Sport Management

Master of arts

Admissions requirements

  • Meet Graduate College admission standards.
  • Successful completion of an undergraduate major or minor, appropriate for intended emphasis area.
  • Letter of intent to include education, career, and/or research goals and philosophy.
  • Current resume.
  • Three letters of recommendation. 

STUDENT SUCCESS

  • Thomas Delves
    "My experience with Bronco Productions has allowed me to produce all home football games and apply the knowledge learned in class."Thomas Delves, Alumnus

Program overview

This program is offered online and hybrid.

The M.A. in Sport Management is a 30-credit program. The program is designed to prepare students to blend general management skills with the specific demands of managing a variety of levels of sport organizations.

Students can take 100% online courses or online courses with some in-person courses to finish the degree in 12 months, 16 months, or 20 months depending on individual plans. Sport management majors acquire a strong foundation in marketing and promotion (HPHE 6640), governance and administration (HPHE 6600), financial management (HPHE 6650), human resource management (HPHE 6660), facility management (HPHE 6690), issues in sport media (HPHE 6981), legal issues (HPHE 5610), and ethics in sport (HPHE 6630).

Specific courses in the sport management curriculum provide students with an understanding of the role of sports in society, the role of management in sports, and the opportunity to apply their knowledge in sport-related internships.

Why sports management at Western Michigan University?

  • All courses are designed to meet or exceed national standards set forth by the North American Society for Sport Management accrediting body.
  • In addition to the 27 credits of sport management courses, students have the option of completing either a 3-credit thesis, independent research or field experience. Students learn through hands-on experience while utilizing top of the line equipment in state of the art lab spaces.
  • 100% of WMU sport management graduate students were employed or continuing education within three months of graduation.
  • Students are encouraged to pursue additional educational opportunities through one of our many excellent study abroad programs.
  • We are the only institution in the U.S. that includes an optional co-curricular designation known as the WMU Signature. Pathways include: Teaching & Student Success, Leadership, Health & Wellbeing, Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice, and more! 

Careers

Students are prepared for career opportunities in secondary, collegiate, professional sport and parks and recreation.

Planned program form

Every student in the graduate sport management program will have a planned program form. Each semester when students come to see their advisor (Dr. Geumchan Hwang or Dr. James B. Lewis), the advisor will electronically enter your classes on a planned program form. Students are still responsible for registering for those classes.

Students should apply to the registrar to graduate during the semester prior to their planned registration. For example, if a student plans to graduate in the spring of 2024, they must apply to graduate by the end of the fall 2023 semester. When applying, send an email to Dr. Hwang or Dr. Lewis and they will forward the planned program form electronically to the registrar. Students do not submit the planned program form; advisors submit the form for students. The form can be used by students as a guide to keep track on their own, however, official record-keeping on the form is done by the advisors.

Students must register for all classes except for the professional field experience or independent study courses. Students must receive permission from advisors to register for either of these two courses.

Suggested course rotation 

Students will complete a planned program form at their first advising session. For advising, please contact Dr. Geumchan Hwang.

Suggested course rotation (12 months)

Fall (9 credits)

HPHE 6630, HPHE 6900, Elective

Spring (9 credits)

HPHE 6600, HPHE 6650, Elective

Summer I (6 credits)

HPHE 5610, Elective

Summer II (6 credits)

HPHE 6640, Capstone

Total 30 credits

 

Suggested course rotation (16 months)

Fall (9 credits)

HPHE 6600, HPHE 6630, Elective

Spring (9 credits)

HPHE 5610, HPHE 6650, Elective

Summer I (3 credits)

Elective

Summer II (3 credits)

HPHE 6640

Fall (6 credits)

HPHE 6900, Capstone

Total 30 Credits

 

Suggested course rotation (20 months)

Fall (6 credits)

HPHE 6600, HPHE 6900

Spring (6 credits)

HPHE 5610, Elective

Summer I (3 credits)

Elective

Summer II (3 credits)

HPHE 6640

Fall (6 credits)

HPHE 6630, Elective

Spring (6 credits)

HPHE 6650, Capstone

Total 30 credits

  

Internship portfolios

For information and how to create them, visit our sport management internship portfolio page

Cost & Funding

Helpful links

Faculty