Master of Science in Sport Management
Be a winning leader.There’s nothing like the thrill of sports, and with an MS in Sport Management, you can stay around them for the length of your career. UIndy's program prepares you for a variety of options in athletics administration, letting you develop expertise in many areas, from public relations to revenue generation. Being so close to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), universities, conference offices, professional sport organizations, and Olympic governing bodies, gives you many opportunities for networking, even while in school, putting you that much closer to your winning career.
- Ranked #3 (out of 25) Master's in Sport Management by SportsDegreesOnline.org (2024)
- Ranked #19 (out of 3,000+) Master's in Sport Management by Intelligent.com (2023)
- Ranked #15 (out of 229) Master's in Sport Management by Sports Management Degree Guide (2022)
Advantages
- The first program in Indiana to be accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)
- Opportunity to engage in relevant research and real-world projects
- Indianapolis location is ideal for internships and networking (10 minutes from downtown Indy)
- Hybrid course model lets you complete the majority of the coursework online
- Each student receives guidance from a mentor in the sport industry.
Learn More
- About the Program
- Admission Requirements
- Direct Freshman Admission Option
- Tuition & Aid
- Meet Our Faculty
Open Houses
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Learn about the opportunities provided by UIndy's Sport Management Master's program from students, faculty members, and alumni.
Networking with industry leaders
At UIndy, we know that in the business of sport management, networking is key. Indianapolis is home to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), universities, and conference offices from all three NCAA division levels, and various sports governing bodies, and professional sport organizations, giving you the opportunity to meet and work with practitioners who have a wide variety of both experiences and contacts.
Internships will give you a chance to show off your skills in compliance, facility operations management, media relations, development, and other aspects of intercollegiate athletics. We connect you with industry leaders who will serve as a valuable source of advice and professional development to help you advance your career.
These mentors come from the NCAA, various conference offices, and university athletic departments, professional sport organizations, and sport governing bodies. And with the program's faculty-to-student ratio of 1:15, you'll also be guaranteed to get the personal attention you need in the classroom.
Career Opportunities
The MS in sport management prepares you for a variety of roles in athletic administration, including:
- Compliance
- Facility/operations management
- Ticket office management
- Development (sales, sponsorship, fundraising)
- Public relations
- Business office management
- Human resource management
Learn from Current professionals
Each course is taught by a UIndy faculty member and a co-instructor who is a professional from the field. The professional brings a wealth of knowledge, ensuring students are getting the skills, knowledge, and experience they need for a career in sports. Our co-instructors have an average of 30 years of experience and are currently employed by the NCAA, a professional sport organization, an intercollegiate athletic department, and a well known fitness organization.
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Watch Kiara Scott discuss how the mentor requirement has benefited her.
About the Master of Science in Sport Management Program
The Master of Science in Sport Management program at UIndy focuses upon content areas relevant to aspiring sport industry practitioners.
Program Length & Format
Students choose whether to complete the program in an accelerated format (12 months) or standard format (21 months) or even as a part-time student, completing one course per semester. Full-time students are part of a cohort. Part-time students move in and out of the cohort as their program progresses. Our hybrid course model lets you complete most of your coursework online while meeting face-to-face several times each semester with an expert practitioner.
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of 33 credit hours. It allows you to develop expertise in various segments related to the sports industry, including public relations, operations, revenue generation, risk management, human resource management, and financial management. Course content is accessible through BrightSpace, UIndy's online learning and resource portal. Through each course's BrightSpace site, you can view lectures, participate in Wikis and discussion forums, download project details, and submit assignments at your convenience.
In addition to the courses focused upon these content areas, students further enhance their education through experiential learning opportunities that are achieved through the internship component of the program.
Students will engage in relevant research and real-world projects to showcase their knowledge and critical thinking abilities. Examples include: assist in the implementation of championship events, with the NCAA, Horizon League, Great Lakes Valley Conference, and/or the Indiana Sports Corp; create and present NCAA championship bid proposals, create and present NBA sponsorship proposals, create strategic communication plans.
Students are required to complete two internships. Internships can be completed in a variety of settings. Program faculty will work with each student to create a plan that fits his or her individual interests and career goals. Current practitioners seeking their degree can use their current employment/experience to fulfill the internship requirements. Students will complete a total of 300 internship hours, either at one job site or split between two sites.
When can I start?
New students begin their studies in the fall of each year. The priority application deadline is April 15, with applications being considered until the cohort is filled. You must meet or exceed all admission requirements and be accepted into the program before enrolling in classes.
Accreditation
The sport management degree programs at the University of Indianapolis has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, CO, USA. The following program is accredited by COSMA: Master of Science in Sport Management.
UIndy's sport management programs were the first in Indiana to be accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). Accreditation protects the interests of students, their parents, the academic, and potential employers by ensuring that educational programs have attained a level that meets or exceeds standards that were developed by experts in the field. Accreditation also ensures that students demonstrate a certain set of skills and abilities, as reflected in the accreditation criteria.
COSMA offers the sport industry, students, and parents the assurance that graduates from accredited programs are of a high quality. Programs that have gone through the accreditation process are in a continuous cycle of improvement and collect and analyze data on student learning every year. Click below to learn more about our program outcomes, measurements, and efforts to continually improve student learning and job preparedness.
Notification of Student Achievement and Program-Level Outcomes
MS in Sport Management Admission Requirements
Programs within the Department of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Sciences, utilize a holistic approach to applicant review. We consider ALL aspects of the application, not just academic history. If your GPA falls below the suggested GPA requirement, please reach out to our Admissions Counselors to discuss your options.
The priority application deadline is April 15. Applications will continue being considered until the cohort is filled or July 1. You must meet or exceed all admission requirements and be accepted into the program before enrolling in classes.
To apply, you must submit the following:
- UIndy online application
- $25 application fee
- Resume
- Bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Official transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate institution attended (sent directly from each institution's registrar's office)
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for full admission to the MS in Sport Management program. If your cumulative GPA falls below the 3.0 GPA requirement, we can review your experience, personal statement and academic history for potential conditional admission.
- Two letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters may be written by your workplace supervisors or former college professors. Individuals providing recommendations must be outside of your immediate family. Individuals providing recommendations may not include your classmates or teammates. At least one recommendation should be written by an individual who is familiar with your academic accomplishments as an undergraduate and/or graduate student.
- A three-page, double-spaced personal statement highlighting your educational and career goals.
This program is designed with courses taken in a specific sequence; therefore, transfer of courses from other programs and universities will not generally be accepted.
International students whose undergraduate coursework was not completed at an English-speaking institution must submit an official report of their TOEFL scores. A minimum score of 100 internet-based total is the minimum requirement for application.
You are required to submit an official course-by-course credential evaluation report of your transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended outside the United States. You may select any credential evaluation service listed as a current member of NACES or AICE. Once you have chosen an evaluation service, follow instructions on their site regarding how to submit your transcripts. Please have the evaluation service send an official course-by-course credential evaluation report of your transcripts directly to the University of Indianapolis.
See full list of the international requirements
Unless otherwise noted, send all information to:
University of Indianapolis
Admissions Office
1400 E. Hanna Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46227
or
Criminal Background Check
In order to protect future patients/clients and sites, internship and practicum students may be required to have criminal background checks prior to being accepted at a specific site placement. In some circumstances, this process may be required to meet professional licensure requirements. A criminal history may affect placement and/or licensure, and in some cases, disqualify a student from a specific placement.
Required Health Documentation
Students in the KHSS programs must comply with all health requirements. Health requirements are tracked throughout the program in order to ensure students remain in compliance with internship, practicum, and/or site requirements. Proof of immunity and/or vaccinations may be required. Additionally, some students may be required to have a physical exam completed by a primary health provider, as well as, proof of health insurance prior to acceptance for certain site placements.
The Direct Freshman Guaranteed Admission option is designed for incoming freshmen who have declared sport management as a graduate major in conjunction with any undergraduate major.
Tuition & Aid
- View Graduate Tuition Rates
Tuition must be paid one month prior to the beginning of each semester. Students must purchase or rent their own books and course materials for each class. - Financial Aid for Graduate Students
UIndy offers a variety of financial assistance options for eligible students.
Stay Informed About This Program
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