Recreation, Sport and Tourism at Illinois
Flexible Schedule
Master’s degree can be earned in as few as 18 months
Advance Online
Fully online so you can complete at your own pace
Certificate Options
Choose your focus area with three 8-week courses
RST alumni have advanced their careers with professional sports organizations, collegiate athletics departments, park and recreation agencies, destination marketing organizations, tourism agencies and nonprofit organizations across the country, including the National Park Service, park districts, municipal park and recreation departments, NCAA, NFL, USTA, NBA, PGA, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Blackhawks.
Start here to learn which path best meets your needs and goals. You have options!
RST Alumni Vignette
Alumna Eva Schmidt talks about how the online master’s degree in RST has helped elevate her career in professional sports while allowing flexibility to pursue further education.
Why choose a degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism?
Advance your career with a master’s degree designed for professionals in recreation, sport and tourism. Career opportunities continue to grow in parks and recreation, athletic administration, tourism and destination management, event management, campus recreation, nonprofit organizations and community agencies. Graduates are well prepared for leadership, supervisory and administrative positions that make a lasting impact.
Is an online Master of Science in Recreation, Sport and Tourism right for me?
The online Master of Science in Recreation, Sport and Tourism is a 36-credit hour, 18-month degree with cohorts beginning in August, January and June. This degree provides you with a quality and highly accessible education, ensuring that you are prepared to meet the changing requirements within the RST industries.
Looking for something on campus? Check out the residential M.S. in RST program.
Are there other options shorter than a full degree?
Yes! Not ready to commit to a full master’s program? You can start with one of the 12-credit-hour graduate certificate programs, which are also fully online. If you decide to continue your education, all 12 of your credit hours in one of the RST certificate programs will be transferred into the master’s degree program. To begin the certificate application process, fill out the expression of interest form at the top of this page.
What are the admissions requirements?
The general requirements are below, but see the RST Graduate Admissions page for full details.
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA (4.0 grading scale) in the last 60 credit hours/two years
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal Statement
- International applicants must have proof of English proficiency (TOEFL IBT greater than 102 or 5.0 for scores after Jan. 20, 2026; IELTS greater than 7.0)
- No GRE required
Hear More from RST Alumni
Sam Beesley, RST ’25
Assistant Director, Philanthropic for the University of Illinois Athletics
“The online program was a launch pad for my career. Having the ability to learn while getting hands-on experience was a game changer. All courses were applicable to my work and helped me succeed in my career.”
Brittany Moldenhauer, RST ’10
Marketing Manager, Peoria Park Districts and Recreation
“The flexibility of the online program allowed me to pursue my master’s degree while continuing to do the work I loved.”
Skylar Peters, RST ’16
Academic Advisor, Penn State Recreation, Park and Tourism Management
“The online program allowed me to tailor my master’s education to research and development that suited my full-time job and allowed me to excel as an extension educator.”
Become a leader in recreation, sport or tourism fields.
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