Master in Sport Management

About

As it continues to expand, the sport industry provides opportunities in many different areas, such as business, facility and event management, marketing and promotion, field research and more. The Sport Management faculty members have developed, and continue to develop, relationships with many successful alumni who provide professional experience for our students in various forms (graduate assistantships, internship/volunteer partnerships, class/conference speakers, etc.).

The master’s degree in Sport Management is designed to prepare you for leadership roles in the sport industry. You can choose between a thesis track and a non-thesis track. In the thesis track, students learn more about the research process and focus in-depth on a particular topic about the sport industry. Those seeking to develop particular expertise in a certain topic area and/or those with the future goal of pursuing doctoral studies are encouraged to apply for the thesis track. Individuals must complete the approval process noted in the department’s Graduate Handbook to be eligible for the thesis track.

In the non-thesis track, you will have the opportunity to complete additional course work focusing on your specific interests, and you will also complete practical experience. Practical experiences, or internships, provide you with the opportunity to apply the knowledge you have learned in “real-life” settings, and to experience working in the sport industry.

In addition to the thesis and non-thesis tracks, we have a joint program leading to a Sport Management and Law degree.

Admission Requirements

In order to meet minimum University admission requirements, an applicant must have:

• For application to the master’s degree program: A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
• For application to the doctoral degree program: A master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA – An earned master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree.
• TOEFL test– Language proficiency test for international students. FSU accepts scores from TOEFL (minimum 80) and IELTS (minimum 6.5).
• Transcripts– Applicants must submit an official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college and/or university attended to the Office of Admissions:

Florida State University
Office of Admissions
282 Champions Way
P.O. Box 3062400
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2400
USA

In order to meet the Department of Sport Management admission requirements, an applicant must have:

• Valid Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Successful applicants to the master’s program should score at or above the 42nd percentile on the Verbal portion of the exam, at or above the 36th percentile on the Quantitative portion, and 4 or higher on the Analytical Writing portion. Successful applicants to the doctoral program should score at or above the 50th percentile on the Verbal portion of the exam, at or above the 50th percentile on the Quantitative portion, and 4 or higher on the Analytical Writing portion.
• A statement of purpose explaining an individual’s reasoning for pursuing a graduate degree in general, and interest in the FSU Sport Management program specifically. Applicants to the doctoral program are also expected to include information about their prospective research interests, and prospective fit within the program.
• A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to speak to an applicant’s ability to complete graduate work. Applicants are encouraged to have at least two letters from professors.
• A current resume or vitae documenting an applicant’s educational, employment, volunteer, and other notable activities.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Admission – June 17th
• Spring Admission – October 18th
• Summer Admission – February 11th

Career Opportunities

The sport industry has many opportunities for bachelor’s and master’s degree graduates interested in professional sports, college or high school sports, elite amateur athletics, community sport programming, sport in the corporate sector and sport for development – just to name a few. As the sport industry continues to grow, new career opportunities are becoming available in areas such as business, recreation, facility, and event management. Sport professionals find themselves in a unique and rewarding industry that crosses paths with many other industries.

The Doctoral degree in Sport Management has been designed to prepare individuals for employment in universities, in the sport industry, or various leadership positions in a variety of settings. Leadership positions may include private businesses, professional and college athletics, or administration in higher education. Sport as a topic of study involves much more than understanding the games people play. Sport Management as a field of study includes the delivery of sport, the place of sport in society, and the connection people form with sports and athletes. Students are provided the training and resources to conduct both theoretical and applied studies and have the opportunity to take courses in several content areas.