Graduate Studies

Sport Management
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Integrated Program | Profile

Chairperson: Michael Lukkarinen
Graduate Coordinator, Sport Management: Jeremy Robinett
Office: Knoblauch Hall 140
Telephone: (309) 298-1967
E-mail: RPTH@wiu.edu
Website:  wiu.edu/RPTH
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Quad Cities

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Minsun Doh, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
  • Michael Lukkarinen, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Donald J. McLean, Ph.D., University of Waterloo
  • Cindy K. Piletic, Ph.D., Texas Woman's University
  • Robert Porter, Ph.D., University of Georgia

Associate Professors

  • Katherine Broughton, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Megan Owens, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Jeremy Robinett, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign

Associate Graduate Faculty

Assistant Professors

  • Young Gin Choi, Ph.D., Kansas State University
  • Jiyoung Park, Ph.D., Northern Colorado University

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

 Program Description

The Department of Recreation, Park, & Tourism Hospitality offers the Master of Science degree in Sport Management. The mission of the degree program is to develop students’ conceptual skills, theoretical comprehension, and practical knowledge in order that they are prepared to become the next generation of leaders in the sport industry.

The coursework emphasizes strategies for managing and marketing sport enterprises as well as economic and financial applications of sport. In addition, students are exposed to the cultural, ethical, legal, political, and social underpinnings of sport in the United States and around the world.

An M.S. degree in Sport Management leads to a variety of professional career choices in the sports industry. Graduates work in school, university and college settings as athletic administrators, in professional or amateur sports areas, and in the private or public sports business arena.

 Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program

Please refer to the Integrated Programs section for details and program offerings.

 Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 OR 3.2 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work
  • Probationary admission status – 2.75-2.99. Probationary students will earn full admission status after completion of nine graduate hours with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
  • Statement of intent:

    • Applicants should indicate why they want to attend graduate school, why they chose to apply at Western Illinois University, and what contributions they can make to the program

    • Applicants should discuss proposed area of academic emphasis, career aspirations, short- and long-term academic/professional goals, previous academic and work experiences, and interest in physical activity and sport

  •  

    A current resume
  • Three letters of recommendation (only required if applying for a graduate or teaching assistantship position) – two must be written from an advisor and/or professor addressing applicant’s academic performance and/or potential for graduate school
  • International students whose native language is not English must have an overall TOEFL score of 73 or greater (internet based)

Those applicants not meeting the above stated undergraduate GPA (less than 2.75), but who document exceptional post-graduate work experiences, a successful graduate record, and provide examples of written academic work to support the potential to be successful in this program, may be considered for probationary admission on an individual case.

A maximum of 9 hours of graduate course work completed before a student is admitted to the Sport Management program may count toward meeting the requirements of the master’s degree.

 Degree Requirements

For specific course recommendations, students should consult with the graduate coordinator of the program. Each student is required to complete both KIN 506 Measurement and Statistical Analysis, and SM 512 Research Methods in Sport Management as well as eight Sport Management content courses.

Capstone—All students must complete an internship and synthesis paper of the internship experience as a requirement for graduation.

The following requirements must be completed:

I. Thesis: 38–40 s.h.

KIN 506 Measurement and Statistical Analysis (3)
KIN 601 Thesis (3)
SM 512 Research Methods in Sport Management (3)
SM 545 Sport Facility and Event Management (3)
SM 546 Sport Governance and Policy (3)
SM 547 Financial Issues in Sport (3)
SM 548 Sport and Cultural Identities (3)
SM 555 Sport Marketing (3)
SM 558 Organizational Theory in Sport (3)
SM 561 Public and Media Relations in Sport (3)
SM 564 Legal Issues in Sport (3)
SM 620 Internship in Sport Management (4–6)

II. Non-Thesis: 42 s.h.

KIN 506 Measurement and Statistical Analysis (3)
SM 512 Research Methods in Sport Management (3)
SM 545 Sport Facility and Event Management (3)
SM 546 Sport Governance and Policy (3)
SM 547 Financial Issues in Sport (3)
SM 548 Social and Ethical Issues in Sport (3)
SM 555 Sport Marketing (3)
SM 558 Organizational Theory in Sport (3)
SM 561 Public and Media Relations in Sport (3)
SM 564 Legal Issues in Sport (3)
SM 620 Internship in Sport Management (4–6)
Approved Electives (6–8)

Graduate students may transfer in up to nine semester hours of credit earned in a related field with departmental graduate committee approval.

 Course Descriptions

Kinesiology (KIN)

506 (previously KIN 511) (cross-listed with HS 506) Measurement and Statistical Analysis. (3) The application of techniques used to organize, analyze, and interpret statistical data for health and behavioral sciences. Topics include measures of central tendency, measures of variability, percentiles, sampling, correlation, standard scores, and tests of significance.

601 Thesis. (3) Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Successful completion of KIN 599.

Sport Management (SM)

512 Research Methods in Sport Management. (3) Research techniques employed in graduate work. Methods used in solving problems common to kinesiology and evaluating research projects in these fields.

545 Sport Facility and Event Management. (3) A comprehensive review and analysis of the management of sport facilities and the process of managing events held at these facilities.

546 Sport Governance and Policy. (3) An examination of the power and authority of governing bodies as they determine the mission, policy, membership, and structure of their respective amateur or professional sport organizations.

547 Financial Issues in Sport. (3) An examination of the financial status of intercollegiate athletics and professional sports leagues in today’s marketplace. Topics such as budgeting, resource utilization, and potential sources of revenue will be addressed through financial analyses. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

548 Sport and Cultural Identities. (3) Investigate the production of cultural identities through interactions of popular culture and media, sport, and sporting institutions.

555 Sport Marketing. (3) This course is designed to give sport management students an overview of marketing principles and procedures from a managerial perspective. The course is designed to help students develop an awareness of the terminology, concepts, and techniques which are part of the work of sport marketing. The course relies upon lectures, class and group projects and discussions, and resource personnel to facilitate the learning process. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

558 Organizational Theory in Sport. (3) A comprehensive study focusing on organizational behavior and processes relating to amateur, interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional sports.

561 Public and Media Relations in Sport. (3) A comprehensive study of the principles, concepts, and problems for managing public and media relations in sport organizations.

564 Legal Issues in Sport. (3) An examination of the function of the legal system and risk management in sport, including potential legal problems and possible solutions faced by personnel involved with sport and physical education.

620 Internship in Sport Management. (4–6) Supervised experiences in the various aspects of sport management involving secondary or college athletic directors, or professional sports organizations. Prerequisites: Completion of 30 hours of coursework, including the sport management program core courses, and permission of the instructor.