Program Description
The Department of Marketing, MIS, and Entrepreneurship offers a Master of Science degree in Sport Administration. The degree program offers areas of emphasis in Sport Management or Recreation and Physical Activity. Graduates of this program are prepared to work in a variety of settings. Graduates are prepared to become reflective, principled, knowledgeable, and creative employees who will succeed in the global sports business community in the 21st century. Sports are a major provider of high dollar entertainment which makes the industry very business oriented. Due to the economic size of the sports industry, the demand for higher educated sports managers is at an all-time high. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Employment of entertainment and sports occupations is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Students with an MS degree in Sport Administration from Marshall University will be prepared for positions such as:
- Athletic Directors
- Sports Marketing Manager
- Sports Information Director
- Ticket Sales Promotion
- Facility Management
- Youth Sports Community Parks & Recreation
Program Requirements
If the thesis option is selected, the student must complete 32 hours, of which six hours are for the thesis. The non-thesis option requires the completion of 36 hours. However, both options require the successful passing of an oral comprehensive examination or thesis defense.
Plan of Study
Non-Thesis Option
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| STHM 615 Legal Concerns in STHM | 3 |
| STHM 652 Organizational Behavior Sports Leisure Industry | 3 |
| STHM 674 Sport Finance Economics | 3 |
| STHM 675 MKT MGT of Sport Industry | 3 |
| STHM 671 Research in Sports Studies | 3 |
| Statistics: Select one of the following: EDF 676 Statistical Methods, MGT 601 Quant Methods-Business, PH 621 Statistical Methods I, PSY 517 Inter Behavioral Stat, STHM 552 Sports Analytics | 3 |
| STHM 660 Internship | 3-6 |
| Area of Emphasis (students must choose one) | 12-15 |
|
Sport Management Students will complete 6-9 hours of STHM restricted electives and 6 hours of graduate courses from Brad D. Smith Schools of Business or selected courses with the approval of advisor. STHM restricted elective courses include any of the following STHM classes: STHM 505, 511, 516, 525, 530, 540, 575, 624, 643, and 696, etc. |
|
|
Recreation and Physical Activity Students will complete 12-15 hours of STHM restricted electives or selected courses with the approval of advisor. STHM restricted elective courses include any of the following STHM classes: STHM 505, 511, 516, 525, 530, 540, 575, 624, 643, and 696, etc. |
|
| Total Credit Hours | 36 |
Thesis Option
| Course | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| STHM 615 Legal Concerns in STHM | 3 |
| STHM 652 Organizational Behavior Sport Leisure Industry | 3 |
| STHM 674 Sport Finance Economics | 3 |
| STHM 675 MKT MGT of Sport Industry | 3 |
| STHM 681 Thesis | 3 |
| STHM 671 Research in Sports Studies | 3 |
| Statistics: Select one of the following: EDF 676 Statistical Methods, MGT 601 Quant Methods-Business, PH 621 Statistical Methods I, PSY 517 Inter Behavioral Stat, STHM 552 Sports Analytics | 3 |
| Restricted Electives: Students will complete 8 hours of selected courses with the approval of advisor. | 8 |
| Total Credit Hours | 32 |
Admission Requirements
Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website at http://www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.
For Full Admission
(submit all materials directly to Graduate Admissions office):
Option 1:
- An undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work;
Option 2:
- An undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work; and
- At least a 295 combined score on verbal and quantitative reasoning on the GRE or at least 500 on the GMAT.
A limited number of students may be admitted provisionally (see definition of Provisional Admission in this catalog):
- An undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work;
- At least a 285 combined score on verbal and quantitative reasoning on the GRE or at least 450 on the GMAT.
