You can prepare for these opportunities by earning an MPS in Sport Management at St. John’s University. The mission of the program is to develop students into well-educated, ethical, and highly competent leaders in the global sports industry. This is achieved by providing students with the theoretical and practical knowledge that will enable them to be successful leaders; establishing a curriculum that is consistent with current principles and practices of professionals in the academic and sport marketplace communities; and delivering instruction that is relevant, effective, and stimulates learning.
The graduate sport management program is the natural development of our long-standing and successful undergraduate program, which is one of the largest in the nation. St. John’s University was one of the first institutions in the United States to offer sport management as a major area of study. When the program was founded in 1976, most sport-related majors were in the areas of athletic training, sports medicine, physical education, or kinesiology. Instead of focusing on the rules of the game and athletic performance, our program focuses on applying business principles to the sport industry. Furthermore, our location in the media and sports capital of the world provides students with unparalleled internship and employment opportunities.
Full-time students normally complete the program in two years but an intensive 12-credit per semester schedule can lead to a degree in as little as 18 months. Part-time students are welcome, and classes that meet once per week at 5:00 or 7:10 p.m. meet the needs of working professionals who want to further their education.
Admission into the MPS program in Sport Management is contingent upon an assessment of the candidate’s ability to successfully pursue graduate study. This assessment will be made by examining previous academic performance, letters of recommendation, the applicant’s essay, work experience, performance on standardized exams (such as the GRE or GMAT), and any other evidence that the admissions committee believes to be relevant.
Applicants must submit the following for admission consideration:
The Master of Professional Studies in Sport Management degree requires completion of 36 credits. All students complete a core of 21 credits followed by 15 credits of specialized upper-level course work. To complete the program, students must complete two capstone projects: one in relation with industry professionals (SPG 312) and one related to a research project (SPG 401).
COURSE # (Old/New) | COURSE | CREDITS |
SPG 301/601 | Strategic Sport Management | 3 |
SPG 302/602 | Strategic Sport Communication | 3 |
SPG 304/603 | Philosophy, Principles, and Leadership in Sport | 3 |
SPG 305/604 | Ethical and Legal Aspects of Sport | 3 |
SPG 306/605 | Financial Perspectives in Sport | 3 |
SPG 401/606 | Research Methods in Sport | 3 |
SPG 312/901 | Seminar in Sport Management (Capstone Course) | 3 |
COURSE # (Old/New) | COURSE | CREDITS |
SPG 307/721 | Social/Psychological Aspects of Sport | 3 |
SPG 308/722 | Sport Science: Coaching for Optimal Performance | 3 |
SPG 309/723 | Sport Science: Techniques and Analysis | 3 |
SPG 310/731 | Event & Venue Administration: International Perspectives | 3 |
SPG 311/732 | Sport Marketing: International Perspectives | 3 |
SPG 313/733 | Power, Politics, and International Sport Governance | 3 |
SPG 314/751 | Sport Statistics and Analytics | 3 |
SPG 315/752 | Creativity and Innovation in Sport | 3 |
SPG 316/753 | Risk Management in Sport | 3 |
SPG 318/754 | Intercollegiate Athletics Administration | 3 |
SPG 317/755 | Issues in Modern Sport | 3 |
SPG 319/756 | Foundations and Evolution of Sport Management | 3 |
SPG 402/791 | Special Topics in Sport Management | 3 |
SPG 403/792 | Special Topics in International Sport | 3 |
SPG 502/871 | Thesis I | 3 |
SPG 503/872 | Thesis II | 3 |
SPG 404/899 | Independent Study in Sport Management | 3 |
| Internships | 1, 3 & 6 credit |
Students can take any 15 credits from the elective courses above, but students may also choose to specialize in Coaching Leadership or International Sport Business by selecting the three related electives in each area:
In order to enhance their job and career prospects, graduate students have the opportunity to complete for-credit academic internships. An academic internship is a credit-based work experience through which a student receives training and gains valuable experience in a specific career area under the supervision of a specialist in that particular field.
The Division of Sport Management does not provide internships to students, however, faculty members, Career Services, and other entities within the university can all assist students with identifying internship opportunities. In recent years, Division of Sport Management students have interned at hundreds of sport, recreation, health and wellness, fitness and related types of organizations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, in addition to a multitude other local, national and international organizations. Alumni from the Division of Sport Management are employed at thousands of organizations worldwide.
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
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 Division of Sport Management utilizes rolling admissions throughout the year. For best consideration, students should apply by May 1 for the summer or fall semesters and November 1 for the spring semester. Applications received after those dates will be considered on a space-available basis.
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. For more information about graduate assistantships, please click here.
Can I transfer any graduate credits?
You can transfer up to six 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.
How long will it take to complete my degree?
Full-time students normally complete the program in two academic years (four semesters) by taking 9 credits each semester. By taking a carefully designed sequence of courses, it is possible to complete the program in 18 months (three semesters) by taking 9-12 credits each semester and completing courses during the summer session. If you plan on trying to complete the program in an accelerated fashion, tell your advisor before you register for classes in your first semester.
Do you accept part-time students?
Many of our students study part-time. Part-time students can complete the program in three academic years by taking six credits each semester, or even faster by taking classes during the summer sessions.
What are the class sizes?
Core classes typically have no more than 20 students and upper-level classes will usually have between 10-15 students.
Do I have to do an internship or write a thesis?
You do not, but you have the option to do one or the other. For students who do not have any sport industry experience, an internship is highly recommended. Students choosing the internship option (SPG 500 or 510) will intern full-time for one semester, completing at least 200 clock hours to earn three credits or 400 clock hours with a sports organization. Student who choose the thesis option (SPG 502 and 503) will write a master’s thesis under the direction of a faculty member. Note that you can do either an internship or a thesis but not both.
Can I study abroad as part of the program?
Graduate sport management students may have opportunities to study on our Rome campus as part of one-week sessions in January and four-week sessions in June. Be advised that these program are not always scheduled each year. For more information, please visit the St. John’s University Global Studies web site.
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