The Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism offers certificates for undergraduate and graduate students. These credentials not only expand student knowledge and skills, they can also unlock a variety of opportunities in growing industries related to recreation, sport and tourism.
Undergraduate Certificate
Agritourism Management
Bring tourism, agriculture and communities together.
Students eligible: Current University of Illinois students
- Semesters of Course Offerings: Spring, Fall
- Program Length: 15 Total Credit Hours
- Format: Hybrid
Agritourism helps farmers generate revenue from recreational or educational activities. This exciting field includes programs like farmer’s markets, tours, U-pick operations, petting zoos and more.
Faculty from ACES and Recreation, Sport and Tourism will teach you how to:
- combine elements of the tourism and agriculture industries;
- attract members of the public to visit agricultural operations;
- increase farm income;
- provide recreation, entertainment and educational experiences to visitors; and
- understand the impact of agritourism on local communities and the environment .
The skills learned in this program will make you a valuable asset to a thriving business or inspire you to become an entrepreneur in this dynamic field.
Program Highlights
Students will learn how to:
- understand how agricultural operations plan, launch and successfully sustain agritourism businesses;
- apply and evaluate financial management considerations in the small business context; and
- summarize the role of agritourism in rural communities and economic development, environmental sustainability, social and cultural impacts and the importance of supportive government policies.
Courses
Capstone Course:
RST 290: Experiencing Agritourism will provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities through site visits to successful agritourism operations and conversations with agritourism owners and managers.
Required Courses (12 credit hours):
- RST 120: Parks, Recreation, and Environments (3 credit hours)
- RST 150: Foundations of Tourism (3 credit hours)
- RST 290: Experiencing Agritourism (3 credit hours)
- RST 240: Financial Resource Management (3 credit hours)
Elective courses for certificate (if applicable):
- ACE 231: Food and Agribusiness Management (3 credit hours), alternative for RST 120 requirement
- ACE 240: Personal Financial Planning (3 credit hours), alternative for RST 240 requirement
- ACE 232: Farm Management (3 credit hours)
- ACE 335: Food Marketing & Behavior (3 credit hours)
- ACE 345: Financial Decisions for Individual and Small Businesses (3 credit hours)
- HORT 205: Local Food Systems (3 credit hours)
- RST 317: Designing Parks and Recreation Experiences (3 credit hours)
- RST 325: Marketing in RST (3 credit hours)
Total hours required to complete the certificate: 15
Express your interest in pursuing a certificate. Once accepted, you will receive an email with further instructions for registration.
Please note: Upon completing your required coursework, you will need to submit a completion request for your certificate.
Program Contact
Renata Endres
Teaching Assistant Professor
1206 S. Fourth St.
227 Huff Hall
Champaign, IL 61820
Graduate Certificates
Graduate Professional Certificate in Recreation, Sport and Tourism (Online)
Job opportunities in parks and recreation, sports, hotel and event management, convention and tourist bureaus, health/fitness and volunteer and youth agencies are increasing.
This certificate is intended for career changers and advancers who wish to obtain continued education to pursue careers in the recreation, sport, and tourism industry. The Graduate Professional Certificate in RST will enable career advances, help obtain jobs, retain an industry-approved certification, and stay at the cutting edge of new trends, issues and research in recreation, sport, and tourism.
Earn the Graduate Professional Certificate in Recreation, Sport and Tourism and:
- Develop an understanding and application of foundational concepts and theories in RST industries
- Analyze major issues and trends facing RST organizations as well as their consequences and causes (e.g., social, political, economic, environmental, etc.)
- Defend your position on a variety of issues/trends using valid and credible literature from a variety of sources and fields
- Develop strategies for problem solving and management of issues/trends impacting RST industries
- Acquire an advanced understanding and application of a core competency (management, finance, marketing, evaluation, etc.) in RST industries
Required and Elective Courses
Course Core Coursework (4 Hours)
- RST 501: Concepts and Applications in Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Select One Critical Issues Course From (4 Hours):
- RST 502: Critical Issues Recreation Management
- RST 520: Critical Issues Sport Management
- RST 530: Critical Issues Tourism Management
Select One Elective (4 Hours)
- One RST Online Elective
Total Hours: 12
Graduate Inclusive by Design in Recreation, Sport and Tourism Professional Certificate (Online)
The Inclusive by Design in Recreation, Sport and Tourism Certificate is intended for professionals and students who seek advanced knowledge and skills on the fundamental principles of inclusive design in contemporary society.
Professionals and students will acquire competencies in:
- Inclusive design practices within recreation, sport and tourism industries
- Critical issues and trends in recreation, sport, or tourism management
- Planning and design of parks or management of recreation, sport and tourism organizations
Guided by cutting-edge research and professional practice, the Inclusive by Design Certificate courses also allows professionals and students to surpass the minimum requirements as mandated by accessibility laws via the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides them with the knowledge to increase health and well-being, social participation, and performance among diverse recreation, sport and tourism user groups.
Required and Elective Courses
Total Hours Needed: 12 Credit Hours (3 courses)
Course Core Coursework (4 Hours)
- RST 585: Inclusive by Design in Recreation, Sport and Tourism
Select One Critical Issues Course From (4 Hours):
- RST 502: Critical Issues Recreation Management
- RST 520: Critical Issues Sport Management
- RST 530: Critical Issues Tourism Management
Select One Option Area Course From (4 Hours):
- RST 588: Park Planning and Design
- RST 512: Managing Recreation, Sport & Tourism Organizations
Total Hours: 12
Program Benefits
- High ranking program and university
- Complete the certificate in about 6 months
- Ideal for working professionals
- 100% online delivery; no campus visit required
- Flexible and stackable credentials
- Opportunity to apply certificate credits toward a master’s degree
- No additional cost for out-of-state or international students
Important Dates
Program begins in August, January or June.
Application deadlines:
- Fall 2025: August 11, 2025
- Spring 2026: December 12, 2025
- Summer 2026: May 15, 2026
Tuition and Fees
The Graduate Professional Certificate in RST features a flat-rate tuition—there is no additional cost for out-of-state or international students. Cost of the program for the 2025-2026 academic year is $775 per credit hour including fees. Veteran benefits apply.
Transfer Hours Policy
Students can transfer up to 12 RST certificate credit hours if applying to the full RST M.S. program after certificate completion.
