Specializations

Graduate students can choose to specialize in either coaching leadership or the international dimensions of sport.

Coaching Leadership
To specialize in coaching leadership, students take SPG 307 (Social and Psychological Aspect of Sport), SPG 308 (Coaching for Optimal Performance), and SPG 309 (Sport Science: Techniques and Analysis) as their specialization courses. The coaching leadership specialization meets the demand for professionally trained coaches and program administrators of school-based sport at all educational levels, as well as positions in league and community-centered programs.

  • Develop and adopt an athlete-centered philosophy focusing on maximizing the positive benefits of sport participation
  • Develop competency in injury prevention, care and management
  • Demonstrate organizational and administrative efficiency in implementing sports programs
  • Understand the legal responsibilities involved with coaching
  • Understand the factors involved in growth, development and learning in coaching
  • Achieve competence in applying training, conditioning and nutrition for optimal performance
  • Understand the impact of social / psychological aspects of coaching
  • Achieve competency in the skills, techniques and strategies associated with specific sport(s)
  • Develop the ability to apply theoretical concepts of coaching in a practical setting through a supervised field experience
  • Implement effective evaluation techniques for athlete and team performance in relation to established team and individual goals
  • Understand the assessment of athlete performance in practices and competition as an important competency of coaching
  • Demonstrate objective and effective procedures for the evaluation of athletic personnel and programs

International Dimensions of Sport
To specialize in the international dimensions of sport, students choose SPG 310 (Event/Sport Venue Administration: International Perspectives) and SPG 311 (International Perspectives in Sport Marketing) as two of their specialization courses. The international dimensions of sport specialization is designed to meet the need for managers in the increasingly complex global sport industry.

  • Achieve specific knowledge of international governance beyond the administrative boundaries of one’s country
  • Develop an ability to apply managerial competencies to sport organizations
  • Understand internal and external factors that shape sport in different cultures
  • Achieve competency in sport marketing including fundamental aspects of sport products, markets, consumer research, sponsorship, and promotion.
  • Achieve advanced understanding of the governance and regulation of sport organizations
  • Achieve competency in the finance of sport organizations including key elements of budgeting, accounting, public/private financing, and revenue development
  • Achieve competence in legal aspects of sport including state/federal/international legislation, liability, risk management, contracts, and collective bargaining
  • Understand the key elements of ethical behavior in sport organizations including consideration of both personal and professional ethical systems in sport organization management.
  • Achieve competency in the economics of sport including fundamental concepts of supply and demand, economic forecasting, and economic impact assessment.
  • Develop the ability to apply theoretical concepts of sport management in a practical setting through a supervised field experience