Sport Management Graduate Program Overview
Wichita State's sport management degree provides students with a quality curriculum including courses such as management in sport, sport marketing, and sport law. Students pursuing the Master of Education in Sport Management degree gain academic and practical preparation for careers in the management of sport entertainment, sport participation and sporting goods organizations. Graduates of this program work in a variety of sport settings including intercollegiate athletics, major league and minor league professional sports, fitness, recreation, and specialized sport businesses. The department is committed to a process of strategic growth and impactful curricular and applied programming. See our Graduate Enrollment Management plan for more information.
WSU's Master of Education in Sport Management has received specialized accreditation from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Program Basics
- Program is 30 credit hours
- Average class size: 20 - 25
- Semester long internship required (SMGT 847 [6 credit hours] requires 600 hours on the job)
- No thesis requirement
Course Checklist
- Required Courses: 30 credit hours (credit hours of courses in parentheses)
- SMGT 799: Mentoring & Networking in Sport* (3) - currently offered in Fall semesters
- SMGT 800: Analytics & Decision Making in Sport** (3) - currently offered in Fall semesters
- SMGT 801: Management in Sport** (3) - currently offered in Spring semesters
- SMGT 803: Sport Marketing (3) - currently offered in Spring semesters
- SMGT 810: Sport Leadership & Socialization (3) - currently offered in Fall semesters
- SMGT 811: Sport in Society** (3) - currently offered in Fall semesters
- SMGT 812: Ethical & Legal Issues in Sport (3) - currently offered in Spring semesters
- SMGT 822: Communication in Sport (3) - currently offered in fall and spring
- SMGT 847: Internship (6) - students can complete their internship in any semester after completing 9 credit hours in the program, and filed a plan of study with their advisor to begin counting hours
* students MUST enroll in SMGT 799 in their first fall semester in the graduate program
** equivalency courses for these course requirements are anticipated to be offered in summer semesters, but students should meet with their advisor if wanting to take summer courses
Admission Considerations
- Unofficial transcripts from every institution previously attended, with 2.750 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of coursework, or overall undergraduate GPA.
- No GRE/GMAT required (But scores can be submitted if students have them. The GRE score can never hurt an application, only enhance it for those who may have a GPA that is near the mimimum for admission to WSU graduate school: see 'Graduate Admissions Review' example in the button below)
- An updated resume and a written statement of purpose (similar to a cover letter, a 1-2 page writing sample that includes why the applicant wants to attend the program and how a master's degree fits into the applicant's career path moving forward)
- Emails for three professional references who will receive a form to fill out and have the opportunity to attach a letter of reference as well.
- Additional requirements for international students can be found by visiting the information for international applicants page.
Comprehensive Exam Requirement
Graduate sport management students are required to successfully complete a written comprehensive examination over the required coursework in the curriculum during the semester they intend to graduate.
General deadlines to apply for the comprehensive exam:
Fall: September 1
Spring: February 1
Summer: June 1
Students should use the application process available in SMGT 799 and the Sport Management Graduate Student organizational Blackboard shell to apply for the comprehensive exam.
Tips for Graduate Students
Graduate sport management students, please read the "Tips for Students" form for helpful information.