Frequently Asked Questions

Can you explain the admissions process?
The first step is to apply. Go to the Office of Graduate Admissions web site and download an application. When all the required materials are received, your application will be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Do I have to take the GRE or the GMAT to be admitted?
The sport management program does not require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) as a condition of admission. However, students applying for graduate assistantships are required to take the GRE.

What are the deadlines for admission?
The Fall semester deadline for admission is May 1 and the Spring semester deadline is November 1. Applications received after those dates will be considered only on a space available basis until two weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Is there financial aid available for graduate students?
Visit the St. John’s Office of Student Financial Services web site or call (888) 978-5646.

How do I apply for a graduate assistantship?
The St. John’s University graduate application also includes an application for graduate assistantship positions. Students applying for graduate assistantships are required to take the GRE general exams.

Can I transfer any graduate credits?
You can transfer up to three graduate credits from another university. However, the course that you wish to receive credit for must be a good substitute for one of the courses in the MPS program. You can apply for transfer credits after you begin the program, and the decision about whether or not to permit the credits to count towards your degree will be made at that time.

Do you give credit for life or industry experience?
No.

Will this degree prepare me to be a physical education teacher or an athletic trainer?
No it will not. Most states require physical education teachers to have at least a bachelor’s degree in education, and many states (including New York) require a master’s degree in education to become certified. To become certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association requires a bachelor’s degree from a college or university with an accredited athletic training program.

The graduate sport management program at St. John’s is designed for students interested in becoming coaches (the coaching leadership track) or sport managers (the international dimensions track).

When are courses offered?
A full schedule of courses is offered during the Fall and Spring semesters. You can view the current course offerings and clicking “College of Professional Studies.” Classes meet once per week, Monday through Thursday, from 4:40-6:40 p.m. and 6:50-8:50 p.m. There are a limited number of courses offered during the University’s two five-week summer sessions, usually one per session.

How do I know what courses to take?
All first-year students will be advised by a member of the graduate sport management faculty before registering for classes. This advisement can be done in-person or electronically via email. You will receive advisement during your entire career at St. John’s, ensuring that your program of study is proper for the track that you have chosen.

Do I have to do an internship or write a thesis?
You will have to do one or the other. Students choosing the internship option (SPG 500) will intern full-time for one semester, completing at least 400 clock hours with a sports organization. Students choosing the thesis option (SPG 502) will write a master’s thesis under the direction of a faculty member. Each option is a three credit course.

Can I study abroad as part of the program?
Graduate sport management students can study abroad at the St. John’s Rome Campus during the first summer session (June). This program ran for the first time in June, 2009, and it is expected to run each June for the foreseeable future. For more information, please visit the St. John’s University Global Studies web site.

How long will it take to complete my degree?
Full-time students can complete the program in two academic years (four semesters) by taking 9 credits in three semesters and 12 credits in one semester, or taking 9 credits each semester and completing a course during the intervening summer session.

What types of career opportunities are available in sport management?
Your MPS. in Sport Management will train you for entry-level management positions with a wide variety of sport related organizations, such as:

  • Professional sports teams
  • Professional sport leagues
  • College and university athletic departments
  • Youth sport organizations
  • Intercollegiate athletic conferences
  • Amateur sport governing bodies
  • Sport media organizations
  • Sports marketing and public relations firms
  • State and local government sports commissions
  • Leisure, fitness, and recreation organizations
  • Sports equipment and apparel firms
  • Event management organizations
  • Stadiums, arenas, and other sport facilities
  • And many other organizations that are involved in the sports industry

I have a question that’s not answered here. Who can I speak to?
For specific questions about the MPS Program in Sport Management, please contact Prof. Glenn Gerstner, the Director of the Graduate Program in Sport Management, at (718) 990-7474 or gerstneg@stjohns.edu.

For admissions questions, please visit the St. John’s Office of Graduate Admission web site or call (718) 990-1601.