On-Campus Master of Science Degree in Sport Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions Information
1. Can I apply without possessing an undergraduate degree in Sport Management, Kinesiology, or Physical Education?
Applications from many disciplines are accepted. Although business, communications, and other sport management-related disciplines i.e., marketing, management, finance, law, accounting, public relations, and journalism may be preferred undergraduate degrees for the sport industry, students from other disciplines have been accepted as well.
2. Are there any course prerequisites for admission?
There are no course prerequisites.
3. Are standardized test scores required for the application review process?
Standardized test scores are no longer required for acceptance. Thus, submission of test scores (GRE, MAT, GMAT or LSAT) are optional for consideration.
4. How does the admissions process work, and are there interviews?
Once an applicant's materials are received, a review of their application is conducted by the Sport Management faculty to determine if the file is complete. Once the file is determined to be complete, either personal or phone interviews are scheduled with the candidates. Phone interviews are offered to candidates that either have incomplete files or may have extensive travel distances and costs to incur for a personal interview on campus. Please see the Admission Requirements page for details on how and when to apply.
5. Will you evaluate my credentials if they are incomplete?
A candidate's credentials that are incomplete may or may not be considered further. If the candidate is considered further, they will not be afforded an on-campus, personal interview, but instead may be granted a phone interview.
6. When will a decision be reached by the graduate faculty with respect to my application materials?
A decision on acceptance is made within 7-10 days of the interview. A letter is sent to each candidate interviewed.
7. How important is work experience in the admissions process?
Work experience and the interview are heavily weighted in the decision process. We are interested in accepting those candidates who can contribute to WVU as well as the sport industry.
8. Is there a doctoral program offered at WVU?
There is currently no doctoral degree offered in Sport Management at WVU. The College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences offers doctoral degree programs in other disciplines, including Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP) and Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE). Also, we have had several Sport Management graduates continue their education at WVU in Higher Education Administration in the College of Human Resources and Education.
Curriculum Information
1. Do I have to take all of the courses listed under "Degree Requirements"?
The curriculum consists of 36 credit hours, all of which are required.
2. Do I need to complete a Master's thesis or a comprehensive examination?
There is not a master’s thesis or comprehensive exam in the curriculum. Instead, each student is required to complete a 6-hour internship field experience that is on-site at a sport-related business or company.
3. What types of internship opportunities exist within the field of Sport Management?
There are many different internships available. The faculty coordinate the internship experience with each student individually, matching the student's interests and abilities with the host organization's needs. The goal of the internship is to further prepare the student for permanent employment in the sport industry. Students have been selected for internships in intercollegiate athletics, professional sports (major and minor league), and sport-related business research as Nike, NBC Sports, ESPN, and GMR Marketing, just to name a few. Please see Internship website link.
4. What is the typical semester (hourly) load for a graduate student in Sport Management?
Students should be expected to complete the 36-hour curriculum in a calendar year. Thus, each student will be enrolled for 15 credit hours of required course work in the Fall and Spring semesters, with the remaining six hours of internship to be completed summer term. For most students, the internship is usually completed as the final six hours.
Internship Information
1. Must I complete an internship to receive the degree?
The 6-hour internship is required for all graduate Sport Management students. Internships are developed and evaluated based on the following criteria: 1) the graduate student intern receives some compensation (monthly stipend, hourly wage, travel expenses, room and board) for the duration of the internship, and 2) there is a "reasonable" (better than 50-50) chance that the graduate student intern will be employed full-time at the conclusion of the internship.
2. How long does the internship typically last?
The typical internship lasts 6-9 months. However, some internships are as long as 10-12 months, especially intercollegiate athletic internships.
3. How many credits is the internship?
The internship is 6 credit-hour experience. It is usually an off-campus field experience for a minimum period of 15 weeks. The graduate student is expected to work on-site at a host organization a minimum of 40 hours per week. Each internship must be accompanied by a three-party signed contract among the host, the graduate student, and the Sport Management faculty. In addition, a graduate student is evaluated three times by their supervisor during their internship. These evaluations form the basis, along with the internship notebook, for the intern’s final grade.
4. Can I do my internship anywhere?
The internship can be done almost anywhere, including internationally, if it is sport-related and meets the duration requirements.
5. Will I need to complete a project to earn my internship credits?
An internship "project" is required as part of the experience. The project consists of a three-ring notebook that serves as a "cookbook" of one’s internship experience. The binder should consist of a table of contents and tabbed with sections to demonstrate the various parts of the internship. Each section should also contain a brief, typed explanation of the area the intern worked. The graduate student intern should collect and place into the notebook all materials one deals with in the course of fulfilling their daily internship responsibilities.
Sport Managment On-Campus Master's Degree Links
On-Campus Sport Management Master's Degree Main Page
Degree Requirements (Curriculum)
Jerry P. Wilkins Sport Management Scholarship for Leaders
Other Sport Management Links
Online Sport Management Master's Degree Program
College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Home Page
West Virginia University Home Page
Updated 9/30/2008 sb