UGA Graduate School - Degree Programs: Recreation and Leisure Studies (PhD)

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Recreation and Leisure Studies (PhD)

Degree: Doctoral Degrees

Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Georgia will be known for outstanding scholarship, leadership, and educational excellence in the areas of recreation administration, experienced based education, and the scholarly study of leisure. To that end faculty and students address the design, provision, and evaluation of recreation and leisure services that facilitate health, education, and well-being across the lifespan, and study the psychological and social dimensions of leisure. It is our belief that recreational contexts can foster positive growth and development, engage citizens in their communities, and promote understanding and respect for diversity.

School/College	College of Education Aderhold Hall Athens, GA 30602-7101 Phone: 706/542-6446
Academic Department	Counseling and Human Development Services 343 Ramsey Student Center Athens, GA 30602-7101 Phone: 706/542-5064

Contacts
Graduate Coordinator	Corey Johnson	706/542-1812
The doctoral program requires 58 (minimum) semester hours of coursework beyond the Masters. Students who do not have a research-based M.A. or who lack experience in recreation and leisure studies may be required to take additional coursework. A well-prepared and well-organized doctoral student can fulfill coursework requirements in four semesters. Subsequent graduation will depend upon how long it takes to undertake and write up the ensuing doctoral research. Doctoral students typically graduate in three to four years. A core set of classes provides all doctoral students with a foundation in leisure theory and research skills, including qualitative research. The Graduate School does not allow the transfer of courses taken prior to entering a graduate program on campus; however, once a student has entered UGA a minimal number of credits can be taken at another university and transferred in. Doctoral students must pass written and oral comprehensive exams covering the literature in leisure studies and the student’s chosen area of specialty, including questions about research design and analysis. Typically, this comprehensive exam occurs at the end of the second or beginning of the third year. The remainder of a student’s doctoral program consists of completion and successful defense of a dissertation. Graduate students at the University of Georgia can pursue additional coursework to obtain graduate certificates from Women's Studies, Gerontology, Environmental Ethics, GIS, Conservation Ecology, Qualitative Inquiry, and other interdisciplinary graduate programs on campus.
Degree	Code	Course Descriptions
PhD	689C	Find Courses

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