Program Overview

Master of Arts in Sports Administration (MSA)

The Master of Arts in Sports Administration (MSA) program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the sports industry, including its business, management, and marketing aspects. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise necessary to succeed in a variety of roles within the sports industry.

Program Overview

The MSA program is a 12-course, 36-credit hour program that can be completed in 12-18 months. The program is designed to be flexible, with courses offered in a variety of formats, including online, on-campus, and hybrid.

Course Descriptions

The MSA program includes a range of courses that cover various aspects of the sports industry, including:

• MSA 400-0: Sports in the Social Context: This course introduces students to the sociology of sports, exploring the history and social phenomena that have shaped the world of sports.
• MSA 401-0: Introduction to Sports Analytics: This course provides a broad introduction to data analysis and statistical methods as they relate to the sports industry.
• MSA 402-0: Fundamentals of Sports Marketing: This course provides students with a theoretical and practical understanding of marketing principles and techniques as they relate to the sports industry.
• MSA 403-0: Sports Organizations: Leadership Theory & Application: This course develops students' understanding of organizational frameworks and facilitates critical analysis of organizational theories and leadership styles.
• MSA 404-0: Sports Business: Finance, Accounting and Economics: This course covers financial management and managerial economics as they relate to the sports industry.
• MSA 405-0: Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports Management: This course introduces students to the theories and concepts of applied ethics, focusing on legal questions, race and gender issues, and public relations.
• MSA 406-0: Sports Public Relations and Crisis Communication: This course examines the implications and mitigation of crisis and risk in the sports industry, with an emphasis on managing public relations.
• MSA 407-0: Sports Labor Relations and Negotiation: This course focuses on the legal issues of labor relations and negotiations as they relate to the sports industry.
• MSA 412-0: Fundamentals of Sponsorship for Sports Marketers and Administrators: This course provides a deep dive into sponsorship and its impact on corporate marketers and sports organizations.
• MSA 413-0: Advertising Project: Sports Brand Management: This course presents students with a practical, hands-on opportunity to work on current issues facing actual sports-industry businesses.
• MSA 421-DL: The Business of Esports: This course introduces students to the various elements unique to the esports ecosystem, including game genres, competitive structures, and organizational structures.
• MSA 424-DL: Event Management for Sports: This course addresses major trends and successful business practices in event management, with a focus on sporting and sports marketing events.
• MSA 430-DL: Sports Operations: This course provides students with a working knowledge of the issues facing sports teams and organizations, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
• MSA 441-0: Complexities of Management and Marketing in the Olympic Movement: This course analyzes the actions of the International Olympic Committee and studies the bidding process for Olympic games.
• MSA 445-0: Entrepreneurship in the Sports Industry: This course is designed to help prepare students for a career path in sports entrepreneurship, with a focus on building businesses and raising capital.
• MSA 451-0: Information Technology in Sports: This course provides an interactive tour of technology, related products/services, and the current and future state of technology as it relates to sports.
• MSA 453-0: College Sports Management - Internal Affairs: This course examines the core tenets of sport management that address the day-to-day internal workings of a collegiate athletic department.
• MSA 454-0: College Sports Management - External Affairs: This course examines the core tenets of sport management related to the outward-facing responsibilities of a collegiate athletic department.
• MSA 455-0: NCAA Compliance: This course provides students with a working knowledge of NCAA compliance issues, with a focus on Division I.
• MSA 457-0: Front Office Operations: This course provides students with a working knowledge of the issues facing sports teams and organizations, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
• MSA 458-DL: Digital Media in Sports: This course examines the impact of new technology on the business of sports, with a focus on topics such as Over-the-Top (OTT) video distribution and social media.
• MSA 460-0: Deviance and Violence in Sports: This course examines the social and cultural meaning of deviance and violence in sport, with a focus on the prevalence of violence and the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
• MSA 463-0: Globalization in Sports: This course develops students' understanding of the global impact of sport, with a focus on the ways in which sport has developed internationally and influenced culture, economics, nationalism, and social values.
• MSA 490-0: Special Topics: This course is offered periodically to address special topics in Sports Administration.
• MSA 498-0: Capstone Class: This course is the culmination of the MSA program, demonstrating a student's mastery of the curriculum and a firm understanding of the fundamental principles that guide the diverse field of sports administration.
• MSA 499-0: Independent Study: This course is a customized course of study undertaken by a single student under the guidance of an instructor.
• MSA 579-0: Practicum in Sports Administration: This course provides a framework for the development of professional skills throughout an internship, with a focus on networking, professionalism, and problem-solving.
• MSA 590-0: Thesis Research: This course is an alternative to the Capstone class, allowing students to complete a thesis that represents the culmination of their experience in the program.