This 18-credit, 6-course certificate focuses on the skills required for a career in the administration of professional and amateur sports. This course of study can lead to employment in areas such as sports organizations, regulatory agencies, private and or public facilities, and athletic departments at the college and university level, as well as related areas. These credits can also be applied to the Master of Sport Management degree.

Required Course:

MSA 6704 – Internship I or Independent Job Related Project. This course meets the required course for each certificate in the Sport Management master’s  program. It cannot be taken until students complete at least 9-credits, 3 courses in the master’s program.

Choose any five of the following courses (Note MSA 6605 not currently available in online modality):

  • MSA 6601  Organizational Leadership and Team Development
  • MSA 6602  Facility Development, Administration and Programming
  • MSA 6603  Sports Marketing and Promotions
  • MSA 6604  Sports in a Social Context
  • MSA 6605    Legal and Professional Ethics in Sports
  • MSA 6606  Group Dynamics
  • MSA 6607  Human Resource Administration in Sports Organizations
  • MSA 6608  Sports Risk Assessment
  • MSA 6609  Communications and Media Relations
  • MSA 6610  Strategies in Fund Raising and Development

Course Descriptions

  • MSA6601 This course will study how teams are organized and the role of leadership in motivating team performance. Topics to be convered include sports leadership in the sport and community, group and team development, and the role of the leader in moving the organization to their vision of success.

  • MSA6602 Principles and applications of planning, designing, financing, budgeting and construction in the sports field, as well as the use of facilities for sports and non-sport activities, will be explored. Facility operations, event management and planning, and equipment purchasing, maintenance and inventory will be included in the course.

  • MSA6603 The course will explore the concepts of marketing, promotions, and public relations for various components of the sports industry. At the foundation of marketing and promotion are strategic planning and coordination of efforts. Marketing strategies and varying consumer behaviors in different sports venues will be analyzed as social and economic issues related to buying and selling of sports. The inclusion of sponsorships and endorsements into the marketing efforts will also be included.

  • MSA6604 This course will explore the concepts of sports and their sociological impact on a nation or state as well as the impact of the role of sports organizations as a social institution.

  • MSA6605 This course will explore the moral and ethical dilemmas encountered by managers in the sports industry. Topics include (but not limited to) sportsmanship, and violence, performance enhancing drugs, race, gender, religion, and media. Students will learn to recognize moral questions, understand various ethical theories how to apply them to solve moral problems.

  • MSA6606 The course will explore the basic nature of groups and how productive groups develop. Topics will include the various models of group development, the stages of development, informal and formal groups, team building, and changing informal work groups or team norms.

  • MSA6607 This course will explore administrative regulations, and techniques, procedures and policies for effective personnel administration, and legal and ethical parameters that guide personnel in organizations. Additional topics include communication, compensation, negotiation, appraisal processes, training and development, and decision making.

  • MSA6608 This course will investigate the costs of sporting accidents, which can be a significant financial and emotional burden for an organization. Although organizations look at legal liabilities, there are other costs that organizations need to consider. Case studies and scenarios will be utilized in the class.

  • MSA6609 This course will explore practical techniques in understanding the media, how to build relationships with journalists, how to communicate messages effectively, and what steps to take when faced with a crisis. The course aims to equip students with common sense tools to properly manage their message while handling a variety of media that range from newspapers to radio and TV to the Internet.

  • MSA6610 This course will explore ways organizations can capitalize on fund raising activities to improve market share visibility. Examples from private and volunteer organizations will be used in the course.

  • MSA6704 This is a practical experience of previously learned skills and knowledge. The internship assignment will depend on the student146s background and specific goals. Although efforts will be made to match students with appropriate opportunities to enhance their learning, some students may not be able to perform such an internship due to work or family responsibilities. In those cases, a specific job related project can be approved by the Program Chair.