Wichita State University has received specialized accreditation for its bachelor’s and master’s sport management programs through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA).

Wichita State is one of just nine universities in the world with COSMA-accredited programs, and it is the only institution west of the Mississippi River to be so accredited.

WSU sport management alumni work in varied sport settings, including professional sport, college athletics, sport service providers and the sporting goods industry. In major level pro sports, the department has placed interns or graduates with 13 NBA, 11 NFL and 10 MLB franchises.

WSU is a charter member of COSMA. To be accredited, the university submitted a detailed self-study addressing eight principles COSMA has identified as characterizing excellence in sport management programs. A site visit team from COSMA visited the WSU campus in January, and the COSMA Board of Commissioners issued its accreditation decision in May. WSU’s accreditation status is valid through June 2019.

“We are very pleased to have achieved COSMA accreditation,” said Clay Stoldt, department chair. “As with most major accomplishments, this was a team effort, and we deeply appreciate the faculty, staff, students, alumni and community professionals who assisted us in this process. We have so many great things happening in and around our programs. It’s really gratifying to be among the first universities to receive this type of recognition.”

Wichita State had previously received certification of its programs’ quality when the degrees were approved by the Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC) in 2000. As the field of sport management grew, SMPRC was superseded by COSMA, which features a more rigorous set of principles and review processes.

WSU’s Department of Sport Management was established in 2008 and is housed within the College of Education. Its mission is to develop students into well-educated, ethical, competent sport management professionals. The department’s teaching, research and service activities occur in a positive learning environment valuing both theory and practice. WSU has 131 undergraduate and 63 master’s level sport management majors.

Three other university sport management programs received accreditation: Ohio University, Winthrop University and York College of Pennsylvania.