Master of Science in Sports Management

This course is an introduction to sports-related legal issues and concepts. Its focus is on providing an overview of the major legal issues associated with sports, sports management, and the sports industry. Students will conduct research, read, and write on issues associated with the sports legal industry. Topics include but are not limited to discrimination, legislation, regulation and rights, competition, contract, labor, tort and trademark law, and administrative, antitrust and constitutional law.

This course is a study of theories and practices in sports and health sciences research. It focuses on theoretical and methodological approaches to the study and research of contemporary sports and health issues. The course teaches the student to design their own empirical research, and evaluate the research of others. It begins with an introduction to the field of sports and health science research. It then concentrates on teaching the details of health science research design. The course takes the student step-by-step through qualitative, comparative, and quantitative research design and analysis methods.

Students in this course will use analytical techniques to examine the theoretical, historical, social, and cultural aspects of sport. For the historical aspect, they will explore sociological issues over the ages from ancient times through to modern times. Students will discuss how sport and human life intermix in relation to cultural aspects. In addition, several issues of the social context will be identified and discussed with an emphasis on the philosophical, physical, religious, and other contemporary topics in sport.

This course is a study of the sports industry across all of its disciplines, functions, economics, leaders, and organizations. It is a macro view of sports as a major component of the modern corporate, social, economic, and recreation world. The industry is studied in detail in many different aspects as it exists in society. Key aspects of the sports industry history, contemporary situation, and future outlook are addressed.

This course focuses on the marketing, promotions, public relations, and communications involved in the multi-billion dollar sports industry. The course provides research, case analysis, and other opportunities to learn of the effective principles, theories, practices, and methods involved with all aspects of sports communications.

The main thrust of this course is the application of principles and practices of financial management, as it applies to organizations in the sport industry. This course seeks to develop the financial skills necessary to gain an understanding of an array of financial concepts that impact sport managers. Students will examine financial strategies related to sport entities and organizations and will be introduced to current economic and financial issues that impact the sport industry. Included in the course are the basics of accounting, budgets and budgeting systems, performance measures creation, and financial statement evaluation for the purpose of cost analysis and planning. Other topics include budget development, funding, capital projects, economic impact, and supply and demand in the sport industry.

This course examines contemporary and productive management principles and concepts used throughout the sports industry and various sport organizations. Through this course, students will learn skills related to creative problem solving and strategic planning, while developing the skills to lead, organize, and delegate in managerial and leadership positions.

Sports broadcasting involves a variety of applications from writing and interviewing skills to on-air performance. This course covers the impact of mass media in sports and explores fundamental skills needed to succeed in sports broadcasting. Students will learn how to find a story, how to tell a story, professional etiquette, and how to do play-by-play announcing. Students will have opportunities to announce on the university’s internet radio station and examine how to implement live webcasting from any sports venue.

Students in this course will explore principles, techniques, and process related to the management of college athletics. It is important in today's dynamic environment of collegiate athletics that students employ effective leadership and management principles. Through analyzing case studies, students will demonstrate problem solving related to handling athletic personnel and program issues. Studying collegiate athletic administration involves interpreting NCAA By-laws, including a comparison between division I, II, and III compliance regulations. To ensure readiness for athletic management, students will evaluate the duties of an athletic director and create a strategic plan for an athletic department, including a mission statement and comprehensive budget. Lastly, students will determine the critical steps to getting hired in collegiate athletics. Students will also prepare a portfolio, including an application letter and resume customized for applying for a position in athletic administration at the collegiate level

This course is a study of one of the most complex professions in secondary education – high school athletic administration. The topics include leadership and management roles in sports/athletic administration, high school sports finance and budgeting, student-athlete issues, association regulations and guidelines, and other issues focused on the array of sports disciplines, coaches, and programs at the high school level.

Students in this course will learn what it takes to be a successful leader in the coaching profession. Leadership involves one or more people influencing others in effort to achieve a common goal; coaching leadership focuses on the playing arena. Students will learn strategies to effectively communicate with their players, fellow coaches, parents, administrators and other constituents who impact their program. Coaches need to be able to think on their feet, make decisions under stressful situations, while always keeping the needs of their players and team foremost in their mind. Motivation, management and creative problem solving are critical to successful coaching leadership. Students will compare and contrast how some of the most successful coaches in the business have created their formulas for success; looking at common themes of successful coaches while also learning the importance of incorporating one’s own personality into the process. Students will create a coaching manual that can become their personal coaching bible starting with their coaching philosophy and culminating with their goals and strategies.

Students in this course will use analytical techniques to examine coaching strategies. Methods, practices, and approaches that apply across a number of sports disciplines will be discussed. Students will study several issues related to coaching preparation. Students will research, strategize, and reflect on past, present, and future coaching strategies. Course topics will address coaching philosophy, technique, time management, character, teaching, nutrition, and physical training. Methods for learning will include critical thinking, decision making, and analytical skills necessary to form an effective coach.

This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills for designing and managing sport and recreation facilities and organizing sport events. Included in the course are topics related to planning for events and tournaments, scheduling of facilities and events, and overall management of events. Students will examine several different types of sporting events from local tournaments to the Olympics. The course will also delineate the factors involved in the planning, design and management of events while examining the social, economic and environmental impacts of sporting events on the host community. Throughout the course students are encouraged to attend and/or volunteer at sporting events to put the course knowledge in to practice.

This course focuses on the entrepreneurial opportunities in the sports industry, to include sports management, sports franchise, sports agency, and small sports business management professions and programs. The course focuses heavily on the business plan, financial, and planning issues associated with entrepreneurial and small business ventures. Students will develop their own entrepreneurial sports plan as an independent research project for this course.

This course focuses on current coaching theories, methods, practices, and outcomes. Students will consider the origin, development, and arguments surrounding the character of American sport. Topics include a study of coaching principles, practical coaching situations, great coaches and their methods, decision making in coaching, coaching ethics, and other contemporary issues in 21st century collegiate and high school coaching. Students are also exposed to the importance of computers and the Internet to today’s coaches.

This course focuses on the fundamentals roles of developing, activating, and managing sport sponsorship through sales and promotion. Through shared practical examples, this course will view how to generate ticket sales through sport promotion and how to utilize e-commerce as a promotional tool in sports.

This course will examine the various sport governing agencies and focus on identifying rules and regulations of each sport’s governing body and current issues and future trends for each governing agency. Governance of intercollegiate athletics, including legislation and bylaws associated with the NCAA will be emphasized.

Comprehensive final examinations are for students in the Master of Sciences in Sports Management which have completed all previous program requirements. The comprehensive final exam is tailored to the sports management master’s degree program and is designed to measure student understanding and knowledge acquired throughout the duration of the degree program. The comprehensive exam can only be taken after students have completed 36 hours of study (i.e. in the semester following completion of the final course) and successfully completed before the award of a degree IMP NOTE: IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU PASS THIS EXAM TO HAVE YOUR DEGREE CONFERRED. IT MUST BE PASSED BY THE END OF THE COURSE SEMESTER. IF YOU DO NOT TAKE THE COMP EXAM BY THE END OF THE COURSE, YOU WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE FOR THE EXAM, WHICH CAN NOT BE REPLACED BY A RETAKE.