Play a leadership role in your area of sports science

The Sport,? Fitness, and Recreation Leadership master’s program is designed for the working sports, fitness or recreation professional, with all courses available online. The program focuses on the holistic care and health of athletes and individuals in fitness and recreation settings. You’ll gain an awareness of current trends and issues, build a professional network and earn the credentials needed to pursue leadership positions in sports, fitness and recreation management. After graduation, you’ll be able to work as an athletic director, as well as in leadership or management roles in athletic departments, recreation and fitness facilities, corporate fitness centers, or university athletic programs.

In addition to your online courses you'll attend two, two-day on-campus summer seminars.

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Connect with opportunity in a world-class sports and recreation city

Studying sports management at DePaul means you’ll be surrounded by high school and college athletic departments, professional sports teams, fitness centers, park districts and athletic clubs, providing countless networking and internship options.

Application Deadlines

The deadline to submit your application is August 15.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, résumé and personal statement.

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Required Courses

You’ll take 12 required courses and two in-person summer seminars.

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92%

of Sport Fitness, and Recreation Leadership graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Propel your career with a masters in sport, fitness, and recreation leadership

The sports leadership masters program gives you the chance to develop into an industry leader. The broad scope of kinesiology provides almost unlimited leadership opportunities and our program was designed to help you thrive in whatever area you are passionate about. The program focuses on the holistic care and health of athletes and individuals in fitness and recreation settings. With a thorough understanding of the sociocultural and political context of your environment and knowledge of a variety of approaches, you will be positioned to lead your organization for the good of all its stakeholders.

“It’s an all inclusive program—from sports financing and facility operations to health and wellness of the athlete. It’s very beneficial to those trying to see the whole of the sports industry.”

Jonathan (MS ’17)

Executive Director/Head Basketball Coach, City Hoops Institute

Alumni Network

Connect with DePaul’s robust alumni network of 195,500 graduates. You’ll have access to alumni who hold jobs in university athletics departments, schools, health clubs, recreation and fitness centers, and athletics clubs or leagues.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Sport, Fitness and Recreational Leadership Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

To be eligible to enroll in the Sport, Fitness and Recreational Leadership master's degree program, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Candidates must also have experience working in a sport, fitness or recreation setting.

Application Requirements

A complete application to the Sport, Fitness and Recreational Leadership program will include the following materials:

• Graduate admission application
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• Résumé
• Two letters of recommendation from professors or work supervisors
• Personal statement indicating professional goals and related experience, as well as why DePaul's program in Sport, Fitness and Recreational Leadership is of particular interest
• $40 application fee

Applicants who have earned a degree outside of the U.S. or who will be considered international students must submit additional materials. Visit our International Students page for more information.

Applicants can upload supplemental application materials, send requests for letters of recommendation, and pay the application fee through our online application system.

Application Deadlines

The Sport, Fitness and Recreational Leadership program admits new students every fall quarter. It offers rolling admission, but the regular deadlines are set to assure students full consideration for admission and financial aid. The program will continue to accept and process applications after the regular deadline if space is available.

Term	Regular Deadline
Fall	August 15

Applicants typically receive an admission decision 3-4 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Sport, Fitness and Recreational Leadership graduate program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

Content Area Prerequisites

Sport, Fitness and Recreation Leadership students need to have an understanding that DePaul’s program requires students to enroll into a cohort. This model requires students to take two courses each quarter (online), with the plan to complete the program in two years. The cohort program also requires 2 on-campus (or virtual attendance if accommodations cannot be made) summer seminars between the first and second year, and after completion of second year coursework.

Course Requirements

Core Curriculum Courses: 48 credit hours required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PE 400	INTRODUCTION TO THE SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM	4
PE 410	ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 420	FACILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 440	STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 445	PROGRAM AND SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGEMENT IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP	4
PE 450	PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT BEHAVIOR AND ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE	4
PE 460	ETHICS AND DIVERSITY IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 430	ADVANCED HEALTH AND SCIENCE CONCEPTS IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 435	ADVANCED CARE OF THE ATHLETE	4
PE 470	LEGAL ISSUES IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 480	FINANCE AND REVENUE GENERATION IN SPORT AND FITNESS	4
A&S 493	DATA DRIVEN DECISION MAKING	4

On-Campus Summer Seminar: 4 credit hours required

There are 2 summer seminars required as the only face-to-face obligation of the program. Students will be required to attend a 3-day seminar after completion of the first year of the program, and again after completion of the second year. The seminar will consist of an on-campus colloquium that will provide students with the opportunity to connect and network with their peers, as well as current employers and leaders in various MSFRL fields from the Chicagoland area. It also will include an opportunity to learn, as we will invite local professionals within the field to present to the students. The last day of the seminar will be for the graduating students to present their research papers or projects. First year students will be required to observe these presentations as an example for their own research projects in the upcoming year. Therefore, each student will technically attend this seminar twice, first the summer after their 1st year, and then again the summer after their 2nd year. The difference will be the first year they will watch the graduate capstone/research presentations, and the second year they will present their own. Each year the local area professional lectures will change, so they will be able to attend new seminars each year.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PE 442	ON-CAMPUS SEMINAR	2
PE 490	ON-CAMPUS SEMINAR	2

Capstone Research Project: 6 credit hours required

Students will be required to complete an individualized capstone project upon completion of coursework. Each project will be specific to their respective career choices and will be developed during the second year of the program. The first required step in the process is completion of a literature review related to the topic of the anticipated project.  This PE 455 is a pass /fail course and may be completed anytime from summer II through winter quarter of the second-year. Next, an intense focus on the research project occurs during PE 555, taken in spring quarter of the second year. Projects will be presented during the final summer seminar, PE 490.  PE 500 is the final requirement of the program during summer II of the second summer, and allows students to submit their final capstone project after feedback received after their presentation. Students will be assigned a faculty mentor to help guide them with their research and ideas at the end of the first summer seminar.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
PE 455	LITERATURE REVIEW FOR CAPSTONE PROJECT	0
PE 555	RESEARCH IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION	4
PE 500	CAPSTONE IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP	2

Academic Standards

Students must maintain a 3.0 average or higher to continue in the program. Any grade below a C will not count for credit toward completion of the program.

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