Sport Management is designed to provide advanced professional preparation that develops competitive sport business leaders through a comprehensive education in both theory and its application in sports business. Sport Management provides students a broad based, advanced educational foundation and develops skills and knowledge in the following areas as they pertain to sport: management, strategic planning, marketing, promotions, communication, legal preparation, public relations, consumer behavior, facilities, and finance. The program focuses on problem solving and emphasizes hand's on learning experiences within and outside of the classroom. Sport Management graduates work in nearly all types of sport including professional sport, college athletics, high school activities, national sport governing bodies, health and fitness industry, sport products and equipment, amateur sport, youth sport and many other public, private or non-profit sport organizations.
Program Requirements
Common Core
This course provides students with opportunities to develop a philosophy, values and moral reasoning skills, to explore and clarify their career goals, to sharpen critical thinking skills for analyzing ethical problems in the sport business and generating possible solutions.
Prerequisites:
none
This course explores the dynamic intersection of public relations, media, and the sports industry. It provides a comprehensive understanding of how strategic communication shapes public perception, brand identity, and stakeholder engagement in the world of sports.
Prerequisites:
none
This course will emphasize the management functions of planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling. Decision-making, problem-solving, communication, ethics, sport law, and leadership. Personnel management issues will also be addressed.
Prerequisites:
none
Examines basic financial and managerial accounting concepts necessary to be financially literate in the business of sport. Budgeting and fundraising concepts will also be addressed. Analysis into the understanding of corporate financial workings in the sport industry will equip the student with essential management tools.
Prerequisites:
none
The advanced study of legal aspects of sport with emphasis constitutional and statutory law, negligence and risk management, intellectual property, and contract law. The use of case law study and application to sport settings is utilized.
Prerequisites:
none
Advanced study of the principles of marketing of or through sport including marketing analysis, development of a marketing management plan, promotion, place, price, public relations, product as applied to sport and the sport industry.
Prerequisites:
none
Research/Methods Course(s)
Introduction to the concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics, applied and theoretical research, and validity and reliability methods used in the disciplines of physical education, human performance, and exercise science.
Prerequisites:
none
Introductory course to the research processes involved in the fields of physical education, exercise science, and human performance. Coverage of various types of research designs and writing of the research paper is a major intent of this course.
Prerequisites:
none
Restricted Electives
Choose 3 elective credits. Consult your adviser for course availability and fit. Not all of these are offered online.
To introduce interested students, professionals, and coaching licensure candidates to the psychological literature and latest techniques associated with coaching in an athletic setting.
Prerequisites:
none
The purposes of this course are to expand students¿ awareness of global sport management principles and obtain firsthand experience in international sport through studying abroad. The course will address ethics, marketing, event management, finance, and challenges/issues in international sport management.
Prerequisites:
none
Examines a variety of topics related to the management of sport organizations. Topics include internship/career opportunities, social-cultural issues, ethical issues, mass communication, sport governance, economic issues, fund-raising, event/facility management, licensing, copyright issues, and labor relations.
Prerequisites:
none
Capstone Course
Most students pursue the Applied Sport Business and Entrepreneurship track. Choose the manuscript option if you are interested in research or doctoral study. Please consult your adviser.
This course is designed to provide a rigorous, comprehensive hands-on learning experience for students majoring in Sport Management. This more closely supervised field experience requires a rigorous time and energy commitment from students.
Prerequisites:
none
Course requires completion of a manuscript submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal. Prerequisite: graduate student/professor consent
Prerequisites:
none
Degree Plan
The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan. * Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.
First Year
Fall - 9 Credits
This course provides students with opportunities to develop a philosophy, values and moral reasoning skills, to explore and clarify their career goals, to sharpen critical thinking skills for analyzing ethical problems in the sport business and generating possible solutions.
Prerequisites:
none
This course will emphasize the management functions of planning, organizing, implementing, and controlling. Decision-making, problem-solving, communication, ethics, sport law, and leadership. Personnel management issues will also be addressed.
Prerequisites:
none
Examines basic financial and managerial accounting concepts necessary to be financially literate in the business of sport. Budgeting and fundraising concepts will also be addressed. Analysis into the understanding of corporate financial workings in the sport industry will equip the student with essential management tools.
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 9 Credits
Introduction to the concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics, applied and theoretical research, and validity and reliability methods used in the disciplines of physical education, human performance, and exercise science.
Prerequisites:
none
This course explores the dynamic intersection of public relations, media, and the sports industry. It provides a comprehensive understanding of how strategic communication shapes public perception, brand identity, and stakeholder engagement in the world of sports.
Prerequisites:
none
The advanced study of legal aspects of sport with emphasis constitutional and statutory law, negligence and risk management, intellectual property, and contract law. The use of case law study and application to sport settings is utilized.
Prerequisites:
none
Second Year
Fall - 6 Credits
Introductory course to the research processes involved in the fields of physical education, exercise science, and human performance. Coverage of various types of research designs and writing of the research paper is a major intent of this course.
Prerequisites:
none
Advanced study of the principles of marketing of or through sport including marketing analysis, development of a marketing management plan, promotion, place, price, public relations, product as applied to sport and the sport industry.
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 6 Credits
Examines a variety of topics related to the management of sport organizations. Topics include internship/career opportunities, social-cultural issues, ethical issues, mass communication, sport governance, economic issues, fund-raising, event/facility management, licensing, copyright issues, and labor relations.
Prerequisites:
none
This course is designed to provide a rigorous, comprehensive hands-on learning experience for students majoring in Sport Management. This more closely supervised field experience requires a rigorous time and energy commitment from students.
Prerequisites:
none
Policies
Admission to the online Sport Management M.S. program is competitive. To be eligible for priority consideration, the application deadline is February 1st for a fall start and we will continue to review subsequent applications through a rolling application review. Our flexible online program allows students to complete the program in as little as 16 months when students begin the program in the fall semester. The program also accepts students for a spring start date.
Admission Requirements:
Degree: A bachelor's degree must be completed by the start of the graduate program. GPA: Our program does not have a specified minimum GPA. Usually a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 is preferred. GRE: We do not require the GRE. An updated resume.
Degree MS
Major Credits 30
Total Credits 30
Locations Online
Career Cluster Business, Management, and Administration
