Recreation and Leisure Studies - Master of Arts (MA)

B.C Matthews Hall (BMH)

B.C Matthews Hall (BMH) on Waterloo's Campus, across Columbia St W.

Advance your knowledge and career by studying leisure and leisure behaviour from a variety of social science perspectives with the Master of Arts in Recreation and Leisure.

This program combines theory and practice to deepen your understanding of both the positive and negative aspects of leisure and develop new ways to enhance quality of life for individuals, families and communities. You’ll learn from faculty members who are active scholars recognized for their published work in fields including: 

  • Leisure, health and wellbeing 

  • Leisure and community 

  • Leisure, space and place 

  • Leisure and social justice 

  • Leisure organizations, services and policy 

Degree options

Coursework option (online*):

The coursework option allows you to address a wide range of practical issues related to leisure, recreation, well-being and quality of life in a flexible, interdisciplinary, course-based curriculum, making it a top choice to pursue any professional career related to leisure.  

Offered online, it can be completed full- or part-time and does not require a thesis, giving you maximum flexibility to fit your needs and commitments. 

*Starting fall 2025 

Thesis option (on-campus):  

In the thesis option, you will learn to conduct high-quality independent scholarly research through coursework and a thesis completed under the supervision of a faculty member. Advance your knowledge of theories and concepts of leisure while developing research competencies like research methods and designs in problem solving, hypothesis testing and theory development. You’ll also increase your understanding of the importance of the applications of theories, methods, and models associated with leisure in contemporary society. 

It can be completed full- or part-time and will prepare you for further study at the PhD level or any professional career related to leisure.  

Program overview

Department/School: Recreation and Leisure Studies
Faculty: Faculty of Health
Admit term(s): Fall (September - December)
Delivery mode: On-campus (thesis option), Online (coursework option)
Program type: Master's, Research
Length of program: 24 months (full-time)
Registration option(s): Full-time, Part-time
Study option(s): Thesis, Coursework

Application deadlines

  •  February 1 (for admission in September)

Note: Applications submitted after this date will be considered on a rolling basis until all available spots are filled.

Key contacts

Ibelemari Kio
iokio@uwaterloo.ca

Admission limitations

Due to funding restrictions, the Faculty of Arts is currently limiting the number of international students we can admit. Please contact the department's Associate Chair, Graduate Studies prior to applying to discuss your interest in this program.

Karin Browne

Not only do our faculty members have amazing connections and networks, but their ability to share their great knowledge has been inspiring. From everything I have learned I can really understand how I can implement this new knowledge to do what I really want to do.

Karin Browne, Recreation and Leisure Studies, MA (coursework)

Supervisors

  • Review the finding a supervisor resources
  • Before applying to the program, students are strongly advised to establish contact with potential supervisors

Admission requirements

  • A four-year honours bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Recreation and Leisure Studies or related field with at least a 75% standing. If the overall undergraduate average is below 75%, consideration may be given to the applicant's performance during the final year of academic work.
  • Competency in written expression, including evidence of ability to conceptualize, organize ideas and reason.

Degree requirements

  • Review the degree requirements on the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar, including the courses that you can anticipate taking as part of completing the degree

Application materials

  • Resume/Curriculum vitae
    • Indicating past academic and professional experience
  • Supplementary information form (SIF)
    • The SIF contains questions specific to your program, typically about why you want to enrol and your experience in that field. Review the application documents web page for more information about this requirement
    • If a statement or letter is required by your program, review the writing your personal statement resources for helpful tips and tricks on completion
  • Transcript(s)
  • Writing sample
    • Applicants must submit at least one substantial example of their work completed during the last two years of academic study. Students with professional experience may submit a professional report of which they were the sole or senior author
  • References
  • Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
    • TOEFL 100 (writing 26, speaking 26), IELTS 7.5 (writing 7.0, speaking 7.0)

Tuition and fees