Master of Arts in Sport Management
Training for aspiring sport leaders!
This graduate program was rated by SportsBusiness as the best in the Pacific Northwest and No. 26 in the world.
The mission of the Sport Management master’s degree program is to equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary for diverse careers as managers and administrators within the sport industry. Additionally, the program prepares you for advanced graduate studies in sport management and fosters research that contributes to the industry’s growing body of knowledge.
Our courses are designed to expand your academic, intellectual and professional horizons. Simply put, to shape you into the best graduate you can become!
This includes both a thesis and non-thesis option.
What you’ll get
Faculty who care
The Sport Management master’s degree was designed by expert faculty that reflects the industry’s latest advances and best practices, presenting an equally theoretical and practical approach to skills and knowledge critical to sustainable success.
The program faculty see educating students as a team effort aimed at making sports and societies the best they can be. Per the program handbook: “We are committed to leading this endeavor—but cannot succeed in achieving personal and societal progress without your involvement and contribution. The Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci noted, ‘Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master.’ It is worth learning from the best.”
Student opportunity
Both the program, the Washington State University Athletic Department, and wider athletic settings provide many opportunities for practical engagement and professional development.
This is done through graduate research, internships, etc.
What You’ll Learn
Student learning outcomes
Student learning outcomes for the Sport Management graduate program include the ability to:
- Incorporate an understanding of ethical, legal, and socio-cultural issues in managerial decision-making and policy determinations in sport;
- Employ sound principles of strategic planning, financial management, risk management, and human resource management in sport;
- Apply fundamental knowledge and practical understanding of sport marketing, communication, and event management principles;
- Utilize critical thinking and abstract reasoning skills in analyzing sport 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 sport industry.
Course requirements
Thesis credit overview
| Graded credits | Credits |
|---|---|
| Sport Management Core | 12 |
| Theoretical & Social Foundations of Education | 3 |
| Research Core | 6 |
| Sport Management Electives | 9 |
| TOTAL required graded credits | 30 |
| Thesis credits (SPMGT 700) | 4 |
| TOTAL ungraded credits | 4 |
| TOTAL program required credits | 34 |
Non-thesis credit overview
| Ungraded credits | Credits |
|---|---|
| Sport Management Core | 12 |
| Theoretical & Social Foundations of Education | 3 |
| Research Core | 3 |
| Sport Management Electives | 12 |
| TOTAL required graded credits | 30 |
| Non-thesis credits (SPMGT 702) | 4 |
| TOTAL ungraded credits | 4 |
| TOTAL program required credits | 34 |
Apply
Schedule
Fall 2024: Aug. 19–Dec. 13
Spring 2025: Jan. 06–May 02
Fall 2025: Aug. 18-Dec. 12
Spring 2026: Jan. 12-May 08
There are also a variety of summer courses that students can complete.