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Sport Management, MS

MS in Sport Management (Online Program)

Enhance your career opportunities — and your life — when you complete a Master of Science in Sport Management degree online from the University of Central Missouri. UCM is ranked among the country’s best sport management schools for the value we offer as you prepare to begin or advance your career in the sports industry. Learn how our online Sport Management master’s degree can help you score your professional and educational goals.

UCM’s highly rated MS in Sport Management is available 100% online

Are you a teacher wanting to become a coach or a coach seeking to become an athletic director? Maybe you’re a student eager to work in sports media or other sports industries? At UCM, we can help you get where you want to go.

Among the nation’s seasoned and most respected sport management schools, UCM has offered graduate-level sport administration courses for over 50 years. Our Sport Management master’s concentration was first offered in 1982. Over the years, we’ve expanded our Sport Management program offerings and evolved to keep pace with the needs of the industry and our students.

UCM was one of the first schools to offer a 100% online Sport Management master’s degree to help you balance your coursework with other personal and professional needs. University of Central Missouri has received specialized accreditation for its sport management program through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Being a part of COSMA offers us a chance to showcase the dedication of our programs in preparing students for diverse careers, not just to our students and their families but also to our sport and community partners. Our students consistently showcase their industry impact, leaving our programs to achieve remarkable success in the field.

COSMA accreditation logo

COSMA accredited program

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Among the best sport management schools

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99% job placement rate

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Small classes of 10–15 graduate students

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Sport Management scholarships

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Advanced internships in sport management

What you will study

UCM’s MS in Sport Management will strengthen your skills in critical thinking, management, communication and research as you explore how other disciplines intersect with sports. Complete interdisciplinary online courses such as:

  • Statistics in Sport Management: Apply the statistical skills you learn in class as you use statistical software to manage, analyze and interpret real-world sports data.
  • Organizational Leadership in Athletics and Sports: Gain an advanced understanding of leadership theories, models and concepts specific to sports organizations. You’ll evaluate interviews, articles and videos to complete a comprehensive written project.
  • Introduction to Research in Sport Management: Sharpen the research skills you’ll need for sport management jobs. You’ll showcase what you’ve learned by developing a research prospectus, which you can later use for your thesis if you choose research instead of an internship.

With the support of our expert faculty, who have advanced sports management degrees and a wealth of real-world experience, you can complete your online Sport Management master’s degree in two years.

 

Excellence in Sport Management

  • The Sport Management degree programs at the University of Central Missouri are accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), located in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
  • Top 40: “Most Affordable Sports Management Degrees”  (College Affordability Guide, 2022)
  • #2: Best Value College for Sports Management in Missouri (College Factual, 2022)
  • Best Sports Management Degree Programs - Best Master of Science Degree (Intelligent, 2022)
  • Top 50: Sports Management Degree Programs (Intelligent, 2021)
  • A Best Online Masters in Sports Management (Academic Influence, 2021)
  • "Best State University” among Intelligent.com’s “Best Online Sports Management Degree Programs of 2021”  for our curriculum, graduation rate, reputation and more (Intelligent, 2021)

 

Unique learning opportunities in sports management

Recognized as one of the best sport management schools in the country, UCM ensures that you’ll receive the personal attention of our world-class faculty in our small online classes. You’ll also have access to a range of learning opportunities outside of the virtual classroom:

Internships: For your master’s degree in Sport Management, you’ll choose between an internship and a thesis. For those living close by, internships in sport management allow you to take advantage of UCM’s connections and partnerships in proximity to the Kansas City metro area, which is home to the Kansas City Royals, Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City Current, Kansas City Monarchs, Springfield Cardinals and many more professional sports teams. For those further away from Kansas City, internships are also available with collegiate programs, recreational organizations, retail businesses or a sports commission. Earn course credit while you gain job experience, build professional connections and enhance your resume.

Conferences: Participate in UCM’s Employer Panel Event to learn about various industry aspects from guest speakers and panelists. Conferences offer many opportunities for networking and expanding your professional circle, which will benefit you when you’re ready to apply for jobs in sport management.

 

What can you do with an online master’s degree in Sport Management from UCM?

Your MS in Sport Management from the University of Central Missouri will prepare and position you to work in many advanced sport management jobs. Our graduates — who enjoy a 99% job placement rate — have gone on to work in facility operations, college athletics, coaching, athletic recruiting, event management, sports media, sales and business development. UCM alumni currently work for many popular and respected organizations, including:

  • Professional sports teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, Sporting Kansas City and Kansas City Mavericks
  • Kansas Speedway
  • UCM Athletics
  • Other collegiate athletic and recreational sports programs
  • Elementary, middle and high school athletics

Navigating the search for sport management jobs

As you work on your master’s degree in Sport Management, our faculty, who help make us one of the best sport management schools, are available for personal career advising and mentoring, even online. You’ll have all the necessary tools UCM offers to achieve success. This includes a Handshake account, an account to connect you to potential employers and a premium services membership for TeamWork Online — a trusted source that major league teams use to fill internships in sport management. You’ll be able to view sport management jobs and network with executives at virtual and in-person events. When you’re ready to apply, UCM’s Career Services Center will help you build your resume and practice for interviews. 

As you consider your next steps to further your career in sport management, use the interactive tool below to see the possibilities for your future.

 

 
 


 

Financial assistance options for your MS in Sport Management

An online Sport Management master’s degree can help you earn a higher salary — or even your dream job. As one of the best sport management schools, the University of Central Missouri offers comprehensive resources and support to help you finance your education. Apply for one of our loans, grants or employment opportunities. You may also qualify to apply for various program scholarships.

Scholarships for UCM’s master’s degree in Sport Management online

UCM is fortunate to have the support of alumni and others who, like us, want to see you succeed. The Lyle B. and Evelyn E. Beaver Scholarship in Recreation is just one example of the gifts and awards available to new and current UCM students.
UCM and the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies also make available these merit scholarships:

  • Outstanding Student Awards 
  • Business Student Organization Achievement Awards 
  • Outstanding Business Student Organization Award 

Use the UCM Scholarship Finder to discover more scholarship possibilities.

 

 

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Explore programs related to sport management.
 

If you know you’d like to work with sports organizations or athletes but you’re still considering which direction to pursue, you may also be interested in this UCM master’s degree:

 

Our Mission

We provide a flexible online learning environment. Our mission is to provide sport management professionals with tools to lead at the next level in a wide variety of sport management industry jobs. As an online program with a diverse and international faculty, we strive to provide cutting-edge knowledge & research and serve the industry at the regional, national, and international levels.

 

Learning Environment- What is the learning environment like?

All courses are not “open entry/open exit” courses; however, they are self-paced. Our courses make it easier for students to balance time between coursework and their personal or professional schedules. Course materials are delivered in several different formats, including guided instructions, discussions, and capstone projects. You will have exceptional educational experience through faculty mentorship and personalized feedback – most responses will come in less than 24 hours.

 

Program of Study-What courses do I take?

Our online graduate program of study offers both internship and thesis options. Our 33 hour, year-round program of study provides flexibility for practicing professionals as well as full-time graduate students - summer classes are an option. Students can reasonably expect to graduate in just 3 or 4 semesters even those with undergraduate degrees not related to the field. The courses reflect common competencies critical for professional success at the next level. A mixture of required core courses and electives allow students an ability to customize their program to fit their professional needs/aspirations.

 

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