Many of the careers in sport management, particularly those in intercollegiate athletics and sport analytics, require a master’s degree.  A master’s in sport management with an option of an Intercollegiate Athletic Management or Sport Analytics concentration fills a current gap in educational offerings for students pursuing advanced degrees in the discipline. The interdisciplinary nature of sport management makes it possible to support students from multiple academic backgrounds who wish to advance their careers in the sport industry. The program supports students who achieved an undergraduate degree in sport management that want to further their education beyond the general curriculum and pursue a specific focus more relevant to their sector of sport.  Likewise, the program supports students who do not have an undergraduate degree in sport management but are looking to extend their knowledge to advance their careers in the sport industry.

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For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.

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While the program prepares students to serve in a variety of sectors, the program focuses specifically on two emerging areas in the discipline: Intercollegiate Athletics Administration and Sport Analytics. The program consists of seven foundational courses that cover numerous aspects critical for the administration of sport programs. Students will also select four electives with an option to take the courses in a concentration or combine electives across concentrations. The concentration in Intercollegiate Athletic Administration focuses on sport administration in a higher education context. The Sport Analytics concentration prepares students to apply data science to problems facing sport organizations. The academic experience will culminate with a comprehensive exam and a three credit experiential learning course.
 
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Career Opportunities

Link to Additional Career Information:
https://www.buzzfile.com/Major/Sports-Management External Resource

Program Location

Online

Method of Delivery

Fully Online Only

Accreditation

The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Credit and transfer

Total semester hours required: 36
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.

Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.                

This program is offered entirely online. Though a student may choose to sign-up for a face-to-face elective or core course, one can earn this degree completely online.

Save money

UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited university of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen. In addition, online courses and programs can mean a huge cost-savings in many non-evident ways: No more high gas charges. No childcare needed. The flexibility can allow one to maintain a job while attending school. Regardless of state residency, out-of-state non-resident students are not charged non-resident tuition for online course credit hours.

Details

  • Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
  • The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
  • Face-to-Face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
  • Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
  • Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
  • One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, they will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
  • For the cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website

There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.

General

Program Sheet

This course examines historical and contemporary issues in sport. The course focuses on the context in which sport administrators will function and the place that sport holds in society and as a social phenomenon. The course leads students to critically examine their own socialization to sport and develop their own perspective for effectively conducting the business of sport.

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This course is designed to provide comprehensive coverage of the many traditional sources of revenue available to sport properties. In addition, students will be encouraged to think entrepreneurially to foster the development of new platforms for revenue acquisition. Some of the topics to be covered include fundraising, ticket sales, licensing, and sponsorships.

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This course examines legal issues associated with the operation of sport properties. Some of the topics to be covered include tort liability, labor relations, contracts, agency law, discrimination, and intellectual property law. In addition, students will explore the organizational structure of the American court system, judicial process, and how to conduct legal research. The goal of the course is for students to develop managerial thinking that is both deferent to current legal issues and proactive in mitigating risk.

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This course offers advanced study of managerial functions and concepts of sport organizations. Specifically, students will understand management principles and leadership theories. These topics include management tasks and responsibilities, organizational goals and structures, leadership, power and politics, ethics, culture, and decision-making in organization.

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This course presents advanced methodological approaches for engaging in data-driven decision-making. Students will gain experience conducting sport research and learn best practices for developing and executing assessment plans for sport organizations. Students will employ data collection, analysis, and reporting tactics to assess outcomes to meet organization goals.

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This course provides approaches for leveraging products and services on the sport marketplace. Ticket sales operations, marketing strategies, and fan engagement are among the topics central to understanding sport consumers. Students will learn best practices in developing sales and marketing strategic plans and how analytics are used in forecasting consumer behavior.

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This course explores the ways in which sport organizations utilize technology and digital platforms to create, disseminate, and manage information. Students will develop proficiency in communicating with multiple audiences across varying platforms and implement strategic communication plans. Students will also examine how technological advancements shape the way sport organizations communicate with stakeholders.

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This course provides an overview of the inner-workings of an athletic department in a higher education setting. Students will study various models of intercollegiate athletic governance and the multiple units within the athletic department including academics, eligibility, business and finance, media relations, development, and student support services.

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This course provides an overview of the major college student development models and explores specifically how development theories are applied to student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics. Students will learn foundational theories, integrative theories, and social identity development concepts to address the developmental challenges facing college athletes and identify areas of support for this population of college students.

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This course will help students understand the regulations involving compliance and eligibility of intercollegiate athletes. Although multiple governing bodies will be examined, the primary focus will be on National Collegiate Athletic Association compliance regulations in all three divisions. Students will learn best practices for monitoring eligibility and effective methods for ensuring athletic administration compliance with institutional, conference, and national association regulations.

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Students will learn procedures for planning and operating athletic competitions, championships, and tournaments. Topics include staffing, facility and venue management, the bid process, and sponsorship activation.

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This course covers fundamental principles of analytics applied to sports. In this course, students will be introduced to mathematical and statistical concepts and learn basic programming and coding skills to analyze sport-related data. Students will learn how to handle, code, and analyze large amounts of sport-related data. Specific course topics include the application of analytics in sports related to player performance, team management, operations, marketing, finances, fantasy sports, eSports, among other topics.

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This course covers statistical and mathematical concepts, applications, and models related to administration, marketing, and business management. The course gives students an opportunity to work with data relating to sports business tactics and strategy. Students will employ modeling methods in marketing communications, ticket pricing, sponsorship, market segmentation, and customer relationship marketing. This is a project-based course. Students will be involved in applying sport analytics concepts to solve sport business problems.

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This course is designed to help students to develop and apply analytical skills (e.g., statistical analysis, predictive analytics, mathematical modeling, critical thinking, game theory, simulation) that are useful in sport business. The course content will cover topics such as data management, statistical data analysis, modeling, and decision making in various sports settings. Students will learn the ability to recognize, formulate, and analyze decision-making situations in sports as well as learn principles in sports performance analytics.

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This course introduces the network analysis as a research method to explore organizational/community structures and identify online/offline communication patterns. Students will learn key theories and measurements in the network analysis, master commonly-used procedures of data collection, and analyze and interpret real-world data sets.

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This course provides an intensive survey of relevant research and professional practices in sport management. The course emphasizes practical issues related to planning, conducting, and interpreting sport related research. Students will learn advanced skills to evaluate, conduct, and present research findings.

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This is a culminating experiential learning experience of the Sport Management Master s program. The Capstone course must be completed in the student s final term prior to graduation. Students will complete a professional or research project that integrates content and skills acquired in the core and concentration courses.

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This course allows students to explore in depth a variety of significant issues facing sport managers. It provides the opportunity to offer course content and topics that may not be covered by other course titles. Titles and descriptions of specific courses will be identified at the time of offering. This course may be repeated. Students may earn a maximum of 6 credits of special topics electives to count toward the degree requirement.

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Wooyoung (William) Jang, Ph.D.

Wooyoung (William) Jang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Su Jara-Pazmino, Ph.D.

Su Jara-Pazmino, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Brian Mosier, Ph.D.

Brian Mosier, Ph.D.

Interim Executive Director

Young Ik Suh, Ph.D.

Young Ik Suh, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Guidelines for Admittance

  • All graduate applicants must complete the online Grad Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
  • Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
  • International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
  • Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited institution are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.

Program Specific Admittance Guidelines

Admission to this program requires the following:

  • Official transcripts from all institutions attended
  • An undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or higher
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume/CV
  • Two letters of recommendation (i.e. employer, faculty member)

Application Deadlines

Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School

* Application, app fee, and document deadline

See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.

Admission Process Checklist

The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here

One exception: If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request.

Contact

Graduate Admissions
graduate@westga.edu
678-839-1394

Sport Management, Wellness, and Physical Education
Dr. Su Jara-Pazmino
epazmino@westga.edu
678-839-6191

Specific dates for Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.

Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School

At the conclusion of the program, students who have successfully passed and actively engaged in the coursework will:
  1. Identify and apply key concepts in the core areas of sport management including management, sales, marketing, communication, sport law, risk management, and finance.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to use research to address the social, political, and human development issues associated with sport participation and administration.
  3. Demonstrate proficiency in professional writing and presenting information to an audience of stakeholders.
  4. Use critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills to collect, analyze, and evaluate data to develop strategies and solve complex problems in the sport industry.