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WVU Morgantown

Executive Sport Management, M.S.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Masters
  • Areas of Emphasis
  • Accelerated Programs
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Master of Science

Nature of the Program

This Master of Science in Executive Sport Management program is designed for individuals seeking employment and career advancement in the exciting, global industry of sport, but it is delivered entirely online. The program focuses on the most contemporary issues in sport management, and is delivered via online courses taught by faculty and industry professionals who are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields. As a student, you will explore the latest research, industry trends, and recommendations for best practice, while also acquiring applied skills. Topics covered include profitability, diversity, legal issues, facilities, ethics and changing markets in sport. In addition to these core courses, students further specialize by selecting an area of emphasis.

The area of emphasis in Sport Industry Management includes a two-course sequence that provides students with additional preparation in sport management research and current issues and applications in sport. This area of emphasis contributes to one’s professional readiness to work across all sectors of the sport industry, including youth sport, collegiate and professional athletics, in either an introductory or advanced position.

The area of emphasis in Interscholastic Athletic Administration is designed for those individuals who are either currently working or would like to work as athletic directors or faculty managers at the middle or high school level. Students learn the roles, responsibilities, challenges and opportunities associated with a career in sport management, particularly within interscholastic athletic administration. This two-course sequence enables students to further differentiate their plan of study and enhance marketability for employment in a range of youth sport settings. Completion of this area of emphasis is intended to prepare students to meet the requirements necessary to obtain the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Registered Athletic Administrator (RAA) certification as well as the educational requirements necessary for the NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) certification. 

Admissions for 2025-2026

These programs utilize the University GPA requirement for entry to both programs. 

Admissions criteria and processes are identical for both the Areas of Emphasis in Sport Industry Management and Interscholastic Athletic Administration. These criteria include:

  • Resume: including any professional experiences in the sport industry
  • Personal statement:  1-2 written pages on professional goals and reasons for seeking admission

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until May 1 (for summer start, middle of May), August 1 (for fall start, middle of August), and December 1 (spring start, early to mid January).

Accelerated B.S./M.S. Sport Management

Students must complete an internal application for admission to the accelerated B.S./M.S. (ABM) program. Students may apply for regular admission to the ABM in SM program in the fall semester following the completion of 60 credits, but not later than the semester after which they have completed 95 credits. Only enrolled WVU SM majors may be considered for regular admission to the program. Transfer students must complete at least 24 credit hours as degree seeking students at WVU before applying. The minimum GPA requirement for regular admission into the ABM program is a GPA of 3.25 with no provisional admissions allowed. Regular admission will not be offered to students with less than two semesters to complete the bachelor's degree. The ABM in SM program is not available to students seeking a second (or subsequent) bachelor's degree. Internal application is due by October 15 with program admissions decisions communicated by December 15. Applications will be reviewed by a faculty work group and presented to the program faculty for a final admissions decision.

Online Major Code: 5544

Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
SM 527Navigating Legal Issues in Sport Management3
SM 535Management of Human Resources in Sport Organizations3
SM 540Sport Policy and Governance3
SM 546Sport Consumer Behavior and Marketing3
SM 570Financial Decision-Making in Sport3
SM 575Sport Development and Fundraising3
SM 580Social and Ethical Responsibility in Sport3
SM 586Sport Facility Operations3
Select one Area of Emphasis6
Interscholastic Athletic Administration Area of Emphasis
Sport Industry Management Area of Emphasis
Total Hours30
*

SM 685 may be substitute for any of the above courses for three credits with approval.

Areas of Emphasis

  • Interscholastic Athletic Administration
  • Sport Industry Management

Interscholastic Athletic Administration Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code Title Hours
SM 571Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration3
SM 578Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration3
Total Hours6

Sport Industry Management Area of Emphasis

Course List
Code Title Hours
SM 516Applied Research in Sport Management3
SM 545Current Issues & Applications in Sport Management3
Total Hours6

Accelerated Programs

  • B.S. Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology and M.S. Executive Sport Management
  • B.S. Sport Management and M.S. Executive Sport Management

Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements54
Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Major Requirements54
Master of Science Executive Sport Management Requirements30
Total Hours138

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 722
CAHS 191First-Year Seminar2
General Electives30
Total Hours54

Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
PSYC 241Introduction to Human Development3
PSYC 251Introduction to Social Psychology3
PSYC 281Introduction to Psychological Disorders3
COUN 303Introduction to Helping Professions3
ACE 149Introduction to Applied Anatomy3
ACE 307Applied Sport Physiology3
ACE 327Applied Biomechanics3
A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all the following courses.
SEP 272Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology3
SEP 283Introduction to Exercise Psychology3
SEP 371Sport in American Society3
SEP 385Performance Psychology of Teams and Groups3
SEP 415Physical Activity Promotion in Diverse Settings3
SEP 420Sport and Performance Enhancement3
SEP 425Psychology of Injury and Rehabilitation3
or HWB 359 Mindfulness for Health and Well-being
CAHS 489Capstone Experience in AHS3
CAHS 300Career Exploration in Applied Human Sciences3
Total Hours54

MS Executive Sport Management Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
SM 527Navigating Legal Issues in Sport Management3
SM 535Management of Human Resources in Sport Organizations3
SM 540Sport Policy and Governance3
SM 546Sport Consumer Behavior and Marketing3
SM 570Financial Decision-Making in Sport3
SM 575Sport Development and Fundraising3
SM 580Social and Ethical Responsibility in Sport3
SM 586Sport Facility Operations3
Choose ONE Area of Emphasis6
Sport Industry Management Area of Emphasis
SM 516
Applied Research in Sport Management
SM 545
Current Issues & Applications in Sport Management
OR
Interscholastic Athletic Administration Area of Emphasis
SM 571
Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration
SM 578
Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration
Total Hours30

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
CAHS 1912SEP 2833 
SEP 2723ACE 1493 
PSYC 1013SOC 1013 
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3GEF 33 
GEF 24GEF 53 
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
PSYC 2413SEP 3853 
ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3PSYC 2513 
GEF 63PSYC 2813 
GEF 73Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
CAHS 3003SEP 3713ABM3
ACE 3073ACE 3273ABM 3
COUN 3033SEP 425 or HWB 3593 
Elective or Professional Minor Course 13ABM3 
Elective3ABM3 
 15 15 6
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
SEP 4153CAHS 489 or SEP 4743ABM3
SEP 4203Elective or Professional Minor Course 43ABM3
Elective or Professional Minor Course 23Elective or Professional Minor Course 53 
Elective or Professional Minor Course 33Elective3 
ABM3ABM3 
ABM3ABM 3 
 18 18 6
Total credit hours: 138

Accelerated BS/MS Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements54
Sport Management Major Requirements54
MS Executive Sport Management Degree Requirements30
Total Hours138

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 22
CAHS 191First-Year Seminar2
General Electives30
Total Hours54

Sport Management Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all the following courses.
SM 125Sport Facility Management3
SM 137Sport Event Management3
SM 240Sport Governance3
SM 287Contemporary Issues in Sport Management3
SM 370Sport Finance and Economics3
SEP 371Sport in American Society3
SM 375Sport in the Global Market (GEF 7)3
SM 380History and Philosophy of Sport3
SM 426Liability in Sport3
SM 485Management of Sport Organizations3
SM 486Sport Marketing & Sales3
CAHS 300Career Exploration in Applied Human Sciences3
CAHS 489Capstone Experience in AHS3
Professional Minor15
Students must select a professional minor (at least 15 credits) in consultation with their Student Success Specialist. Grade requirements for the professional minor depend upon the minor selected.
Total Hours54

MS Executive Sport Management Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
SM 527Navigating Legal Issues in Sport Management3
SM 535Management of Human Resources in Sport Organizations3
SM 540Sport Policy and Governance3
SM 546Sport Consumer Behavior and Marketing3
SM 570Financial Decision-Making in Sport3
SM 575Sport Development and Fundraising3
SM 580Social and Ethical Responsibility in Sport3
SM 586Sport Facility Operations3
Choose ONE Area of Emphasis6
Sport Industry Management Area of Emphasis
SM 516
Applied Research in Sport Management
SM 545
Current Issues & Applications in Sport Management
OR
Interscholastic Athletic Administration Area of Emphasis
SM 571
Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration
SM 578
Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration
Total Hours30

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
CAHS 1912SM 1373 
ENGL 101 or 103 (GEF 1)3GEF 43 
SM 1253GEF 53 
GEF 24GEF 63 
Elective3Elective3 
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
SM 2403SM 2873 
ENGL 102 or 103 (GEF 1)3Professional Minor Course 23 
GEF 33Professional Minor Course 33 
Professional Minor Course 13Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
SM 3803SEP 3713ABM3
CAHS 3003SM 3703ABM3
Professional Minor Course 43SM 375 (GEF 7)3 
Professional Minor Course 53ABM3 
Elective3ABM3 
 15 15 6
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
SM 4263SM 4863ABM3
SM 4853CAHS 4893ABM3
ABM3ABM3 
ABM3ABM3 
Elective3Elective3 
Elective3Elective3 
 18 18 6
Total credit hours: 138

Program Learning Outcomes

Executive Sport Management

The goal of the program is for students to graduate with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for immediate entry and/or advancement of a sport management career.

  • Professional Knowledge: Understand advanced disciplinary knowledge and the primary modes of inquiry that form the basis for evidence-informed practice in their field.
  • Professional Practice: Apply evidence-informed strategies in their professional practice to meet the differentiated needs of the client groups and key stakeholders whom they serve.
  • Professional Leadership: Contribute to the leadership of communities of professional practice as collaborative learners who can facilitate their own continued development and that of others.
  • School of Counseling and Well-​being
  • School of Education
  • School of Sport Sciences
    • Coaching and Teaching Studies
    • Executive Sport Management
    • Physical Education Teacher Education
    • Sport Coaching
    • Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology
    • Sport Management

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