Overview
Learn to harness the transformative power of recreation, sport, parks, and leisure for community and economic development
The Kinesiology and Recreation Applied Community and Economic Development (KNR ACED) sequence is an interdisciplinary graduate program designed for individuals passionate about driving social change through service. This unique sequence prepares students to become leaders in leveraging recreation, sport, parks, and leisure to promote sustainable community and economic development.
Designed especially for returned Peace Corps Volunteers, as well as those with other development experiences (e.g., AmeriCorps, nonprofit work), the KNR ACED sequence provides the tools, experience, and support needed to take your career to the next level.
The KNR ACED sequence is coordinated by the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development, in collaboration with the Recreation Administration faculty in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, and is designed to blend academic training with hands-on professional experiences.
In your first year as a Fellow, you will engage in an intensive academic year focused on coursework in Recreation Administration, complemented by interdisciplinary courses in Political Science, Sociology, and Economics. In your second year, you will apply your learning through an 11-month paid professional practice, gaining real-world experience in a development-focused organization or agency.
KNR ACED sequence students have a graduate assistantship, teaching courses in ISU’s Active for Life program, in the fall and spring semesters on campus during their first year as a Fellow.
Graduates of the KNR ACED sequence leave the program equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and service-driven mindset to pursue impactful careers in community and economic development—transforming people, places, and communities through the power of recreation, sport, parks, and leisure.