Overview
Our Master of Science in Sport Management (MSSM) program prepares graduates to excel in the growing field of sport industry. This program emphasizes both the complex management skills needed to thrive in sport management as well as practical business skills applicable on a global scale. The program is appropriate for students wishing to begin a new job or to advance their current career.
Students enrolled in the MSSM program will focus on leadership skills, business ethics, and sport management in the areas of law, finance, and marketing. The curriculum includes essential courses in sport industry topics, as well as an emphasis on selected graduate business classes.
All MSSM classes are offered online. Students can complete the full program in two years or less.
The Master of Science in Sport Management degree requires the successful completion of 36 credit hours (18 credits in the sport management core, 12 credits in graduate level business, and 6 credits in either an internship or a master’s project).
There is also an option to add a post-baccalaureate certificate in Project Management or Organizational Development for a total of 42 credits.
Program Objectives
Students who complete the MSSM program should:
- Utilize the principles of management, marketing, finance, accounting, and governance to understand, evaluate, and analyze problems in the sport environment with the aim to make better business decisions.
- Demonstrate the professional skills and dispositions necessary for successful performance in the sport industry.
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate with various public and professional audiences through written texts, oral discussions, and appropriate technologies.
- Demonstrate willingness to use their skills to benefit and serve society through sport, and show a commitment to social justice in environments that foster respect for diversity and dignity of all.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the critical social, psychological, and philosophical issues of the sport environment.
- Understand, evaluate, and analyze emerging challenges, trends and initiatives in the sport environment.
MSSM Admission Requirements
Applications for admission are accepted year-round and are viewed on a rolling basis. For priority consideration, please apply by the following suggested deadline:
- July 15th to begin classes in the Fall semester
- December 1st to begin classes in the Spring semester
- April 1st to begin classes in the Summer semester
Applications received after these deadlines will be reviewed and accepted on a space-available basis.
Application Requirements
- Completed application; available online at www.msmary.edu/sportmasters.
- Resume
- Baccalaureate degree from accredited institution (official transcripts required)
- Student must demonstrate one of the following:
- Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher or
- Five full years of relevant work experience (resume required) or
- 500 minimum score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
In exceptional circumstances, the Provost may waive one or more of these requirements.
Admission Status
- Full Admit: Applicants who satisfy at least one of the three criteria stated above are granted full admission to graduate study.
- Provisional Admit: A student who does not fulfill admission requirements but who shows promise as a graduate student may be granted a provisional admission. This status allows the student to complete up to nine graduate credits, and full admission is awarded upon successful completion of nine graduate credits with a grade of “B” or better in each course.
For applicants who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree at point of application, any offer of admission is contingent on the successful conferral of a degree and submission of final official transcripts.
Graduate Non-Degree Seeking Students
Mount St. Mary’s University graduate programs offer graduate courses for individuals interested in non-degree studies for continuing education, professional development, or personal enrichment. Up to six credits taken as a non-degree seeking student may apply towards degree requirements for a masters or certificate program in the Richard J. Bolte, Jr. School of Business. Students must take pre-requisites specified. Students who have never taken graduate coursework at Mount St. Mary’s University must complete the non-degree seeking graduate application prior to registering for courses, as well as submit an unofficial undergraduate transcript showing a bachelor’s degree conferred.
Undergraduate Prerequisites
Prerequisite competence in accounting one and two, microeconomics, and statistics is required for courses MBA 503 - Financial Reporting and Control , MBA 504 - Global Business and Economics and MBA 506 - Quantitative and Statistical Methods for Managers , respectively. These requirements may be satisfied by documentation of undergraduate study.
If you have not completed these prerequisites or desire a “refresher,” the Mount recommends online, non-credited academic leveling courses to meet your needs.
Students should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Transfer of Graduate Credits
See Graduate Academic Policies
How to Request Transfer Credit
- Request an application for transfer credit from the MSSM office.
- Request official transcripts from the institution(s) from which you earned the credits.
- Submit an official catalog course description and/or syllabus for course(s) you wish to be considered.
Degree Requirements
Students are responsible for ensuring that all of the following graduation requirements have been satisfied:
- Completion of all undergraduate prerequisites and a minimum of 36 graduate hours.
- A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
- Completion of all required courses within the five-year time limit.
Requests for time extensions must be submitted in writing and may be granted at the discretion of the graduate business program director. No foreign language or comprehensive examination is required.
Course Waivers
If a student has a strong undergraduate background or significant professional experiences in a field, he or she may request to have a core course waived by the director. A waiver is not an award of credit, but it permits the student to substitute an approved higher-level course in place of the core requirement. Waivers are awarded to strengthen a student’s academic program.
Students may request waivers for a maximum of nine semester hours for a degree program or a maximum of three semester hours per certificate. The combination of transferred and waived credits may not exceed nine semester hours for degree programs or three semester hours per certificate.
Students interested in pursuing a course waiver may request an application for waiver from the program director.
Enrollment in Multiple Programs
See Graduate Academic Policies
Academic Sessions
Each academic semester comprises two parts, Session I and Session II. MSSM Sessions occur on a year-round basis, with six academic sessions per year with courses offered on an accelerated basis, meeting once a week, 6:00 - 9:30 p.m., over 8 weeks.
Fall Semester: Fall I Session and Fall II Session
Spring Semester: Spring I Session and Spring II Session
Summer Semester: Summer I Session and Summer II Session
Classes require readings and/or assignments to be completed before the first class meeting.
Ethical Standards
Mount St. Mary’s University believes that ethical conflicts and choices are inherent in business decision making. Proper ethical behavior exists on a plane above the law, and managers should be familiar with a host of situations involving the application of ethical standards.
The discussion of business cases or situations having ethical implications is an important part of the Mount St. Mary’s Master of Science in Sport Management.
Because of the nature of Mount St. Mary’s and its commitment to moral/ethical standards, ethical considerations are a visible part of many of the courses. Faculty include an identifiable component on the application of ethical principles in our core courses. We believe the nature of the University requires that Mount St. Mary’s offer insight to managers on how to deal with ethical issues.
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