B.A. Recreation and Sport Studies
15:1
Student-to-faculty ratio
100%
Faculty with terminal degree
Sport and recreation play a vital and growing role in our society and world, from the multi-billion dollar professional athletics industry to the use of sport and recreation in education to the overall health and wellness of the population. Recreation and sport studies examines sport’s cultural relationship with the economy, history, the media and politics. It considers race, class and gender differences in the culture of sport and recreation.
With a degree in recreation and sport studies, you will explore the vital roles recreation, sport, adventure and wellness play in the human experience. You will be equipped for administrative and operations positions in the sport, athletics, recreation and fitness industries. From physical therapy to sports psychology and sports management, you can develop a broad cultural perspective of sport.
At Concordia University, Nebraska, the recreation and sport studies major is designed to give you an experiential education. Take classes in orienteering, adventure activities and alpine skiing, among others. Learn about planning and management of PE courses, recreational activities, sports and facility management.
Excel in managing recreational programs, sports teams, recreational and athletics agencies and events with courses in legal aspects of exercise, recreation and sports; sociology of recreation and sport; management of PE, recreation and sports; as well as recreation and sport facility management.
If you want to combine your love of recreation and sport with a deeper understanding of its historical, cultural and practical significance, then a degree in recreation and sport studies from Concordia University, Nebraska might be the right choice for you!
Program Differentiators
Core Concepts
The recreation and sport studies program at Concordia University, Nebraska mentors and leads students in the advancement of knowledge, abilities and attitudes through the pursuit of a Christ-centered education in recreation and sport. Students shall be given the opportunity for optimum spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of the gifts God has given them through instruction and participation in various movement activities and through instruction in the areas of health and wellness.
Learn more about HHP majors.
Testimonials
The recreation and sports studies classes always have so much discussion and really broaden the way I look at not only recreation, sports and athletic programs, but also the world.
Concordia NebraskaRecreation & Sports Studies: Learning Objectives
Students in the recreation and sport studies program at Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to describe and explain the components of the recreation and sport studies field such as management, marketing, risk management and financial principles.
Students will understand safety and ethical issues necessary to work responsibly in the recreation and sport studies field.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of the nature and scope of the recreation and sport professional, techniques and processes used by workers in these industries and the foundation of the profession in history, science and philosophy.
Students will apply discipline-specific, scientific and theoretical concepts, analytical methods and best practices to design, implement and evaluate recreation and sport activities in a variety of settings.
Concordia NebraskaRecreation & Sports Studies: Program Goals
Students in the recreation and sport studies program at Concordia University, Nebraska will be able to communicate effectively through written, spoken and visual mediums.
Students will exhibit personal integrity and leadership skills.
Students will be able to analyze social, cultural and historical factors influencing the development of recreation and sport organizations and the decision-making processes for leaders in those organizations.
Students will be prepared to serve the recreation and sport industries and their communities.
Recreation & Sports Studies Faculty
As experts in recreation & sports studies, our faculty and instructors bring years of experience to the classroom.
Meet the facultyConcordia NebraskaRecreation & Sports Studies: FAQs
There are many educational and professional opportunities available at Concordia Nebraska for recreation and sport studies majors. Top of the line facilities within the Walz Human Performance Complex available to the Health and Human Performance Department include a field house with 200-m indoor track, weight room, athletic training room, student resource library, computer lab and Human Performance Lab with state-of-the-art equipment like a Bod Pod body composition testing device, so you can get hands-on training for your future recreation and sport studies career.
The recreation and sport studies major also provides the opportunity for taking courses designed around experiential education, including orienteering, adventure activities and recreational programming, where you can work with local camps to create and implement activities. You can also experience national travel study courses including but not limited to wilderness adventure activities and alpine skiing. Or, make an impact by teaching and mentoring Nebraska Special Olympics athletes, working on collaborative projects with Nebraska high schools or interning at various local health facilities.
Outside of your recreation and sport studies academic classes, you can participate in a number of clubs on campus. The health and human performance (HHP) club is an organization that promotes a healthy, active lifestyle for the campus and community, as you work to plan and supervise physical education and health programs at Concordia and around Seward. Or the Phi Epsilon Kappa national health and human performance honor society gives you the opportunity to share your passions and interests with other students, make connections with professionals and participate in current research in the field of recreation and sport studies.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in recreation and sport studies related fields is projected to increase 12% on average by 2022. Part of the reason is that the practical experience you gain with a degree in recreation and sport studies translates to a wide variety of career options, so you can find a job that you’re passionate about.
Some examples of careers in recreation and sport studies include athletics administration, sports marketing, facility operations management, outdoor activity leadership and park or resort management. You might become a park ranger, an athletic director, a sports communications specialist, a camp counselor…the opportunities are endless.
Because recreation and sport studies is such a broad field that includes many different job opportunities, your yearly salary will depend on a lot of different factors, including your chosen career field, geographic location and if you’ve gone on to get a graduate or professional degree. In general, salaries for recreation and sport studies majors might make anywhere from $35,000 to millions of dollars per year for successful professional sports managers. Overall, according to the Bureau for Labor Statistics, the average salary for recreation and sport studies majors is $52,000 per year.
Concordia Nebraska Recreation and Sport Studies: Career Outcomes
Sports Manager
Sports managers handle business matters for sportsteams and athletes at the college or professional level. As a sports manager, you might negotiate contract terms and trade deals, handle media relations or organize promotional events for your organization. You may also draft players and hire coaches, scouts, and other athletic staff. Another important aspect of a career in sports management is managing the budget of the organization you work for. This can involve making financial arrangements for uniforms and equipment, setting up accommodations for travel and preparing financial statements.
Sports Information Director
A sports information director is a marketing and communication specialist that provides statistics, team and player notes and other information about a college or university’s sports teams to the news media and general public. As a sportsinformation director, you would be responsible for publicity of your athletics department, which might mean maintaining content on the school’s athletics website, running social media accounts, managing statistics information and keeping records.
Athletic Director
Athletic directors oversee all aspects of an athletic program, including hiring coaches, scheduling, budget preparation, promotion, compliance and facility management. As an athletic director, you would work with coaches and athletes to help teams reach their full potential by providing guidance and direction for the school’s sports programs.
Concordia NebraskaRecreation & Sports Studies: Related Programs
Exercise Science
The exercise science program at Concordia University, Nebraska offers you the opportunity to advance your knowledge, skills and abilities while staying current with innovative research by utilizing state-of-the-art human performance laboratory equipment. Here, you will learn how to apply the gifts God has given you to enhance the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional and social wellbeing of others.
Public Health and Fitness
A degree in public health and fitness from Concordia University, Nebraska prepares you to develop and advocate for effective health programs, where you can implement policies that enhance the health of individuals, groups and communities. You’ll combine theory-based public health and fitness courses, laboratory experiences and internships to provide you with practical, career-focused skills in nutrition, biomechanics, global health, psychology, epidemiology, stress management, human anatomy and more.
1 Recent graduates attending graduate school or employed within six months of graduation.
2 Career salary and wages sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.