University Senate                                                                      Proposed: May 5, 2006

                               

                                                                                                Adopted:

 

 

RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH

 

AN M.S. PROGRAM IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT

 

IN THE SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

 

 

WHEREAS, the Education Committee of the University Senate has favorably reviewed the proposal from the School of Continuing Education to establish a program leading to an M.S. in Sports Management, and

 

WHEREAS, the committee is satisfied that the proposal has the approval of the executive committee of the School of Continuing Education, and

 

WHEREAS, the committee is satisfied that the proposal has the approval and enthusiastic support of the Director of Athletics, and

 

WHEREAS, the proposed program does not compete with any existing program at the University,

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that an M.S. in Sports Management be established with the proviso that the committee will review the program in five years.

 

 

                                                                                                Proponent:

 

                                                                                                Committee on Education

 

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Program Description

Columbia’s Master of Science in Sports Management is a rigorous, industry-specific program designed to train students for management positions in all sectors of the sports industry. The program takes effective advantage of Columbia’s traditional strengths in finance, marketing, management, and law, as well as its location in New York City – a nexus of the Sports industry.

 

The 36 point (12 course) curriculum is designed to broadly educate sports managers about the industry while providing industry-specific training in finance, personnel management, law, marketing, and facility/event superintendence. This combination of broad-based and industry-specific skill training is a hallmark of the program, and is evident in both the content of individual courses and the sequence in which degree candidates take the courses. 

 

Curriculum Overview

The degree requires satisfactory completion of 36 points, or 12 three-credit courses, consisting of a foundation course; three courses in accounting and finance (two taken in the Graduate School of Business); two courses in Marketing (one taken in the Graduate School of Business); five topical courses; and a final project. Courses are taken in the following sequence:

 

TERM I

SPRT K4220 Social-Historical Foundations of American

Sport (3 pts)

BUSI K4009 Financial Accounting (3 pts)

 

TERM II

SPRT K4410 Leadership and Personnel Management in the Sports Industry (3 pts)

BUSI K4003 Corporate Finance (3 pts)

 

TERM III

SPRT K4360 Sports Business and Finance (3 pts)

BUSI K4020 Introduction to Marketing/Marketing

Management (3 pts)

 

TERM IV

SPRT K4540 Advanced Sports Marketing (3 pts)

SPRT K4620 Sport Facility and Event Management (3 pts)

 

TERM V

SPRT K4460 Sports Law and Ethics (3 pts)

SPRT K4740 Intercollegiate Athletics Administration (3 pts)

 

TERM VI

SPRT K4840 Diversity in Sport (3 pts)

SPRT K4980 Internship and MS Project (3 pts)

 

Curriculum Details

The program’s foundation course (SPRT 4220 Social-Historical Foundations of American Sport) provides students with a thorough introduction to the history and socio-economic foundations of their field, with specific emphasis on the field’s seminal literature.

 

The finance sequence requires students to complete general background courses in both financial accounting (BUSI K4009) and corporate finance (BUSI K4003) and then a rigorous, hands-on course in sports business and finance (SPRT 4360). This sequence is designed to successfully train students in the basics of financial accounting, as well as their specific application to the sports industry.

 

The marketing sequence requires completion of an introductory course in the science of marketing (BUSI K4020 Introduction to Marketing and Marketing Management), and then an applied course which focuses specifically on marketing in the sports industry (SPRT K4540 Advanced Sports Marketing).

 

Students next complete a series of courses designed to expand and enhance their industry-specific skills, including required courses in Leadership and Management (SPRT K4410), Facility and Event Management (SPRT K4460), and Sports Law and Ethics (SPRT 4460).  Two advanced courses, normally taken in a student’s final year of study, build upon previous coursework and introduce students to other managerial issues: SPRT K4840 Diversity in Sport focuses on issues of race, gender, and ethnicity as they apply to management and competition, while a required collegiate administration course (SPRT 4740 Intercollegiate Athletics Administration) permits students to apply the skills learned in the program to the college environment. In their final term, all students complete a hands-on, applied internship in a sports environment of their choice.

 

Program Information

The program is designed to accommodate the professional obligations of students who are employed full time, and can be completed in six consecutive semesters. However, the curriculum is rigorous and concentrated and demands a serious commitment of time and energy. Students are expected to devote significant time to completing reading assignments, class assignments, and term projects outside of class. All classes are held in the evening on Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus at Broadway and 116th Street

 

Program Benefits

The program is taught by Columbia University faculty and expert practitioners, governed by Columbia's standard of academic excellence. Graduates will obtain a unique, in-depth overview of the field, as well as mastery of industry-specific techniques. Students are provided with comprehensive and individualized guidance during their academic career, and have access to the full range of student services, including the Center for Career Education.

 

Potential Candidates

The program is designed to meet the needs of a range of individuals, including:

·          those working in the industry who hold a bachelor’s degree and who would like to advance their career by completing a graduate program that offers industry-specific training

·          students with undergraduate degrees in sports or recreation management who are looking to complete a graduate degree in the field

·          retired athletes or those seeking to turn their passion for sports into a career by completing a rigorous program that will provide them with the skills required of a professional sports manager

·          those with advanced degrees in business, law, or journalism seeking to expand their credentials in the sports world by completing a program with an industry-specific focus.

 

Admission Requirements

All candidates will be required to hold at least a Bachelor's degree and submit two recommendations and a Statement of Purpose (350-500 words) addressing their interest in the field and how the program relates to his or her current employment and immediate and long-term professional plans. The GRE is not required, but recommended.