COURSE CURRICULUM

The Sport Management graduate program (non-thesis and thesis options) is designed to prepare students for leadership and administrative roles in the sports and hospitality industry by combining business, management, and sport-specific training. In the non-thesis option, students complete a 30-credit-hour program that includes 21 hours of core coursework covering key areas such as sport law and risk management (HSM 521), venue and facility operations (HSM 551), sport marketing, sales, and public relations (HSM 561), financial management in sport and hospitality organizations (HSM 575), international sport strategy (HSM 559), and research methods (HES 509). These courses are intended to build a strong foundation in both the operational and strategic aspects of the sport industry. In addition to the core requirements, students choose 9 credit hours of approved electives, selecting from courses such as sport management principles, leadership in hospitality and sport, consumer behavior, and emerging trends in sport business. The non-thesis track culminates in a capstone requirement, which can be completed either through a comprehensive exam or an e-Portfolio project that documents professional development, academic learning, and applied experience in the sport industry. This portfolio is designed to demonstrate a student’s readiness for employment by showcasing skills, achievements, and applied knowledge. Alternatively, the thesis option requires 30 total credit hours as well, including similar core courses but replacing electives and capstone work with 6 hours of thesis research (HSM 599). The thesis track emphasizes independent academic research in sport management under faculty supervision. Overall, both pathways are structured to prepare students for careers in areas such as sport marketing, team operations, facility management, event coordination, and sports business leadership, with the choice between applied professional preparation and research-focused academic development.