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Sport Administration

Master of Science (M.S.)


College: College of Education & Behavioral Science | Graduate School

Department: Health, Physical Education and Sport Sciences

Description

The Sport Administration is a Master of Science Program in the Department of Health, Physical Education & Sport Sciences at Arkansas State University. It is designed as a full-time, 36-credit hour program that serves today’s working professional and/or full-time student. The program serves graduate students interested in professional management or administrative opportunities in professional sports, interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics administration, sports facilities, sports media, and sports marketing and management agencies.

The goal of this program is to balance theory and practice in order to best prepare each graduate for employment in the field of sport administration. Each student will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the management, business, socio-cultural, ethical and legal applications in the administrative capacities within amateur and professional sports environments. Future employment for Sports Administration graduates would consider employment within intercollegiate athletics (including athletic departments, conferences, and national associations), professional sport organizations (teams and leagues), sport facilities, sports tours, motor sports, corporate sports organizations (sports agencies), and the sports media.

The Sport Administration graduate program will allow students and professionals to receive an advanced level degree that will develop their knowledge and skills to successfully prepare them in their chosen careers. As an applied field of administration, it is essential that students be able to incorporate information learned through this program, their own work experience, and cultural backgrounds and apply these to current or future employment. Both theory and practice will be incorporated into the curriculum in which instruction is enhanced by sport administration professionals, site visitations, research, and group projects designed to learn competent and applicable sport administrative practices.

Our geographic area exposes students to a variety of sports industry professionals and organizations (Memphis Redbirds, Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Riverkings, Verizon Arena, FedEx Forum, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Arkansas Travelers, Arkansas Naturals, Arkansas Twisters, Arkansas State University Athletics, Jonesboro Parks & Recreation, Memphis Parks & Recreation, University of Memphis Athletics, University of Arkansas Athletics, Sunbelt Conference, Southeastern Conference, and Conference USA). These entities can provide students networking, and volunteer opportunities.

Students will be immersed in a required core of courses and an internship or thesis. Students will also be required to successfully complete comprehensive exams (excludes successfully defending thesis).

  • Career Opportunities & Salary
    • Intercollegiate athletics (marketing, development, event operations, compliance, finance, media relations, and sales): $28,000-38,000
    • Professional sport: Entry $30,000-40,000
    • Sport facility management: $26,000-32,000
    • Sports agencies: $26,000-32,000
    • Campus recreation directors: $26,000-32,000
    • Community-based sport (e.g. YMCA, parks & recreation programs): $26,000-32,000
    • Sports information/media relations (e.g college, professional, Olympic, conference, NCAA and other national governing agencies): $28,000-38,000
    • Sport marketing (e.g market research, promotion, fundraising and sales): $35,000-45,000
    • Event management: $26,000-32,000
    • Sport journalism/web management: $26,000-32,000
  • Admission Process

    Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the ASU Graduate School and the specific program requirements. The minimum requirement for admission is the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.

    Applicants must present evidence of potential ability to perform academic work at the advanced graduate level. Standardized test proficiency and past grade performance will be used to provide the primary data for judging academic ability. Other indicators, such as quality of writing in the Applicant’s prepared statement and faculty references, will also be considered. Based on past academic performance, an applicant must qualify for either unconditional or conditional admission status.

    • For unconditional admission, students are required to have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA or 3.25 GPA during the last 60 credit hours of university work.
    • For conditional admission, students are required to have a 2.75 cumulative GPA or 3.0 GPA during the last 60 credit hours of university work.

    Applicants are required to submit the following:

    1. Official transcripts as verification of all coursework and degree(s).
    2. A formal Statement of Goals which should explain in at least 500 words why he/she wants to be admitted into the program and what he/she plans to do with the M.S. in Sport Administration degree.
    3. A current resume.
    4. At least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicants academic potential and professional capabilities. Applicants must have at least one recommendation from a university faculty member who is familiar with the applicant’s work as a student. The professional recommendation should come from a supervisor in which he/she has evaluated the applicant’s current or prior work.

    In addition to the written credentials itemized above; in selected situations, faculty may elect to conduct interviews as part of the admission process. Interviews may be conducted via web, phone, or on-campus. Lastly, admission to the degree program may require completion of specific prerequisite undergraduate courses. Applicants will be considered for admission during a given review cycle only if all of the above materials have been received by the Graduate School’s application deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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  • Curriculum

    Curriculum

    Curriculum and degree requirements can be found in the most current Graduate Bulletin.

    Visit the bulletins page >>

    Other Resources

    Download the Course Offerings Schedule >>

    Download the Course Requirement Degree Checklist >>

  • Student Achievement Tables
  • Sport Management/Administration Alumni

Accreditation

The sport management degree program at Arkansas State University has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, CO, USA. The sport management programs in the following degrees are accredited by COSMA: 

  • Bachelor of Science in Sport Management (Residential)
  • Bachelor of Science in Sport Management (Online)
  • Master of Science in Sport Administration (Hybrid)
  • Master of Science in Sport Administration (Online)

    COSMA Seal