Curriculum
The Master of Science in Sport Management is a 36-credit online program you can finish in as little as 2 years.
Foundation and core courses cover the industry from multiple angles, and a specialization in Sport Marketing or Collegiate Athletic Administration lets you build depth where you want it. You’ll complete the degree by choosing a capstone in an area that interests you—either an independent research project or an internship.
Download a brochure to see full curriculum information
What You’ll Be Able To Do
Apply management and marketing strategies to sport organizations at every level, from youth to collegiate to professional
Measure and grow brand equity for teams, leagues, athletes and sport products
Develop communication and media relations strategies that reach fans, sponsors and stakeholders
Plan and manage sport facilities and events, from logistics to funding to on-the-ground operations
Work across sport law, athletic compliance and the policy issues shaping amateur and professional sport
Build sponsorship, licensing and partnership strategies that drive revenue and visibility
To learn more about Adelphi University’s Online MS in Sport Management program and download a brochure, fill out the fields to request information or call us at 516.619.2209 to talk with one of our enrollment specialists.
Program Structure
Foundation and Core Courses
Your first six courses give you the full picture of what it takes to run a modern sport organization. You’ll study how sport management works as a field and how to research it.
You’ll also spend time in the areas that shape daily operations at every level of the industry:
- the technology sport organizations rely on
- how to manage people and programs
- the issues facing amateur and professional sport today
- the principles of sport marketing
Specialization Option: Sport Marketing
For students who want to drive revenue, build brands and manage partnerships across sport organizations, the specialization covers:
- Promotion and sales management
- Public relations in sport
- Licensing and merchandising
- Sponsorships and strategic alliances
- Brand strategy and brand equity
Specialization Option: Collegiate Athletic Administration
For students who want to move up inside collegiate athletic departments or interscholastic sport programs, the specialization covers:
- Intramural and recreation management
- Sport facility and event management
- Sport communication and media relations
- Sports law and athletic compliance
- Athletic administration
Accelerated Format
Save time and tuition with seven-week courses. Take two at a time and finish in as little as 24 months while completing coursework around your schedule.
Your Capstone, Your Choice
Complete an on-site internship at a sport organization in your area, which we’ll help you secure. Or complete an independent study on a topic of your choice under faculty guidance.
Three Start Dates
Fall, spring and summer starts give you flexibility to begin when it works for you. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a decision usually within two weeks.
MS in Sport Management Courses
SMP 632 – Intro to Sports Management (3)
A general overview of the application of management theory to athletics and sports organizations and an introduction to problems in sports management.
SMP 660 – Research in Sport Management (3)
This course challenges students to question relevant topics of discourse in sport management. Students develop further understanding of research processes: specifically how to frame questions, search for existing answers and interpret qualitative and quantitative research. Several topics examined include leadership development, management practices, marketing research, strategic development and organizational performance.
SMP 608 – Technology in Sport Management (3)
Students explore and further develop competence utilizing technology and software programs demanded in sport management careers. The course design also aims to assist students to discover how the utilization of numerous information technologies within the sport industry is transforming the way managers conduct administration and marketing of sport business operations.
Prerequisites: SMP 632 & SMP 660
SMP 612 – Sport Management Personnel and Program Evaluations (3)
Students gain an in-depth understanding of the structure and management of sport organizations. Establishing performance goals for employees and methods utilized to evaluate employee performance are a primary focus of the course. Another fundamental emphasis within the course will be aimed toward measuring individual, unit and organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
SMP 638 – Contemporary Issues in Sport Management (3)
Students will examine the character and position of sport business administration within a global marketplace. Specifically, students analyze administrative strategies utilized to resolve prevalent issues in amateur, youth, interscholastic, intercollegiate and professional athletics in diverse environments.
SMP 633 – Sport Marketing (3)
The students will examine sport products and marketing strategies in the contemporary sport industry, analyze marketing strategies to understand how sport marketing practitioners effectively advance and increase visibility of various sport products, and market other products through sport.
SMP 617 – Intramural and Recreation Management (3)
Students will study all aspects of collegiate intramural and recreation supervision with an emphasis on the various delivery systems as well as management issues. Focus on the learning experience is to provide opportunities for developing practical skills for effective organization and administration of contemporary intramural and recreational programs.
Prerequisites: SMP 632, SMP 633 and SMP 660
SMP 648 – Sport Facility and Event Management (3)
This course aims to inform students of the principles and practices of planning, funding and managing sport events and facilities. Students are introduced to administrative, supportive and maintenance services unique to the operation and organization of event and facility management within the sport industry.
SMP 646 – Sport Communication and Media Relations (3)
Student experience will focus on ways to build relationships and convey strategic messages to all sports-related constituencies. Techniques discussed will include all forms of communication, such as, but not limited to, news releases, news conferences, television and radio broadcasts, conference calls, the internet, advertising, direct marketing, printed publications and video.
Prerequisites: SMP 632 & SMP 660
SMP 639 – Introduction to Sports Law (3)
A general overview of sport law and athletic compliance for the collegiate administrator or coach. Students gain knowledge of the variety of state and national laws applying to sports as well as athletic compliance and the current operating bylaws.
SMP 636 – Athletic Administration (3)
Application of administrative theory to problems in intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics including budgeting, facility management, personal relations, marketing, personnel management, Title IX and ethical concerns.
SMP 657 – Sport Promotion and Sales Management (3)
Students will be introduced to the concepts, techniques, research and tactics within promotion, advertising and sales management relevant to the sports industry. The course will also inform students how to develop and utilize evaluation tools for the purpose of measuring the effectiveness of advertising, incentive programs and promotion campaigns (in sports promotion).
Prerequisites: SMP 632 & SMP 660
SMP 647 – Public Relations in Sport (3)
The course is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of public relations in sport industry through an examination of the requisite techniques and writing skills. Additionally students will learn how public relations fit into the overall business process of promotion and marketing.
Prerequisites: SMP 632 & SMP 660
SMP 645 – Sport Licensing and Merchandising (3)
The students will expand upon introductory sport licensing and merchandising through topics such as sport product lifestyle, licensing programs, product development, fashion forecasting, line planning, sourcing, pricing/markdowns, vendor relations and planning and allocation.
Prerequisite: SMP 632 & SMP 633
SMP 634 – Sport Alliances and Sponsorships (3)
Students will focus on ways to achieve corporate marketing objectives by incorporating sponsorships and sales promotion activities into an integrated communications plan. Promotional mix strategies to cost-effectively leverage sponsorships will also be discussed.
Prerequisites: SMP 632 & SMP 633
SMP 659 – Analysis of Sport Branding Strategies (3)
Students develop understanding of the importance of brand equity as well as how to build, measure and manage brand equity within sport management. Topics will include understanding brands from the customer’s perspective, building brand equity, measuring brand equity, leveraging brand equity, managing brand portfolios and long-term sport brand management.
Prerequisites: SMP 632 & SMP 633
SMP 792 – Internship (1-6)
Supervised field experience.
PED 791 – Independent Study (3)
Comprehensive investigation of an area of special interest.