Executive Sport Management, M.S.
College of Applied Human Sciences
The Executive Sport Management degree will prepare you to become a marketable professional in the dynamic sport industry and is designed to prepare you to work behind-the-scenes of the sport industry. As a member of the Big XII Conference, West Virginia University is home to one of the nation’s premier college athletic programs. This back-drop provides you with access to a world-class network of sport management professionals including university faculty and staff, program alumni and organizational partners.
Cost:
$702 / Cost per credit hour *
Courses and Credits:
10 Courses / 30 Credits
Duration:
Two years / 8-week terms
Dates:
Next Start: August 20, 2025 Admission Terms: Fall, Spring, Summer
Learning Format:
Online asynchronous
Program Overview
The Different Aspects of Sports Management
The online Master of Science in Executive Sport Management, offered through a fully virtual format, prepares professionals for leadership roles across the dynamic and evolving world of sport. Taught by nationally and internationally recognized experts, the program blends cutting-edge research with real-world application to help you thrive in a competitive industry.
- Fully Online & Flexible: Complete your degree from anywhere with asynchronous courses designed for working professionals.
- Industry-Relevant Curriculum: Explore topics like profitability, diversity, legal issues, ethics, and emerging markets in sport.
- Specialized Areas of Emphasis: Choose from Sport Industry Management or Interscholastic Athletic Administration to tailor your expertise.
- Certification Preparation: The Interscholastic Athletic Administration emphasis prepares you for NIAAA RAA and CAA certifications.
- Expert-Led Instruction: Learn from faculty and industry leaders who bring global insights and practical experience to every course.
"Have fun, enjoy the ride! Sport is competitive and fun… managing it takes a certain skill set, but if you love sports you are on the right path."
Jennifer Mueller
Executive Sport Management M.S.
Curriculum
The Executive Sport Management degree from the College of Applied Human Sciences will prepare you to become marketable professionals in the dynamic sport industry. All students complete a required eight-course sequence that incorporates foundational content in organizational leadership and management, facilities, marketing, finance, fundraising and development, legal issues, governance, and sociocultural and ethical dimensions of sport. Students also select a two-course area of emphasis allowing for further specialization:
- Comprehensive Sport Industry Management
- Interscholastic Sport Administration
Students in both areas of emphasis graduate with the same degree, a Master’s of Science in Executive Sport Management.
The fully online program is for professionals who are already working in the sports industry, or those seeking a career change. Courses are generally eight weeks in length, enabling you to focus on one content area at a time.
Meet the Faculty
- SM 527: Navigating Legal Issues in Sport Administration, 3 credit hours
- SM 535: Management of Human Resources in Sport Organizations, 3 credit hours
- SM 540: Sport Policy and Governance, 3 credit hours
- SM 546: Sport Consumer Behavior and Marketing, 3 credit hours
- SM 570: Financial Decision-Making in Sport, 3 credit hours
- SM 575: Sport Development and Fundraising, 3 credit hours
- SM 580: Social and Ethical Responsibility in Sport, 3 credit hours
- SM 586: Sport Facility Operations, 3 credit hours
- Interscholastic Athletic Administration Area of Emphasis
- SM 571: Interscholastic Sport Organization and Administration, 3 credit hours
- SM 578: Leadership in Interscholastic Athletic Administration, 3 credit hours
- Sport Industry Management Area of Emphasis
- SM 516: Applied Research in Sport Management , 3 credit hours
- SM 545: Current Issues & Applications in Sport Management, 3 credit hours
Admissions Requirements and Eligibility
Applicants should hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Students may be admitted provisionally with a GPA of 2.75 or lower; however, provisional students must earn a 3.0 in the first 9 hours of coursework to continue in the program. Admission preference is given to individuals with experience in the sport industry. It is recommended that students have regular access to sport management settings, given the applied nature of many course assignments.
Admissions Process and How to Apply
- Complete the Online WVU Graduate Application
- Upload a current resume highlighting professional background, experience, and qualifications
- Write a Personal Statement: 1-2 written pages on professional goals and reasons for seeking admission
- Graduate degree-seeking applicants must send their official transcript from the undergraduate institution that granted the bachelor’s degree.
- It is preferred that official transcripts be sent via an online, secure service such as National Student Clearing House, Parchment, or eScrip-Safe to GraduateAdmissions@mail.wvu.edu.
- Alternatively, sealed, untampered, physical official transcripts can be sent to: WVU Hub, P.O. Box 6004, Morgantown, WV 26506
- International applicants are required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score.
Application Deadlines
How to Apply
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
- File the application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the June deadline to determine eligibility for funding and scholarships.
- Inquire with your employer about potential financial support for continuing your education.
Connect with Our Team
Jessica Carr Online Admissions Coach
(304) 293-6841 Jessica.Carr1@mail.wvu.edu
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Careers and Employment
A graduate degree Executive Sports Management is an ideal degree for individuals seeking to pursue careers that deal with the business aspects of sports and physical activity. These degree programs provide in-depth instruction of theory and current practices, and many include practical experiences to enable students to gain real-world skills to increase success. Upon graduation, you will be equipped with a functional knowledge of various business features of the sports field, including economics, marketing, law, finance, and facilities management and be prepared to join the growing Sports Management industry.
Career Paths
- Accounts/Corporate Partnerships Manager
- Athletic Administrator
- Athletic Director
- Athletics Compliance
- Business Development
- Coach
- General and Operations Manager
- Scout
- Sport Marketing Manager
- Sport Agent
- Sport Camp Director
- Sport Content Producer
- Sport Information Director
- Sport Mediator/Arbitrator
- Sport Writer/Blogger