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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to take the GRE to be admitted to the department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M or would you accept the GMAT instead?

A: We require the GRE, as do most other departments at Texas A&M. There is no waiver of this policy for any applicant.

Q: How long does it take to complete a degree?

A: A Ph.D. degree normally takes 3.5 to 4 years to complete. An M.S. thesis degree usually takes 2 years; an M.S., MRRD or MNRD non-thesis degree takes 1.5 to 2 years. The length of time may vary depending upon a student's individual background and motivation.

Q: What kind of financial aid is available?

A: We have a number of departmental graduate assistantships available for teaching or research. Competitive university fellowships and scholarships are also available.

Q: How much do your assistantships pay?

A: Master’s students receive $1100 per month for a 50% time assistantship; doctoral students receive $1400. Students on a 50% time assistantship receive funding to cover a portion of their health benefits.  Non-Texas residents and international students also receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition.

Q: How much does it cost to attend Texas A&M University?

A: As this information changes periodically, please consult http://finance.tamu.edu/sfs

For students who do not have a teaching or research assistantship, the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies and living expenses is about $22,000 a year for nonresidents and about $16,000 for residents taking a full course load (9 hours)

The cost of living (room and board and other living expenses) depends on a student's lifestyle, whether they are single or married, have a roommate, or have children.  In most cases the cost of living in Bryan-College Station is lower than in many other pars of the United States.

Q: Do I have to find a professor that is willing to serve as my major professor before I can be admitted?

A: Yes, a professor must be willing to serve as an applicant's mentor and advisor prior to admission.  However, having a designated major professor can, but does not necessarily guarantee, research funding support by that professor.

Q: How do I arrange for teaching or research assistanships?

A: All United States citizens and international students from English-speaking countries are automatically considered for a teaching assistantship when they are admitted.

International students from non-English-speaking countries are eligible to be considered for a teaching assistantship once they have been in the department for at least one semester and have passed a series of language tests (the English Language Proficiency Examination administered on the campus at Texas A&M University.)  These tests are not required for research assistantships.

Q: What are the deadlines for application and admission?

A: In order to facilitate applications, students should apply by March 1 for the fall semester, August 1 for spring semester, and November 1 for summer semester. It is especially important that international students follow these deadlines. U.S. citizens or international students who are already in the United States on student visas have more flexibility in terms of deadlines.

Q: Can I be admitted with a grade point average (GPA) below a 3.0?

A: In most cases, students must have a 3.0 GPA to be admitted to a graduate degree program in the RPTS department.  However, if there are extenuating circumstances it is possible to be admitted with a GPA below 3.0 if the student has strong reference letters, GRE scores, etc.

Note that a student who is admitted with a GPA below 3.0 cannot be funded on an assistantship during their first academic semester.  However, after the first semester of graduate study at Texas A&M the student can be considered for an assistantship, if the student achieves a GPA of 3.0 or above.

Q: Does your program offer graduate study in therapeutic recreation or hotel and restaurant management?

A: We do not offer these emphases at Texas A&M University. Our four major areas of graduate study include Tourism Resource Development (including tourism planning and marketing), Natural Resource Management and Policy Analysis (including protected-area management, interpretation, and conservation of natural resources), Recreation and Park Administration (including administration, finance, and planning), and Youth Development (including program evaluation and at-risk youth).

For more information, contact:

Marguerite Van Dyke
Texas A&M University
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
2261 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-2261
Phone: (979) 845-5412
Fax: (979) 845-0446
Email: m-vandyke@tamu.edu

Graduate Student Handbook