Outdoor Recreation Economy, MS

Outdoor Recreation Economy 

Master of Science 

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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 and budgets, 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 facilitate the public’s enjoyment of open spaces and who can motivate consumer spending toward sustainability and public lands stewardship.
  • Public lands policy: The policies and regulations that govern access and sustainable use and that are crucial to the appropriate use, conservation and enjoyment of public lands.
  • Resilient communities: The communities that leverage natural resources to enhance or create new recreation economies. They face a variety of challenges, including competition and stressed infrastructure, but also the opportunity to diversify, showcase their culture and grow.
  • Inclusivity: The best practices for developing a more welcoming and inclusive outdoor recreation economy and expanding access to the outdoors to everyone.

   I ultimately knew that I’d be working full-time while I was earning my master’s degree, and I loved that the classes were so flexible to fit around my job and spending my weekends outdoors. But at the same time, I wanted to have fully involved and collaborative online classes that were focused on the outdoor industry, which is exactly what the program has offered me. 
 
– Cassie Elrod | Outdoor Recreation Economy Program Student

Have Questions?

Carly McNiece

Admissions Specialist 
Outdoor Recreation Economy
oreinfo@colorado.edu

Schedule Appointment

Carly McNiece

Program Events

Program News

Apply by April 15 for Summer 2025 start

Career-relevant coursework for professional advancement

Flexible courses to fit your schedule

2 to 3 years to complete

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.

The Benefits of CU Boulder

The Outdoor Recreation Economy program at CU Boulder is the only fully online graduate program of its kind in the nation, offering accessibility to learners around the globe. The program’s flexible design allows you to tailor your coursework to your schedule and career goals, participating from any location. You will learn from recognized leaders in the outdoor industry and business sectors while engaging with practical projects and challenges that connect local insights to global perspectives. Leveraging Colorado’s vibrant outdoor recreation industry, the program blends real-world problem-solving with a globally relevant educational experience. Discover how CU Boulder’s Outdoor Recreation Economy program can help you lead the way in creating a more inclusive, sustainable and thriving future for outdoor recreation.

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