Career Enrichment:
Opportunities through Recreation

Associated Career Options

The following is a list of careers associated with the Recreational Sports field. Check out these jobs and see why you should take NIRSA with you, regardless of what field you enter!

Accounting

Although most rec sports departments do not have their own accountant, budgeting is extremely important to this field. Most programs are continuously growing and seeking the advice of accountants. NIRSA-affiliated institutions may not offer many accounting jobs per se, but accountants are close associates with many of those institutions.

Architecture

Architects may not be hired on as full-time staff at any campus recreation department; however, they are extremely important to our field. Many campuses are doing some sort of renovating or remodeling, or are even building entirely new complexes. Not many rec sports professionals could do this without the help of the architect.

Business

Every recreational sports professional must have the same leadership qualities, and management capabilities taught in business classes. Business majors can make the transition into the recreation field, as long as they realize this field will require awesome communication skills in addition to all the other skills they have attained.

Computer Programming/Webmaster

As the technology field continues to grow, more and more university programs and services are becoming accessible online. Many recreational sports departments post their fitness class schedules, conduct online registration of intramural sports teams, and overall, market their programs and services via the Web.

Health Related

Any of the health related fields will more than prepare you to acquire any of the national certifications most recreational sports departments look for when hiring. Almost all recreational sports departments have fitness specialists on board!

Marketing

Marketing is an essential element to every recreational sports department. All departments market their programs and services, and many NIRSA affiliated institutions offer job opportunities for marketing majors.

Student Affairs

Campus Recreation is a student service (period). Anyone with a background in developing and implementing programs and services for students, and in budgeting and supervising those programs, is essentially performing the role of a "special events" recreational sports professional.