Master of Science in Sports Management

This course is an introduction to sports-related legal issues and concepts. Its focus is on providing an overview of the major legal issues associated with sports, sports management, and the sports industry. Students will conduct research, read, and write on issues associated with the sports legal industry. Topics include but are not limited to discrimination, legislation, regulation and rights, competition, contract, labor, tort and trademark law, and administrative, antitrust and constitutional law.

This course is a study of theories and practices in sports and health sciences research. It focuses on theoretical and methodological approaches to the study and research of contemporary sports and health issues. The course teaches the student to design their own empirical research, and evaluate the research of others. It begins with an introduction to the field of sports and health science research. It then concentrates on teaching the details of health science research design. The course takes the student step-by-step through qualitative, comparative, and quantitative research design and analysis methods.

This course focuses on the theoretical, historical, principles, social, and cultural aspects of sport. Covering the issue through the ages from ancient through modern times, the fundamental issues of sport in human life are addressed. Topics include philosophical, physical, religious, and other aspects of sport.

This course is a study of the sports industry across all of its disciplines, functions, economics, leaders, and organizations. It is a macro view of sports as a major component of the modern corporate, social, economic, and recreation world. The industry is studied in detail in many different aspects as it exists in society. Key aspects of the sports industry history, contemporary situation, and future outlook are addressed.

This course focuses on the marketing, promotions, public relations, and communications involved in the multi-billion dollar sports industry. The course provides research, case analysis, and other opportunities to learn of the effective principles, theories, practices, and methods involved with all aspects of sports communications.

This course is a study of the financial aspects of sports, athletics, and the sports industry. Topics include agents, contracts, sports franchise finance, sports industry finance, sports event financing, financial/legal issues, among others.

This course examines contemporary and productive management principles and concepts used throughout the sports industry and various sport organizations. Through this course, students will learn skills related to creative problem solving and strategic planning, while developing the skills to lead, organize, and delegate in managerial and leadership positions.

This course is a study of one of the most complex professions in higher education – college sports administration. The topics include leadership and management roles in sports administration, college sports finance and budgeting, student-athlete issues, association regulations and guidelines, and other issues focused on the array of sports disciplines, coaches, and programs at the collegiate level.

This course is a study of one of the most complex professions in secondary education – high school athletic administration. The topics include leadership and management roles in sports/athletic administration, high school sports finance and budgeting, student-athlete issues, association regulations and guidelines, and other issues focused on the array of sports disciplines, coaches, and programs at the high school level.

This course is a study of the leadership, management, finances, politics, human resources, legal, and other issues associated with community and other local level sports and recreation programs. The course includes discussion of societal, aesthetic, economic, and other aspects of local sports and recreation programs.

This course focuses on the coaching strategies, methods, practices, and approaches that apply across a number of sports disciplines. Topics include study of coaching preparation, research, tactics and strategy, and reflection. Course methods include critical thinking, decision making, and analytical skills necessary to form a great coach.

This course focuses on sports event management, to include legal, financial, promotions, public relations, leadership, and human resources associated with events management across a number of sports disciplines, to include professional and amateur events.

This course focuses on the entrepreneurial opportunities in the sports industry, to include sports management, sports franchise, sports agency, and small sports business management professions and programs. The course focuses heavily on the business plan, financial, and planning issues associated with entrepreneurial and small business ventures. Students will develop their own entrepreneurial sports plan as an independent research project for this course.

This course focuses on the major coaching theories, methods, practices, and outcomes. Topics include study of first principles in coaching, coaching cases and analyses, great coaches, coaching decision making, and other contemporary issues.

This course focuses on the fundamentals roles of developing, activating, and managing sport sponsorship through sales and promotion. Through shared practical examples, this course will view how to generate ticket sales through sport promotion and how to utilize e-commerce as a promotional tool in sports.

This course will examine the various sport governing agencies and focus on identifying rules and regulations of each sport’s governing body and current issues and future trends for each governing agency. Governance of intercollegiate athletics, including legislation and bylaws associated with the NCAA will be emphasized.

Comprehensive final examination for students in the Master of Arts in Sports Management program. The "Comprehensive Final Exam" is tailored specifically to each program and must be taken after students have completed 36 hours of study (i.e. during the semester following the final course) and successfully completed before the award of a degree.