Sport and Recreation Studies

The sport and recreation studies (SRS) major is a four year full-time program of study that is designed to blend the best of theory with the best of practice in the disciplines of sport management or recreation management. SRS students are provided with unique individualized, interdisciplinary and advanced study opportunities, and competency-based work experience in either the sport management option or recreation management option.

The Program

In consultation with the adviser, students select one of the two study options (sport management or recreation management) during the pre-professional stage of their SRS program studies. Once an option is declared, students are given the opportunity to participate in applied industry-focused course work. The course work culminates in an internship at the applicable student-selected host organization.

 

The sport management option is designed to prepare students for employment in local, state, regional, national or international level sporting organizations. The course work includes 75 credit hours, 12 of which are major requirements taken in the final semester of the senior year as an internship. To enhance employment prospects, candidates in this option are encouraged to consider completion of a supporting minor such as business or communication.

 

The recreation management option is designed to prepare students for professional administration and leadership positions in various fields such as employment in federal, state, municipal hospitals, leisure services and parks and recreation settings. The major area of course work in this option includes 74 major requirement credit hours, 12 of which are taken in the final semester of the senior year as an internship. To enhance employment prospects, candidates in the option are encouraged to consider completion of a supporting minor such as business or communication.

Pre Professional Standing and Professional Standing

The pre-professional SRS curricula in the freshman year are designed to prepare students for additional undergraduate work in the subsequent professional SRS curricula of the sophomore, junior and senior years. To achieve professional standing a student must have completed all HNES courses listed in the pre-professional year. A 3.0 grade point average (GPA) is required for all HNES classes. Furthermore, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for all classes by the end of the freshman year. An application for professional standing must by completed with the SRS program coordinator by the end of the second week in April. All professional standing SRS students pay course fees of $285.00 per semester.

Internship

The SRS internship is the capstone course for all SRS majors. Students participating in an internship will undertake the 400 hour on-the-job training experience in the spring semester of the senior year. In communication with the student's adviser, each student is required to secure his or her own internship. Securing a host organization outside North Dakota or the United States is not only possible but is encouraged.

SRS Advisory Panel

The SRS advisory panel meets a number of times in the academic year with the purpose of providing structured opinion, advice and direction about a range of topics concerning the SRS major. The advisory panel consists of students that have a professional standing in SRS and health nutrition & exercise sciences (HNES) faculty.

Career Opportunities

NDSU SRS graduates are employed in a variety of sport management and recreation management occupations. Sport management graduates should expect to work in (but not limited to) local, state, region, national or international level sporting organizations. Recreation management graduates should expect to work in (but not limited to) parks and recreation departments and other lines of work where recreation management skills are required.

In light of the interdisciplinary nature of the SRS major's study options, career opportunities beyond the sport management or recreation management fields are feasible.

Sample Curriculum

*A student must select either the management emphasis, the leadership emphasis or the therapeutic emphasis. See the curriculum guide for the courses used to satisfy these areas.

This sample curriculum is not intended to serve as a curriculum guide for current students, but rather an example of course offerings for prospective students. For the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of entrance into a program, consult with an academic adviser or with the Office of Registration and Records.

Contact Information

Director of Student Services and Advancement
College of Human Development and Education

North Dakota State University
Evelyn Morrow Lebedeff Hall 255D
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-7071
Fax: (701) 231-7174
Email:Nancy.Gress@ndsu.edu
Web: www.ndsu.edu/hde

or

Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences
North Dakota State University
Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse I
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-7810
Fax: (701) 231-8872
Email: Bradford.Strand@ndsu.edu
Web: http://hnes.ndsu.nodak.edu/undergraduate_ programs/sports_and_recreation_studies/

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
124 Ceres Hall
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/prospective/students/

(12/08)