Master of Sports Management
The Sports Management program is a professional degree offered fully online, focusing on administration and management within the sports industry. The curriculum is designed and strives to provide students with a comprehensive and well-rounded degree that will include content in the areas of finance, marketing, legal issues, event and facility management, sociology, ethics, and leadership as they apply to sports.
As a professional degree, an important part of the Sports Management program is a strong experiential learning component in the form of a required internship and other learning experiences within the sports industry throughout course work. Students will leave the program well prepared to be leaders within the disciplines related to sports administration.
The goals and learning outcomes of this program are:
Incorporate an understanding of ethical, legal, and socio-cultural issues in managerial decision-making and policy determinations in sports;
Employ sound principles of strategic planning, financial management, risk management, and human resource management in sports;
Apply fundamental knowledge and practical understanding of sports marketing, communication, and event management principles;
Utilize critical thinking and abstract reasoning skills in analyzing sports management issues and in managerial planning and decision-making;
Demonstrate information literacy and oral, written, and group communication skills;
Develop research skills and utilize sound theoretical frameworks relevant to the different aspects of the sports industry.
Potential Career Opportunities
A person with a professional degree in “Sports Management” can work in a variety of positions and settings within the sport industry including public relations, marketing, event and facility management, finance, and fundraising.
Employment opportunities are commonly found in positions such as:
- athletic directors,
- sports facilities manager,
- sport sales and promotion,
- public relations manager,
- sport marketing director,
- operations manager,
- sport event manager,
- sports agent, and
- student athlete success.
For more information visit the USU Catalog or USU Degree Finder.
Graduate Program Coordinator
Melissa Johnson
Program Coordinator II
Kinesiology and Health Science
Program Director
Travis Peterson
Associate Professor
Kinesiology and Health Science
Admissions
Prerequisite Requirements
Candidates for the sports management program are expected to have completed an undergraduate degree in good standing. There is no prerequisite or restriction on what undergraduate degrees are acceptable. Student are accepted from many different educational backgrounds.
Application Requirements
Students desiring to enroll in the sports management program must be admitted to the Utah State University School of Graduate studies. As students start an application they will create a log-in that will allow them to come back in and complete their applications. The application has two parts, the initial application and the supplemental items. Students must complete the initial application and pay the application fee before you can access the supplemental materials.
The supplemental materials require the following:
- Provide transcripts from all previously-attended colleges and universities to be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. USU alumni do not need to provide USU transcripts; the School of Graduate Studies have access and will pull them for you.
Transcripts sent by physical mail should be mailed to:
School of Graduate Studies
Utah State University
0900 Old Main Hill
Logan, Ut 84322-0900
Transcripts sent through the electronic clearinghouse should be emailed to graduateadmissions@usu.edu.
- Admission GPA of 3.0 or above. The admissions GPA is calculated based on the last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits taken, not the overall GPA.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation. All letters of recommendation should be professional references and at least one (1) letter should come from previous faculty members.
- Letters come directly from the referee, not the students. Students will include the contact information for referees in the application. The referees will then be contacted with instructions to submit the letters for the student.
- Statement of purpose responding to and addressing the questions stated in the prompt below:
- Prompt: Please upload a statement of purpose addressing why you are interested in the Masters of Sport Management program at Utah State University. Describe you interest in the sport management industry and why would you want a career in the industry. What makes you an ideal candidate for Masters of Sport Management program and a career in the sports industry? Highlight the aspects of your education, life attributes and career that have prepared you to succeed in the program. Where do you see yourself professionally and personally in five years?
- International students have additional requirements to meet
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Certified English Translations of Transcripts
For more information visit the USU Grad School website, steps to apply.
Admission Deadlines
Fall semester (August start date)
July 1
Spring Semester (January start date)
December 1
Summer Semester (May start date)
April 15
Estimated Cost of the Program
$15,246.26*
*Tuition and fees vary based on factors such as residency, student location (zip code), number of credits taken, and student level (undergraduate vs. graduate). Rates also change each year. This estimate assumes a Utah resident studying in the Logan area, completing the program in two years (four semesters), based on the current year’s tuition and fees.
USU Registrar Tuition & Payment 2025-2026 Tuition and Fee Table
Assistantships
The KHS Department offers graduate assistantship (GA) opportunities for students in Logan, Utah, who have been accepted into a KHS graduate program. To be considered for a GA position, students must complete both the GA application (submitted directly to the department) and the Graduate School admissions application by March 1. Assistantship positions are awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters.
More information: KHS Graduate Assistantships
Additional assistantships are available with USU Athletics for students in the Sports Management program. Reach out to the program director with questions.
Program Requirements
New Student Orientation
The MSM program organizes an orientation session for its incoming students. Upon acceptance into the program, students can expect to receive an email from the program director containing comprehensive details, including the confirmed date and other essential information about the orientation event.
Advising
Students in the KHS department receive guidance from both the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) and their Major Professor (faculty advisor/mentor). Together, these advisors help students meet program and graduation requirements, offering support throughout their progress toward earning a degree.
Graduate Program Coordinator
Graduate Program Coordinators (GPCs) are an important connection between graduate students, their departments, and the School of Graduate Studies. GPCs assist with graduate school paperwork, registration issues, deadlines, and degree completion requirements. They are often the first point of contact for student questions or concerns. If you're unsure who to contact, start with the GPC.
Major Professor/Faculty Advisor
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor by the program director when they enter the program. The advisor helps guide course selection, supports career planning, and assists with completing program requirements such as the internship and creative project. Advisors typically work with students throughout the program, though changes can be made if needed. Until an advisor is assigned, students can reach out to the program director with any questions.
Practicum Experiences
A key part of the Sports Management program is the internship and/or the master project, which provide valuable professional experience and hands-on learning.
Internship
Students complete three (3) credit hours of internship as part of their degree. The internship allows students to observe professionals and gain hands-on experience in their areas of interest within the sports industry. Typical settings include professional sports teams, collegiate athletics, and national sport organizations.
Students start by meeting with their faculty advisor to discuss career goals and explore internship options. Faculty advisors may suggest potential sites and provide contact information when available. Students are responsible for contacting internship sites, securing a position, and registering for credits in Banner.
Once the internship is secured, students work with their faculty advisor and internship site to set clear goals and objectives. Throughout the internship, students keep a log of their activities and hours. At the end of the experience, students present a final report on what they learned.
After registering for internship credits, students gain access to a Canvas course with detailed guidelines and instructions.
Creative Project
Some students may choose to complete a creative project as an elective in their degree plan. This project lets students apply their knowledge to a professional interest and develop their skills.
Students work with their faculty advisor to select a project related to Sports Management. The faculty supervisory committee must approve the project before students begin.
Students should first meet with their advisor to discuss project ideas. After agreeing on a topic, students register for master project credits through Banner.
The project concludes with a final written report, which students present to their committee.
Once registered, students will access a Canvas course with detailed instructions and guidelines.
General Program Requirements
The curriculum is designed to meet the program’s professional standards. However, faculty advisors will help each student create a study plan tailored to their background and career goals. In some cases, the student’s committee may approve electives outside the listed program. Students who have already completed parts of the core curriculum may substitute a required core course with a related course that better fits their interests in Sports Management.
- At least 15 credits must be at the 6000 level or above.
- Coursework below the 5000 level should be outside the student's graduate field and must be approved.
- Undergraduate or prerequisite courses are not included in the POS.
- Up to 12 transfer credits earned before starting at USU may count toward the program with approval and must be reported to the GPC.
- Credits in foreign languages, continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses below the 5000 level are not accepted.
| Total Credits | 30 |
| Minimum GPA* | 3.0 |
| Minimum Grade* | C |
| Completion of Internship and/or Master Project requirement | |
| Completion of all required Graduate School forms | |
*To earn a 3.0 GPA or higher, students must maintain a B average or better. While grades of C are allowed, they lower the overall GPA. To offset a C grade, students must earn A grades in two other courses with equivalent credits.