Master of Science in Sport Management

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/