Master's Programs

Sport Management (SM)

The on-campus M.S. program in Sport Management prepares graduate students to compete in the global job market as industry leaders. This unique curriculum features courses that provide real-world training in athletics compliance and sport finance. The program’s extensive alumni network represents a signature feature. Its alumni have made significant contributions in a variety of areas including intercollegiate athletics, professional sports, facilities and arenas, event marketing and promotions, business law, as well as other sport businesses.

Students complete 36 credit hours, including a 6-hour internship in this plan of study. Past internship experiences have included marketing research and data-mining consultant experiences for the Charlotte Bobcats, Memphis Grizzlies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Capitals. A dual degree option between the on-campus M.S. in Sport Management and M.B.A. program is also available, allowing students to earn both degrees in two years. Students may complete the degree in one calendar year, but two years is the most popular time-frame for those who receive a graduate assistantship. A range of teaching, research, and service oriented graduate assistantships are available covering tuition waiver and stipend.

What our alumni have to say:

"Without question my degree in the WVU Graduate Sport Management program allowed me the opportunity to get started in the golf business. Without this degree I would not have been able to secure the internship that provided a spring board into the business. This degree commands respect in the sport industry and I would not be where I am today without it. "

Geoff L.

M.S. SM, 1996
"The network and relevant work experience gained while in WVU Graduate Sport Management Program were the perfect foundation to propel me toward my career goals in intercollegiate athletics. Years later, I continue to draw on my valuable time at WVU."

Rob M.

M.S. SM, 1993
"I would not be where I am today without the WVU Sport Management Graduate Program. I was able to gain valuable education and work experience and make contacts within the industry which directly led to me landing my first full-time position in professional sports."

Kirk M.

M.S. SM, 2008

Coursework

What you'll study

The on-campus sport management master’s program requires 36 credit hours. This includes required sport management classes and a six-hour internship. The program provides students with invaluable professional experiences working on real-world problems.

Professional Courses

The internship is designed for the student to gain valuable, practical experience in the sport industry. This hands-on work experience provides personal growth, development and knowledge unattainable in the classroom while enhancing the student’s job marketability. Host organizations will evaluate the intern as he/she gains invaluable professional experience.

MBA-MS in Sport Management Dual Degree

By coordinating the programs of study in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and the Master of Science in Sport Management (MS) via the dual MBA/MS degree, students can obtain both an MBA and an MS in Sport Management degree in 63 credit hours. Taken independently, these two graduate degrees would normally consist of 84 credit hours. However, by coordinating the programs of study, students can receive both degrees in 21 fewer credit hours.

Who you'll learn from

Cindy Lee
Professional Highlights
- Worked as a sport marketer during 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup
- Participated in organizing the 2001 World Taekwondo Championship
Floyd Jones
Professional Highlights
- Provided leadership to design and develop Blended Sport Management Master's Program into one of the most impressive, high quality, high placement rate, graduate programs in the University.
- Built Collaborations with multiple international partners, including, Venezuela, Cayman Island, Canada, Africa, Europe.
- Designed an active International Sport Management Consortium comprised of multiple US partners, and collaborators.
- Created a Partnership with Rural WV and Urban Regional Community Based Partners to bring over 300 at risk students to the campus every fall for a career exploration and Big 12 football game.
- Created a Community Based Summer time learning model that has won National awards and has been implemented in many communities throughout WV. "Project YES"
Gary J. Lhotsky
Professional Highlights
- Eleven years of professional experience in collegiate athletic facility and event management at Florida State University, Florida International University, and the University of Miami.
- Extensive experience planning and hosting NCAA, ACC, Big East, TAAC, and FHSA championships.
Gonzalo Bravo
Professional Highlights
- In 2016, Bravo completed a sabbatical semester in Brazil and from 2014 to 2017 he was a visiting scholar at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center of Latin American Studies.
- Visiting professor at the Research Center for Sport, Leisure and Society at Universidade Federal Do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
- Co-editor of three books: International Sport Management (Human Kinetics, 2012), Sport in Latin America. Policy, Organization, Management (Routledge, 2016), and Sport Mega-Events in Emerging Economies (Palgrave, 2018).

Beyond The Classroom

Field Experiences and Research

Internship Opportunities

The internship is designed for the student to gain valuable, practical experience under the supervision of a practitioner in the sport industry. This hands-on work experience provides personal growth, development and knowledge unattainable in the classroom. Many students also apply for and receive graduate assistantships to help fund their graduate education.

The internship enhances the student’s job marketability, as host organizations evaluate a potential future employee as the intern gains invaluable professional experience. Compensation and duration of the internship are negotiable, depending upon the particular needs of the host organization.

Internship FAQ

Example Internship Experiences

The following organizations are among many who have made internship positions available to WVU Graduate Sport Management Program students:

College Athletics
- Arizona State
- Boston College
- Campbell
- George Mason
- Georgia Tech Athletic Association
Sports Businesses
- Burns Sports @ Celebrities
- Comcast -Spectacor
- Disney Sports
- Edelman PR Worldwide
- ESPN
Professional Sports
- Akron Aeros
- Buffalo Bisons
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Indians
- Colorado Rockies
- WV Black Bears
See more examples

Graduate Assistantships

The WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences and many WVU campus departments offer various graduate assistantship opportunities to Graduate Sport Management students. In any given year, many students in the master’s degree program are awarded a graduate assistantship. These assistantships vary, from WVU Athletics, the WVU Student Recreation Center, University Advising Center, to Teaching Assistantships in the College’s Basic Instruction Program (BIP).

In addition to Graduate Assistantships, the Graduate Program is awarded Meritorious Tuition Waiver hours to be distributed to those students not receiving a GA. These tuition waiver hours are provided based on need and availability.

Several Graduate Assistantships are offered throughout the administrative areas of the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, including facility management and operations, sports marketing, sports communications, sports information, athletic compliance, athletic business and finance, and senior women’s administration.

See full list of assistantships

For additional information regarding graduate assistantships

WVU Financial Aid Services
(304) 293-5242
http://financialaid.wvu.edu/

Career Preparation

After Graduation

Graduates from this program have been extremely successful in gaining entry into the sport industry. Our alumni maintain a strong connection to the program and often serve as mentors to current students.

Example employers and job titles of graduates

Morgan B. ('13)—Group Sales Manager, Chattanooga Lookouts baseball, Chattanooga, TN
Micah C. ('11)—Sports Information Director, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester, NY
Keli C. ('11)—Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Governance, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Jesse H. ('13)—Sales Development, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland, OH
Abby N. ('13)—Assistant Director for Donor Stewardship and Administration, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX

How To Apply

The Admission Process

How to apply

Prospective students should apply online to the Office of Graduate Admissions. All application material must be submitted electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions by December 15.

A complete application consists of:

Current resume
Professional goal statement: 2 written pages on the applicant’s background and experience, involvement in sport-related associations, and career interests
Two letters of recommendation
On-campus or online interview for those invited

Prerequisites and requirements

Minimum admission requirements to the On-Campus Sport Management Master’s Degree Program:

Bachelor’s degree
Overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75
No GRE scores required

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English language proficiency. WVU accepts either the TOEFL or the IELTS for this purpose. Learn more about our English language proficiency requirements .

The previously listed materials are submitted online as part of the WVU Graduate Admission Application. Applicants must submit their official copies of transcripts and test scores directly to the WVU Office of Admissions, PO Box 6009, Morgantown, WV 26506.

All graduate students must achieve and maintain a 3.0 GPA or better (4-point scale) prior to graduation.

Additional program admission information

Admission application form deadline: December 15

The selection process

As a final phase in the selection process, select applicants will be invited for personal or telephone interviews. The final selection of students will be based on the applicant’s overall qualifications and relevant experiences. The interviewing committee selects candidates who will make a significant contribution to the field of sport management.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance and graduate assistantships

The WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, and many WVU campus departments offer various graduate assistantship opportunities to Graduate Sport Management students each year. In any given year, most students in the master’s degree program are awarded one of these graduate assistantships.

See a full list of assistantships

If you need additional information regarding these opportunities or other financial assistance available for graduate students, please contact:

WVU Financial Aid Services
(304) 293-5242
http://financialaid.wvu.edu/

Featured Scholarship

Jerry P. Wilkins Scholarship for Leaders

Jerry P. Wilkins was president of the 2001-2002 graduate sport management class. Tragically, he was killed at the hands of a fellow WVU student on February 2, 2002. In his honor, the graduate sport management program established this scholarship award to continue his legacy of compassion, leadership, and wisdom.

The award will go to a deserving minority student who has been admitted to and accepts enrollment into the graduate sport management program. The student should exemplify outstanding leadership ability as well as demonstrate a commitment to enriching other people’s lives through community service. Read more about this scholarship

See full list of scholarships

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