisure management is a booming global business. Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to see how recreational trends, provisions, and policies differ within and between countries. You’ll also acquire the leadership and commercial skills vital for operating in an international context.

Bachelor’s degrees in recreation management are studied over a minimum of three years, but some will integrate an additional 12-month placement and last four years. Programs are available as either a BA or a BSc. The overall content of these classifications is very similar, but you’ll probably take more financially-focused courses on a BSc program.

The US is home to the world’s most impressive sports and leisure industry, making it a popular study abroad destination for recreation management students. Most American universities follow the liberal arts model, so your bachelor’s program will require four years of full-time study. You’ll only major in recreation management after first completing two years of general education.

Postgraduate study gives students the chance to extend their expertise and further enhance their employability. Master’s programs last one or to years, depending on whether you study on a full or part-time basis. Research-based PhD programs will add four or five years on top of this.

Your timetable will mainly consist of lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical workshops where you’ll deal with real-world case studies. Some universities will also arrange field trips to leisure facilities and guest presentations from industry experts.

Every university’s recreation management program will include slightly different elective modules for students to choose from. However, most institutions insist students take core courses in these areas:

• The recreation, leisure, and sport industry
• Recreation finance and economics
• Sport and recreation ethics and law
• Recreation events management
• Sports and recreation marketing
• The sociology of recreation and sport
• The psychology of recreation and sport
• Contemporary issues in the recreation industry

Recreation management graduates go on to have a range of enjoyable and exciting careers across the sports, leisure, wellness, education, and business industries.

Employers working in health clubs, athletic organizations, schools, national governing bodies, and local authorities are always eager to recruit the next generation of passionate and hard-working recreation management graduates.

You’ll be a frontrunner for any of the following positions:

• Recreation manager
• Events coordinator
• Recreation therapist
• Sports coach
• Youth program director
• Sports administrator
• Sports development officer
• Tourism officer

Work experience is an invaluable way to gather industry insight, give your resume a boost, and make potential employers take notice of your application. Get in touch with leisure centers, health clinics, sports clubs, or tourism companies to see if they can offer a placement opportunity suited to your career ambitions.