Masters in Recreation or MPA?

[Ashley H.]

Hello all! Not sure if this is the best forum to post this in or not -- at my school, Recreation is housed in the School of Public Health, but anyway.

 

I was wondering if anyone has any information about Masters degrees in Recreation? I am considering a MS from Indiana University (with a Park and Public Lands Management major). I don't intend on staying in Indiana forever and want to make sure that I will have job opportunities anywhere in the country. I am interested in working for recreation/sport/leisure services, both public and private. I am also interested in non-profit work.

 

Do you think this would be a good way to go for me or am I wasting my time? Would an MPA be applicable in this situation and give me more job opportunities after graduation?

 

Thanks!

[ZacharyObama]

I worked in Parks and Rec before starting my MPA program and I'm still very much interested in parks and public lands. I think an MPA probably provides more skills in budgeting/economics + policy design and analysis. I would imagine getting a similar return in management skills. I would guess that if you're set on working in "recreation/sport/leisure services, both public and private" you're probably just as well served by a Recreation and Sport Management program as an MPA program. I know people who have gone into those programs and they were most certainly more interested in things like running sports leagues than budgeting and financing capital improvement projects. *shrug*