Leisure, Youth and Human Services (MA)

School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services

203 Wellness/Recreation Center
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0241

Head: Dr. Doris Corbett
Phone: (319) 273-6475
E-mail: doris.corbett@uni.edu

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Samuel Lankford
Phone: (319) 273-6840
E-mail: sam.lankford@uni.edu

Read the UNI Catalog description:

This major is designed to foster preparation for professional leadership roles in the administration of leisure, youth and human services agencies. The program offers the student the opportunity to take an active role in determining personal learning objectives and developing individual programs of study. The program supports professional development through the utilization of relevant philosophy, content, and skills in order to provide management and leadership for effective and efficient delivery of leisure, youth and human services. Students are encouraged to focus on study that has direct relevance to professional practice.  Students can design programs of study for work in campus recreation, nonprofit settings, community recreation, tourism organizations, sports administration, and outdoor resource management.

Students interested in this program must submit a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study and should contact the Division of Leisure, Youth and Human Services (within the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services) for other admission requirements.  Graduate information and application for graduate admission can be found at www.grad.uni.edu/admission.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Only graduate courses (course numbers 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

This major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options.  A minimum of 36 semester hours is required for the thesis option, and a minimum of 33 semester hours is required for the non-thesis option.  Up to an additional 12 hours of undergraduate work may be required for students who do not have undergraduate preparation in the area.  The thesis option requires a minimum of 15 hours of 200/6000-level course work, including 6 hours of LYHS 6299 (430:299) Research . The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 12 hours of 200/6000-level course work, including 3 hours of LYHS 6299 (430:299) Research . Successful completion of a final comprehensive examination (research paper/thesis) is required for both the thesis and non-thesis options. A final oral comprehensive examination will occur simultaneously during the oral defense of the research paper or thesis.