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.