Degree Offered
- Master of Science
Nature of the Program
Students have two options for completing a master's degree in sport management: 1) On-Campus and 2) Distance-Learning with Areas of Emphasis in either Comprehensive Sport Industry Management or Interscholastic Athletic Administration.
This Master of Science in Executive Sport Management program is also 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 Comprehensive Sport Industry Management includes a two-course sequence that provides students with additional preparation in sport management research and contemporary issues in sport business. 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 within the job market.
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 affords students the opportunity to further differentiate your 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
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 Comprehensive 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.
Admission Requirements 2024-2025
The Admission Requirements above will be the same for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Online Major Code: 5544
Degree Requirements: Distance Education Program
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SM 527 | Legal Issues in Sport Administration (Online) | 3 |
| SM 535 | Sport Management Processes | 3 |
| SM 540 | International Sport Governance (Online) | 3 |
| SM 546 | Sport Marketing | 3 |
| SM 570 | Sport Finance | 3 |
| SM 575 | Fund-Raising and Development (Online) | 3 |
| SM 580 | Sociocultural and Ethical Dimensions of Sport (Online) | 3 |
| SM 586 | Facility Planning and Management | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis | 6 | |
Sport Industry Management | ||
Interscholastic Athletic Administrator | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- *
SM 685 may be substitute for any of the above courses for three credits with approval.
Areas of Emphasis
Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All courses will need to be completed with a grade of C- or better. | ||
| SM 571 | Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | 3 |
| SM 578 | Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
- *
This program can be started in any semester, but the starting point will impact the order in which classes are taken.
Sport Industry Management Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All courses will need to be completed with a grade of C- or better. | ||
| SM 516 | Sport Marketing Research Methods | 3 |
| SM 545 | Current Issues & Applications in Sport Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
- *
This program can be started in any semester, but the starting point will impact the order in which classes are taken.
Accelerated Programs
- B.S. Sport and Exercise Psychology and M.S. Sport Management
- B.S. Sport Management and M.S. Sport Management
Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 44 | |
| Sport and Exercise Psychology Program Requirements | 13 | |
| Sport and Exercise Psychology Major Requirements | 51 | |
| Master of Science Sport Management Requirements | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 138 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 | 18 | |
| PASS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| General Electives | 24 | |
| Total Hours | 44 | |
Sport and Exercise Psychology Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 102 & 102L | General Biology 2 and General Biology 2 Laboratory (GEF 2) | 4 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology * | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| Sociology (SOCA) 200-400 Level Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 13 | |
Sport and Exercise Psychology Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ACE 256 | Principles and Problems of Coaching | 3 |
| COUN 303 | Introduction to Helping Professions | 3 |
| EXPH 365 | Exercise Physiology 1 | 3 |
| PASS 300 | Career Exploration in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences | 3 |
| PET 124 | Human Body: Structure and Function | 2 |
| PET 125 | Principles of Human Movement | 2 |
| PET 175 | Motor Development | 2 |
| PSYC 241 | Introduction to Human Development (GEF 8) | 3 |
| PSYC 251 | Introduction to Social Psychology (GEF 8) | 3 |
| PSYC 281 | Introduction to Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SEP 271 | Sport in American Society (GEF 8) * | 3 |
| SEP 272 | Psychological Perspectives of Sport (GEF 4) * | 3 |
| SEP 383 | Exercise Psychology | 3 |
| SEP 385 | Social Psychology of Sport | 3 |
| SEP 420 | Sport Performance Enhancement | 3 |
| SEP 425 | Psychological Aspects of Sport Injury | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Capstone Experience in PASS | ||
| Sport Studies Research Methods | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Mindfulness for Health and Well-being | ||
| Physical Activity Promotion in Diverse Settings | ||
| Cross Cultural Perspectives in Sport Psychology | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Total Hours | 51 | |
Master of Science in Sport Management Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or higher required. | ||
| A grade of C or higher must be earned in all major courses | ||
| Core Coursework | ||
| SM 527 | Legal Issues in Sport Administration | 3 |
| SM 575 | Fund-Raising and Development | 3 |
| SM 535 | Sport Management Processes | 3 |
| SM 546 | Sport Marketing | 3 |
| SM 570 | Sport Finance | 3 |
| SM 580 | Sociocultural and Ethical Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| SM 540 | International Sport Governance | 3 |
| SM 516 | Sport Marketing Research Methods | 3 |
| or SM 571 | Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration | |
| SM 590 | Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| or SM 578 | Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration | |
| SM 586 | Facility Planning and Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | BIOL 102 & 102L (GEF 2) | 4 | ||
| PSYC 101 | 3 | SEP 271 or 272 (GEF 8) | 3 | ||
| SEP 272 or 271 (GEF 4) | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| GEF 6 | 3 | PET 124 | 2 | ||
| PASS 191 | 2 | ENGL 102 | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ACE 256 | 3 | PET 175 | 2 | ||
| GEF 3 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 241 | 3 | Elective or Minor Course | 9 | ||
| PET 125 | 2 | PSYC 251 | 3 | ||
| SOC 101 | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 17 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| COUN 303 | 3 | EXPH 365 | 3 | SM 535 | 3 |
| SEP 383 | 3 | SEP 385 | 3 | SM 586 | 3 |
| PASS 300 | 3 | SM 570 | 3 | ||
| Sociology Elective 200-Level | 3 | SM 580 | 3 | ||
| PSYC 281 | 3 | Elective or Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 6 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| SEP 415 | 3 | SEP 474 | 3 | SM 527 | 3 |
| SEP 420 | 3 | SEP 425 | 3 | SM 540 | 3 |
| SM 516 or 571 | 3 | SM 546 | 3 | ||
| SM 590 or 578 | 3 | SM 575 | 3 | ||
| Elective or Minor Course | 6 | Elective or Minor Course | 6 | ||
| 18 | 18 | 6 | |||
| Total credit hours: 138 | |||||
Accelerated B.S./M.S. Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 39 | |
| Sport Management Major Requirements | 69 | |
| M.S. Sport Management Degree Requirements | 30 | |
| Total Hours | 138 | |
University Requirements
| 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, and 6 | 15 | |
| PASS 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| General Electives | 22 | |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
Sport Management Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A grade of C- or higher must be earned in all courses unless otherwise noted. | ||
| A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required in all courses. | ||
| ACCT 201 | Principles of Accounting 1 | 3 |
| BCOR 350 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| BCOR 370 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| Select one of the following (GEF 8): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Communication | ||
| COMM 306 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| CS 101 | Intro to Computer Applications (GEF 2) | 4 |
| ECON 200 | Survey of Economics | 3 |
| or ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric (GEF 1) | 3 |
| MDIA 101 | Media and Society (GEF 4) | 3 |
| PR 215 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| SEP 271 | Sport in American Society (GEF 8) | 3 |
| SEP 272 | Psychological Perspectives of Sport (GEF 8) | 3 |
| SM 167 | Introduction to Sport Management (B- or higher) | 3 |
| SM 340 | Sport Governance | 3 |
| SM 345 | Technology in Sport Management | 2 |
| SM 350 | Leadership Theory and Application in Sport | 2 |
| SM 355 | Orientation in Sport Management | 1 |
| SM 375 | Sport in the Global Market (GEF 7) | 3 |
| SM 387 | Contemporary Issues in Sport Management | 3 |
| SM 425 | Sport Facility Management | 3 |
| SM 486 | Sport Marketing & Sales | 3 |
| SM 491 | Professional Field Experience | 3 |
| Advisor Approved Electives | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 69 | |
M.S. Sport Management Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or higher required. | ||
| SM 516 | Sport Marketing Research Methods | 3 |
| SM 527 | Legal Issues in Sport Administration | 3 |
| SM 535 | Sport Management Processes | 3 |
| SM 540 | International Sport Governance | 3 |
| SM 546 | Sport Marketing | 3 |
| SM 570 | Sport Finance | 3 |
| SM 575 | Fund-Raising and Development | 3 |
| SM 580 | Sociocultural and Ethical Dimensions of Sport | 3 |
| SM 586 | Facility Planning and Management | 3 |
| SM 590 | Teaching Practicum | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | CS 101 (GEF 2) | 4 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ACCT 201 | 3 | ||
| PR 215 | 3 | ||||
| SEP 271 | 3 | ||||
| MDIA 101 | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 | ||
| SM 167 | 3 | ||||
| PASS 191 | 2 | ||||
| GEF 6 | 3 | ||||
| 17 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | BCOR 350 or 370 | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following (GEF 3): | 3 | ECON 200 or 201 | 3 | ||
| SM 350 | 3 | ||||
| SM 355 | 1 | ||||
| COMM 306 | 3 | Industry Approved Elective | 3 | ||
| SEP 272 (GEF 8) | 3 | Elective or Minor Course | 3 | ||
| GEF 2 | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 16 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| BCOR 370 or 350 | 3 | SM 375 (GEF 7) | 3 | SM 516 | 3 |
| SM 340 | 3 | SM 486 | 3 | SM 586 | 3 |
| SM 345 | 2 | Industry Approved Elective | 3 | SM 590 | 1 |
| SM 425 | 3 | Elective or Minor Course | 6 | Elective or Minor Course | 2 |
| Elective or Minor Course | 3 | ||||
| 14 | 15 | 9 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| SM 387 | 3 | SM 527 | 3 | SM 535 | 3 |
| SM 491 | 3 | SM 540 | 3 | SM 570 | 3 |
| SM 546 | 3 | SM 590 | 1 | SM 580 | 3 |
| SM 575 | 3 | Elective or Minor Courses | 8 | ||
| SM 590 | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 15 | 9 | |||
| Total credit hours: 139 | |||||
Program Learning Outcomes
Sport Management
The goal of the program is for students to graduate with the essential skills and knowledge necessary to prepare them for immediately entry into a career in the field of sport management.
- 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.