USA Ohio State University Recreational Sports Graduate Assistantships 2026-2027.
USA Ohio State University Recreational Sports Graduate Assistantships 2026-2027.
The Ohio State University Department of Recreational Sports is now accepting applications for Graduate Assistantships (2026–2027).
These competitive opportunities allow graduate students to gain hands-on professional experience in facilities management, special events, member services, group fitness, and personal training while pursuing a graduate degree at Ohio State.
The Ohio State University (OSU), located in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and most comprehensive public research universities in the United States.
Founded in 1870, OSU is renowned for its world-class academic programs, cutting-edge research, and strong athletic tradition as a member of the Big Ten Conference.
The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across diverse fields such as business, engineering, health sciences, education, and the arts.
With more than 60,000 students from all 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries, Ohio State fosters a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community.
Its state-of-the-art facilities, including the Wexner Medical Center and extensive recreational and research centers, make it a leader in innovation and student life, consistently ranking among the top public universities in the nation.
Degree Level
- Available Graduate Assistantship Positions
- Ohio State’s Rec Sports Graduate Assistantships provide leadership, training, and supervision experience across multiple areas:
- Facilities Graduate Assistant: Oversees operations at Jesse Owens North and South Recreation Centers, North Recreation Center, and Adventure Recreation Center. Responsibilities include facility management, purchasing, event supervision, and student staff leadership.
- Special Events Graduate Assistant: Coordinates and manages nearly 600 events each year at the Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC), including athletic tournaments, banquets, meetings, and reservations.
- Member Services Graduate Assistant: Supervises 120+ student staff members at the RPAC Welcome Center, Sport Shop, and access control operations.
- Group Fitness Graduate Assistant: Manages hiring, training, and development of group fitness instructors and supervisors, as well as program administration.
- Personal Training Graduate Assistant: Supports programming in personal training and small group fitness, including workshops, body composition testing, and exercise program design.
Available Subjects
To qualify for the Graduate Assistantship in Recreational Sports, students must apply to Ohio State University’s Graduate School in one of the following programs:
- Master of Science (M.S.) in Kinesiology, Sport Management
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in Educational Studies, Higher Education and Student Affairs
These programs provide academic knowledge and practical training for careers in sport management, higher education, recreation, fitness, and student services.
Benefits
- Graduate Assistants (GAs) receive a 9-month stipend of approximately $2,682 per month. Additional benefits include:
- Full tuition waiver (including in-state, out-of-state, and international students).
- Potential summer employment opportunities (not guaranteed).
- Valuable leadership and professional development experience in recreation and sports management.
Eligible Nationalities
- Open to applicants of all nationalities.
To apply for a Rec Sports Graduate Assistantship at Ohio State University, candidates must:
- Apply to the Graduate School and enroll in either:
- Master of Science in Kinesiology, Sport Management OR
- Master of Arts in Educational Studies, Higher Education and Student Affairs
- Hold a minimum 3.0 GPA for admission into graduate school.
- Apply with supporting documents (resume and cover letter).
- Applications from other graduate programs will not be considered.
Application Procedure
- Complete the 2026–2027 Rec Sports Graduate Assistant Application (applications via BluefishJobs.com will not be reviewed).
- Submit a cover letter and resume to Kolby Carothers, Student Staff Training Specialist, at 50@osu.edu.
- Priority deadline: November 1, 2025.
Why Apply for a Graduate Assistantship at Ohio State?
With state-of-the-art facilities such as the RPAC, Jesse Owens Recreation Centers, and Adventure Recreation Center, Ohio State offers one of the most comprehensive recreational sports programs in the U.S.
Graduate Assistants not only receive financial support but also gain professional experience that prepares them for careers in sport management, higher education, fitness, and recreation services.
APPLY NOW
OSU Rec Sports is seeking candidates for the positions of Graduate Assistant (2026-2027) in the following areas: Member Services, Facility Operations, Special Events, Group Fitness and Personal Training.
Preference will be given to those that apply by November 1, 2025.
