The Sport, Fitness and Recreation Leadership program at DePaul seeks to provide a rich online learning environment that will facilitate the development of leaders in the areas of sport, fitness and recreation. Increasing content knowledge and developing leadership skills are essential outcomes of a graduate program. However, this program is based on a commitment to social justice, democracy, and critical engagement with ethical issues affecting students, clients and athletes. Our program assists current professionals in reflecting on and strengthening their own practice and challenging themselves and their colleagues to work effectively for justice and professional excellence.
Students use critical reflection to improve practice, engage in rigorous theoretical inquiry, and identify, address, and build coalitions around opportunities and problems in sport, fitness and recreation. The Sport, Fitness and Recreation Leadership program is designed for current kinesiology professionals specifically working in sport, fitness or recreation environments such as university athletics departments, health clubs, recreation and fitness centers, high schools and athletics clubs or leagues.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Degree Requirements | 58 |
| Total hours required | 58 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Provide leadership in their field in a professional manner.
- Demonstrate advanced content knowledge in administration related to sport, fitness, and recreation programs.
- Demonstrate advanced content knowledge in marketing and communication related to sport, fitness, and recreational settings.
- Demonstrate advanced content knowledge in areas related to health, wellness, and care of athletes.
- Apply knowledge specific to their field and professional goals in research activity.
- Develop a thorough understanding of legal issues related to their area of expertise in kinesiology.
- Select resources to respond to current events and ethical issues in the area of sport, fitness and recreation.
- Build a professional network and create a personal ethics code, which is versatile yet specific to their professional settings and goals, consistent with DePaul’s Vincentian principle, values, and mission.
College Requirements
Dispositions
The academic programs within the College of Education have set forth these dispositions as educational and professional expectations for all students. Students should be aware that failing to abide by DePaul University or College of Education policies including, under certain circumstances, these dispositions, could result in adverse consequences for the student, including removal from his or her program, the College of Education, or the University.
- Is receptive to faculty feedback and acts meaningfully and professionally upon suggestions
- Reflects on his or her own progress and identifies strengths and weaknesses, including evaluating strategies for success, finding alternatives for inappropriate strategies, and modifying future practices
- Demonstrates a positive attitude and commitment to the profession
- Demonstrates thoughtful, effective verbal and non-verbal communication and listening skills
- Respects and considers cultural contexts in order to determine how to be responsive to learners and to proactively promote all students' learning
- Is committed to collaboration with colleagues, families, and communities in order to promote all students' learning and development
- Demonstrates professional ethical and legal behavior as defined by the respective codes of ethics and laws
- Recognizes and fulfills professional responsibilities and habits of conduct (e.g., dress, language, preparedness, attendance, punctuality, etc.)
- Demonstrates concern for and protection of safety and well-being of others
Degree Conferral and Graduation
The awarding of a degree is not automatic. You must submit an application to be considered for the degree. DePaul awards and posts degrees at the end of each regular academic term (autumn, winter, spring, summer).
It is your responsibility to initiate the degree conferral application process by submitting an online application. Submitting an application means you intend to finish your degree requirements by the end of the term for which you have applied.
Graduate students must be approved for student teaching and complete student teaching, seminar, and induction courses to be cleared for the degree. Student must submit graduation application for the quarter you are completing the final course (student teaching is considered a course).
After you submit the application, you cannot register for any term after the one selected in the application.
To apply for degree conferral, log on to Campus Connection. Select FOR STUDENTS, then GRADUATION, then APPLY FOR DEGREE CONFERRAL. On screen instructions will take you through the application process.
Provided that all requirements and financial obligations are met, degrees are posted 30 days after the official end of the term. Official dates are listed on the Academic Calendar.
DePaul holds one commencement ceremony each year in June. If you intend to participate, you must first apply for degree conferral for the current academic year and then submit a cap and gown order. Honors are not announced at the ceremony for undergraduates completing their final courses in spring quarter because a final GPA is not available at the time of the ceremony.
Additional information about degree conferral and graduation can be found on the College of Education website.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| KNES 400 | INTRODUCTION TO THE SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | 4 |
| KNES 410 | ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 420 | FACILITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 440 | STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 445 | PROGRAM AND SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGEMENT IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION LEADERSHIP | 4 |
| KNES 450 | PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORT BEHAVIOR AND ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE | 4 |
| KNES 460 | ETHICS AND DIVERSITY IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 430 | ADVANCED HEALTH AND SCIENCE CONCEPTS IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 435 | ADVANCED CARE OF THE ATHLETE | 4 |
| KNES 470 | LEGAL ISSUES IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 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 |
|---|---|---|
| KNES 442 | ON-CAMPUS SEMINAR | 2 |
| KNES 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 KNES 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 KNES 555, taken in spring quarter of the second year. Projects will be presented during the final summer seminar, KNES 490. KNES 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 |
|---|---|---|
| KNES 455 | LITERATURE REVIEW FOR CAPSTONE PROJECT | 0 |
| KNES 555 | RESEARCH IN SPORT, FITNESS AND RECREATION | 4 |
| KNES 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.