Program Overview
Location: 100% Online
App. Deadline: Aug. 1, Dec. 15
Pre-Requisites: None
Time to Complete: 12 months - 30 hours
Full-Time or Part-Time
Flexible program designed for working professionals
A Flexible Online Program for Working Professionals
Our Master of Science in Sport Management (MSSM) is a fully online program offered
by WCU’s College of Business, and includes a certificate in Project Management.
Our degree is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to understand
the business of sports, whether you are already working in the sport industry or you
are seeking to launch a new career. You’ll learn how to administer programs, manage
people and organizations, and plan and execute special and ongoing projects.
The program is designed to maximize flexibility in scheduling. All courses are online
and there are no pre-requisites. The program can be completed in one year on a full
time schedule, and within two years on a part time schedule. There is no minimum course
load required, but all graduate degrees must be completed within six years.
All sport management faculty hold terminal degrees in the field from accredited institutions,
and each faculty member has professional experience working in the sport industry.
In addition, faculty have been recognized for teaching excellence and have distinguished
themselves in scholarship. Beyond the classroom, faculty members work in community
service and are active in professional organizations.
Virtual Open House
Wednesday, February 12: 5-6:30pm
Join us at one of our upcoming virtual Graduate School Open House events on Zoom! You'll have the opportunity to learn more
about Western Carolina University, understand the Graduate School application process,
and meet key program representatives.
Register Today
Prospective graduate students must hold an undergraduate degree from a regionally
accredited college or university. Applicants must apply online through the Graduate School at WCU. Completed applications should include:
- Transcript showing an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited US institution
of higher learning (3.0 GPA recommended)
- Resume
- A 500 word essay including professional aspirations and a discussion of a current
issue in the sport management field that is related to the applicants career goals.
Research used to support your response should be cited according to APA.
- Two letters of recommendation
While not required, applicants who wish to strengthen their applications may submit
GRE or GMAT scores.
The M.S. in Sport Management requires 30 semester hours and includes a certificate
in Project Management. Courses include:
Fall
- SM 620 - Sport Administration & Governance: A systematic examination of the management and governance of contemporary sport organizations
with an emphasis on organizational theory, leadership and managing diversity.
- SM 630 - Economics & Financial Aspects of Sport: Advanced financial and economic theory and sound fiscal principles specific to the
sport industry.
- PMC 610 - Project Initiation and Planning: This course introduces the student to the principles underlying the field of project
management. It focuses on project initiation, chartering projects, and the planning
that is undertaken to carry out a project.
- PMC 620 - Project Execution and Closeout: This course introduces the student to the principles underlying the field of project
management. It focuses on project scheduling and activity estimating, budget estimating,
risk planning, project monitoring, and project closeout activities such as scope validation
and lessons learned.
- SM 684 - Sport Management Capstone*: Student may either complete an internship or a capstone project. The internship is
a full-time experiential course to be completed with a sport or sport related organization
that must last a minimum of five weeks and requires a minimum of 200 hours. The project
option for the capstone requires students to work with a sport organization to complete
a project that benefits the student’s career. The project must be approved by the
M.S. in Sport Management Program Coordinator. The Capstone course cannot be taken
until at least 6 hours of coursework in Sport Management have been completed.
Spring
- SM 640 - Sport Marketing: Basic knowledge and understanding of the theory and fundamentals of sport marketing
in the sport business industry.
- SM 615 - Critical Issues in Sport: Fundamental ethical, sociological, and legal frameworks will be discussed as well
as applicable theoretical contributions. The course will emphasize the application
of various theories to critical issues in sport by way of written responses. Teleological
and deontological ethical theories, Aristotle’s virtue ethics, Kantian ethics, Rawls
moral reasoning criteria, as well as the theories of justice will be covered. The
sociological theories will center on functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism,
and feminism. Issues of negligence, torts, Constitutional law, contracts, labor law,
intellectual property, Title IX will round out the legal focus. The above-mentioned
theories will be applied to sport-specific issues, which may include but are not limited
to: competition, the values of sport, violence, aggression, corruption, criminal activity,
performance enhancing drug use in sports, using Native Americans as mascots, sexism
in sport, amateurism and the commercialization of athletics. This course will emphasize
critical analysis, reading comprehension, debate/dialogue, by way of written analysis
and evaluation.
- PMC 630 - The Project Manager and People Skills: This course introduces the student to one of the often-overlooked skillsets that are
vital to the project manager - that of dealing with and managing people. This course
will help you gain a better understanding of the personality strengths a project manager
must possess in order to lead projects (and the teams associated with the project)
to success.
- PMC 640 - Managing Project Teams: This course introduces the student to the hardest job the project manager must undertake:
managing project teams. In this course, the student will investigate team development.
the aspects of successful teams, and how those teams can lead positive change in the
organization.
- SM 684 - Sport Management Capstone*: Student may either complete an internship or a capstone project. The internship is
a full-time experiential course to be completed with a sport or sport related organization
that must last a minimum of five weeks and requires a minimum of 200 hours. The project
option for the capstone requires students to work with a sport organization to complete
a project that benefits the student’s career. The project must be approved by the
M.S. in Sport Management Program Coordinator. The Capstone course cannot be taken
until at least 6 hours of coursework in Sport Management have been completed.
Summer
- SM 676 - Strategic Sport Communication: This course will provide for an in-depth examination of the areas of sport communication
at both the micro and macro levels. There will be an emphasis on industry and current
trends. A historical analysis, evolution and convergence of traditional and new media,
including social media will covered. Additional topics that will be examined include
crisis communication, public relations, the use of data analytics and marketing in
sport communication, meeting sport fan and consumer needs, legal concerns, and the
impact of sociocultural issues in the media.
- SM 684 - Sport Management Capstone*: Student may either complete an internship or a capstone project. The internship is
a full-time experiential course to be completed with a sport or sport related organization
that must last a minimum of five weeks and requires a minimum of 200 hours. The project
option for the capstone requires students to work with a sport organization to complete
a project that benefits the student’s career. The project must be approved by the
M.S. in Sport Management Program Coordinator. The Capstone course cannot be taken
until at least 6 hours of coursework in Sport Management have been completed.
*SM 684 is offered every semester, but should only be completed once during the program,
after at least 6 hours of coursework. Students will either complete an internship
or capstone project.
Although tuition and fees tend to change from year to year, in-state students are
expected to be able to finish the M.S. in Sport Management for less than $10,000.
Out-of-state and international students can expect to finish the program for less
than $30,000. There are special rates for those who are out of state and using military
benefits.
Distance Tuition Rates
WCU has limited scholarship options for graduate students. University scholarship applications are due via an online portal by August 1. The university offers a payment plan through
an external vendor, and students can apply for federal loans through FAFSA.gov. For
assistance with the FAFSA application, students can contact the Financial Aid Office
at 828.227.7290.
Looking for more information about WCU's MSSM Program? Click the link below to gain
access to the online brochure.
https://cobgrad.wcu.edu/sport-management-degree/
Request more info!