Outdoor Recreation Economy, MS
Blaze your professional trail.
The Outdoor Recreation Economy program at CU Boulder offers a unique, fully online opportunity for learners worldwide to advance their careers and deepen their expertise in the outdoor recreation industry. Designed with flexibility to accommodate diverse career aspirations, the Outdoor Recreation Economy program equips you to become an innovative leader, to promote sustainable business practices, to advocate for public lands, and to leverage outdoor amenities to bolster local, sustainable economies. Our curriculum emphasizes fostering inclusivity, sustainability and belonging, ensuring the outdoor recreation economy is accessible and welcoming to all.
This program explores four central areas of the outdoor recreation business and how they intersect:
- Outdoor recreation business and leadership: The manufacturers, retailers, tour operators and guides who inspire sustainability and stewardship of public lands while driving economic growth.
- Public lands policy: The policies and regulations that ensure responsible access and sustainable use of public lands, vital for conservation and enjoyment.
- Resilient communities: The communities that harness natural resources to build robust recreation economies, overcoming challenges and showcasing their unique cultures.
- Inclusivity: The best practices to create a welcoming and inclusive outdoor recreation economy, expanding access to outdoor activities for all.
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Apply by July 25 for Fall 2025 start
Career-relevant coursework for professional advancement
Flexible courses to fit your schedule
2 to 3 years to complete
Shaping the Future of Outdoor Recreation through Global Leadership and Real-World Action
As director of the Outdoor Recreation Economy program, I’m proud to lead an initiative that is redefining how we think about the intersection of economic vitality, environmental stewardship, and community well-being. Our mission is rooted in a deep commitment to cultivating inclusive and sustainable outdoor recreation economies—ones that are resilient, forward-looking, and grounded in real-world impact.
At the heart of our program is a belief in the power of purpose-driven leadership. We work to bring together students, industry professionals, and thought leaders from around the globe to co-create solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our communities and planet. Through a curriculum that emphasizes applied learning, we equip our students with the practical skills, critical thinking, and global perspective needed to lead in this rapidly evolving field.
We’re not just teaching theory—we’re helping students turn bold ideas into tangible action. Whether it’s developing scalable innovations, facilitating cross-sector collaborations, or designing sustainable business models, our graduates are empowered to make meaningful change in their organizations and communities. They leave our program prepared not just to participate in the outdoor recreation economy, but to shape it.
This work is deeply collaborative. We value diverse perspectives and actively seek out voices from across the world—because we know the challenges we face are global, and the solutions must be too. Through international partnerships, dialogue, and shared learning, we are building a vibrant, interconnected community that spans borders and sectors.
Ultimately, our purpose is simple but powerful: to empower individuals to lead with integrity, innovate with purpose, and act with impact. The Outdoor Recreation Economy program is more than an academic experience—it’s a movement toward a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for outdoor recreation and the people who depend on it.
— Mark Gasta, Director, Outdoor Recreation Economy Program
Program Offerings Related to this Degree
The Outdoor Recreation Economy program is designed to provide you with the ultimate flexibility in how you gain the education you need. If you'd like to test the waters of the program before applying, you can enroll in one or more graduate certificates or take individual courses for credit as a non-degree student.
Graduate Certificates
If you are not ready to commit to a master’s program or just need background and expertise in a particular topic, you might like to complete one or more of the graduate certificates.
Choose from the following five certificate options:
Individual Courses
You may take individual credit courses within the Outdoor Recreation Economy Program as a non-degree student, which means you need not be enrolled in a master’s or certificate program.
This option may be a great fit for you if you:
- want to gain knowledge in a specific topic;
- wish to customize your education to fit your particular interests and needs;
- want to sample the program before committing to the degree or a certificate; or
- missed the application deadline for either the master’s or certificate program, but want to start classes as soon as possible.