Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Sport and Recreation Management is a specialised three-year degree designed for students who want to work in the growing sport, recreation, events, community and outdoor-activity sectors.

Key benefits include:

• Strong focus on sport and recreation management, planning and leadership.
• Broad coverage of strategic management, marketing, event planning, sport science and recreation.
• Lincoln describes the programme as offering the widest range of sport and recreation courses of any New Zealand university.
• Practical learning with industry involvement.
• A 120-hour internship coordinated around the student's interests and employer needs.
• Development of management, communication, research, planning, programming and problem-solving skills.
• Study of contemporary social, policy and management issues affecting sport and recreation.
• Opportunity to add another major or minor, subject to course planning.
• Preparation for employment across sport, recreation, parks, events, community engagement and related sectors. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The degree combines compulsory sport and recreation courses with management/business courses and electives. The programme structure is indicative and Lincoln advises students to work with a course advisor when selecting electives.

Year 1 includes:

Semester 1:

• RECN 110 – Concepts in Sport and Recreation
• SOCI 116 – Society, Culture and Environment
• One course from the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation List A
• Suggested elective(s)

Semester 2:

• SOCI 117 – Introduction to New Zealand Government and Public Policy
• RECN 111 – Leisure Industry Leadership
• One course from the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation List A
• Suggested elective(s).

Year 1 List A options include:

• BMGT 116 – Principles of Management
• COMM 112 – Financial Information for Business
• MKTG 115 – Principles of Marketing.

Suggested first-year electives include:

• PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology
• TOUR 101 – Introduction to Tourism
• MAST 104 – Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)
• ECON 113 – Economies and Markets
• COMM 112 – Financial Information for Business
• PSYC 102 – Introduction to Social Psychology
• ECOL 103 – Ecology I: New Zealand Ecology and Conservation.

Year 2 includes:

Semester 1:

• RECN 213 – Event Planning
• SOCI 204 – Research Methods
• RECN 216 – Principles of Physical Activity, Exercise and Health
• One elective

Semester 2:

• RECN 217 – Sport and Society
• PSYC 202 – Motivation and Participation
• RECN 215 – Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
• One elective.

Year 3 includes:

Semester 1:

• RECN 343 – Sport and Recreation Management
• One course from Bachelor of Sport and Recreation List C
• Two electives

Semester 2:

• SOCI 315 – Policy and Practice
• RECN 393 – Practicum: Practical Experience in Sport and Recreation and Tourism Management
• One course from Bachelor of Sport and Recreation List C
• One elective.

List C includes:

• RECN 345 – Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science
• PSYC 302 – Social Psychology of Wellbeing.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The degree is not currently presented as having fixed named specialisations. Students develop their focus through the core curriculum, List A/List C choices and electives.

Major disciplinary areas include:

• Sport management
• Recreation management
• Event management
• Sport science
• Physical activity and health
• Marketing
• Business management
• Leadership
• Sport policy
• Community engagement
• Outdoor recreation
• Adventure tourism
• Parks and recreation
• Social sciences
• Research methods.

Programme Highlights

• 3 years full-time.
• 360 credits.
• Specialist sport and recreation management degree.
• 120-hour internship.
• Practical management, planning and leadership experience.
• Strong combination of sport, recreation, business and social-science subjects.
• Event planning and management content.
• Sport science and physical-activity content.
• Outdoor recreation and adventure tourism content.
• Policy and research components.
• Opportunity to build an individual study pathway through electives.
• Possible additional major or minor.
• Industry exposure through the internship and interaction with industry experts.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln identifies a range of career opportunities for graduates, including:

• Sports Development Officer
• Marketing and Communications Officer
• Community Sports or Engagement Advisor
• Sports Facility Manager or Consultant
• Secondary School Head of Sport
• Parks and Recreation Planner
• Park Ranger
• Outdoor Recreation Leader
• Event Manager
• Sport Club Manager
• Gym Manager. 

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current programme page identifies the 120-hour internship as a major practical component. It is coordinated to match the student's interests with employer needs.

The programme regulations also require completion of a practicum. The current course structure identifies RECN 393 as:

Practicum: Practical Experience in Sport and Recreation and Tourism Management.

For immigration purposes, this practical component is important. Immigration New Zealand specifically states that where practical work experience is a required part of a course, the student must provide evidence that it is a study requirement. Required practical work is additional to the ordinary work hours permitted by the student visa.

Students should therefore retain the Lincoln course outline or an official letter confirming the internship/practicum requirement for visa purposes.

The degree structure is indicative and courses can change. Lincoln specifically advises students to confirm course planning with an academic/course advisor.

IPU-specific special requirements or an IPU-Lincoln pathway arrangement: Not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student studying this full-time bachelor's degree in New Zealand, the relevant visa will generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the applicant's circumstances.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• Is for students paying international tuition fees themselves or with support such as family funding, loans or scholarships.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Costs from NZD $850.
• Can be granted for up to 4 years.
• Can allow eligible students to work up to 25 hours per week while studying and full-time during holidays, subject to the conditions on the individual visa.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• An offer of place.
• Ability to pay tuition fees or an applicable scholarship.
• Sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Good health.
• Good character.
• Genuine intentions to study.
• Ability to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.