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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

This online graduate program will operate on an 8-week term during the fall and spring semesters; there are two terms each semester. During the summer, courses are offered in two 6-week terms. Students are permitted to take up to two (2) classes per term/four (4) classes per semester.

Online students have the option to take on-campus classes which provides a hybrid option in which some classes are online and some are in-person.

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

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

1. Other Courses

CORE 5200 – Conflict Management Skills (Spring II)
CORE 6100 – Ethical Leadership (Spring II)
CORE 6200 – Corporate Law and Regulation (Summer I)
BUSN 5750 – Financial Statement Analysis (Fall II)
BUSN 5800 – Business Analytics (Fall I)
SLM 5250 – Current Issues in Sport Leadership (Fall II)
SLM 6300 – Media Relations in Sport (Spring I)
SLM 6350 – Facilities and Event Management (Spring I)

1. Projects/Internships (Summer I or II)

Choose ONE of the following

SLM 6810 – Research Project
SLM 6910 – Graduate Internship
MBA Elective