Sport Administration : Online

MS

Why study Sport Administration : Online?

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Sport Administration program at the University of Cincinnati is designed for students seeking to advance their career in the sport industry. Our curriculum examines issues and challenges facing sport business professionals through the unique lens of interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic administrators. Within the sports industry, there is a need for skilled sport managers in the areas of sales, development, corporate partnerships, finance, public relations, marketing, facility and event operations, compliance, student-athlete support services, and more.

Our one-year program* is built around developing skills in these areas through real-world application of course content, industry partnerships, and research-based best practices. The master’s program is available both on-campus and online.

* The program can be completed in one year if the student is enrolled full-time. Part-time options also available.

Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria:

  1. Earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university.
  2. 3.0 undergraduate GPA or foreign equivalent. In cases where undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0, student must take the GRE and score 297 or higher.
  3. Proof of English proficiency if English is not the applicant’s native language.

In addition to these minimum requirements, applicants will need to submit:

  1. Two written letters of recommendation (one professional, one academic)
  2. Official transcripts for all undergraduate coursework
  3. Personal statement of goals for graduate study
  4. Resume including sport-related experience
  5. For applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0: A minimum combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative parts of the GRE revised general test

GRE Waiver:

  • Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may be considered for a GRE waiver if the prospective student has three or more years of post-undergraduate sport industry work experience.

  • To be considered for a GRE waiver, students must submit the following via email to Dr. Dave Kelley (david.kelley@uc.edu):

    • Proof of employment status

      • Names, job titles, and contact info (email and phone number) of direct supervisor for all positions held in the last three years.

    • Additional letter of reference from a direct supervisor in the last three years that speaks to:

      1. The quality of the sport industry experience you have obtained (i.e. what have been your main tasks/areas of responsibility?)

      2. Your professional preparedness for graduate school and a continued career in the sport industry.

**Please submit GRE Waiver materials at the same time you submit your application materials to the Graduate School**

Application Deadline and Procedures

Prospective students will complete the online application for their requested program by the posted application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.

Transcripts:

Providing academic records during the application process. All applicants are required to upload their unofficial transcripts during the application process. The university defines “unofficial” transcripts as transcripts that have been in the hands of students, are typically printed on plain paper, and do not have a college seal or registrar's signature. Applicants should NOT send official transcripts as part of the application process.

Providing academic records after admission. Once an applicant has been extended an offer of admission to the University of Cincinnati and has accepted the offer, s/he must submit an official transcript showing conferral of a baccalaureate degree or higher as soon as possible to the address below. The university defines “official” transcripts as transcripts that have been received from a secure, authenticated issuing institution and bears validation (e.g., a seal, logo, or watermark), including a date, and an appropriate signature. Official transcripts MUST be sent forward in their original, sealed envelope. The absolute final deadline for submission of official transcripts is one week before the start of the student’s first semester. Students will NOT be allowed to complete a full semester without providing verification of an earned baccalaureate degree or higher. Any discrepancy later found between student-provided unofficial transcripts and official transcripts will be grounds for dismissal. Official Transcripts should be sent to one of the following addresses:

Regular U.S. postal mail: Delivery via parcel delivery service (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.):
Graduate School
University of Cincinnati
110 Van Wormer Hall
P.O. Box 210627
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627
Graduate School
University of Cincinnati
2614 McMicken Circle
110 Van Wormer Hall
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627


UC Alumni

Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.

Students with degrees received in China

Applicants who have received degrees in China will upload their unofficial transcripts during the application process. The university defines “unofficial” transcripts as transcripts that have been in the hands of students, are typically printed on plain paper, and do not have a college seal or registrar's signature. Unofficial transcripts do NOT need to be verified at this stage of the application process.

After being accepted to join a graduate program

Applicants who have earned a degree in China must submit an English-version verification report from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) of their final transcripts and degree certificates.  All verification reports must be sent to the University of Cincinnati directly by the CDGDC to be considered official. No other verification will be accepted. Applicants with Chinese transcripts must contact the CDGDC after their degree is completed and request that their degree verification report be submitted directly to the University of Cincinnati. Students who request a verification report prior to degree conferral will be required to submit a second report after conferral.

Verification reports can be ordered at the following websites:

Verification reports are due to the Graduate School one week prior to the start of the student’s first semester. Failure to submit verification reports on time will result in a student being placed in non-matriculated status and loss of his/her student visa status. Verification reports should be sent to one of the following addresses:

Regular U.S. postal mail: Delivery via parcel delivery service (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.):
Graduate School
University of Cincinnati
110 Van Wormer Hall
P.O. Box 210627
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627
Graduate School
University of Cincinnati
2614 McMicken Circle
110 Van Wormer Hall
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0627

The focus of this program is to prepare students for careers in athletic administration. At the pinnacle of this industry segment exists career opportunities as athletic directors, marketing directors, as well as other sport industry professional positions. Skilled sport managers are needed in fields such as sales, development, corporate partnerships, finance, sport information, community relations, ticketing, booking and scheduling, event operations, ticketing, volunteer management, and event planning.

Why UC?

  • For full-time students (12 credit hours per semester), the curriculum can be completed in one calendar year.
  • The program partners with several college and high school athletic departments in the Greater Cincinnati area to provide opportunities for graduate students to gain valuable real-world experience through internship and/or graduate assistantship opportunities.
  • The curriculum is tailored specifically for students seeking careers in interscholastic or intercollegiate athletic administration.
  • The online master’s program offers a high quality and autonomous learning experience.
  • Sport Administration faculty members at the University of Cincinnati have accrued more than 40 years of combined experience working in high school and college athletics.
  • Students have the opportunity to complete the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Certification Program in conjunction with their coursework.
  • Students can choose a master’s thesis, project, or portfolio for their culminating graduate requirement.
  • Dedicated faculty advisors to assist you through the program.

In order to graduate from the UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services, a student must:

  • Complete all required course work and program requirements.
  • Obtain at least a 3.0 university grade point average.
  • Be in good academic standing; that is, not on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension.
  • Meet the college's residency requirement of 30 semester credit hours.
  • File formal application for the degree by the posted semester of graduation deadline.

Application Deadlines

Fall Deadline: July 15th

Spring Deadline: December 1st

Summer Deadline: April 1st

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

UC Online
PO BOX 210014
Cincinnati, OH 45221
(888) 628-3334
cechrecruit@uc.edu

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Program Code: 18MAS-SPAD-MS-.SPAD-DL