Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Management

The sport industry has exploded over the past 15 years and has become increasingly more complex. The sport leadership and management graduate program is meant to help students navigate those complexities by becoming efficient managers and leaders. The program aims to not only explore leadership and management theories, but put them to practical use.

Students will analyze complex problems, help solve current issues for sports organizations, and collaborate to find creative solutions. This master’s degree in sport leadership and management is meant for anyone currently working in, or hoping to work in professional sports, collegiate or high school sports or intramurals, as well as those in the public and non-profit recreation sectors. Incoming students may have an undergraduate degree in any subject area.

Program Goals

• Apply leadership principles, theory, and critical thinking skills in order to creatively solve leadership challenges.
• Analyze the legal and ethical issues as they relate to sport and recreation applications.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the range of issues that arise in the sports industry and the media.
• Apply sound leadership and management skills when dealing with fiscal matters within the sports industry, professional sports organizations, and sporting venues.

Class Delivery Format

The program will employ a fall cohort model and a hybrid delivery method. Half of the coursework will be delivered online and half of the coursework will be delivered in-person on campus to give students the opportunity to interact with faculty and fellow students.

The graduate cohort program will operate on a eight-week session with students completing 3-6 credits of study in each eight-week session.

Sport Leadership and Management Program Prerequisites

Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree (any major) from a regionally accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher. Students applying for the SLM program have no additional requirements other than those required for all master’s applicants.

Application Checklist

• GPA of 3.0 of higher
• Official transcripts
• Current resume or CV (Optional, but recommended)

Course Requirements

A. Introductory Course
CORE 5100 – Graduate Writing and Research – Fall I, Spring I, Summer I

B. Other Courses
CORE 5200 – Conflict Management Skills (Summer II)
SLM 5150 – Contemporary Leadership in Sport (Fall I)
SLM 5250 – Current Issues in Sport Leadership (Fall II)
CORE 6100 – Ethical Leadership (Spring II)
SLM 6150 – Fiscal Management in Sport (Fall II)
SLM 6200 – Legal Issues for Sport Leaders (Spring II)
SLM 6250 – Leading a Diverse Sport Workforce (Spring I)
SLM 6300 – Media Relations in Sport (Summer I)
C. Projects/Internships (Spring I)
SLM 6810 – Research Project
OR
SLM 6910 – Graduate Internship