Sport Management – Online
Department of Kinesiology and Health Education
Designed for
Working professionals looking to move into or advance in the sports industry—whether in event and facility operations, ethics and law, or sports media and communication. Our students will be motivated to combine strategic thinking with practical experience to succeed in a competitive industry.
Career Objective
Graduates of the program are prepared to manage organizations, people, facilities, marketing strategies and events related to sports and to move into leadership roles across the industry, including team operations, athletic administration, sponsorship and marketing, and event management. The program equips students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in professional teams, collegiate athletics, nonprofit organizations and global sports enterprises.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Spring, Fall
Deadline to Apply:
Spring – October 1
Fall – May 1
Length of Program: Flexible, 30 credit hours
Program Location: Online
GRE Required? YES
Advance Your Career Online
The online version of the Sport Management M.Ed. offers the same benefits as the in-person program, but with the flexibility to complete it from anywhere while continuing to work full time. Other advantages of the program include:
- Small class size. Cohorts are limited to 25 students to ensure a high level of engagement with professors.
- Can be completed in as little as two years.
- No thesis required.
- Internship program with UT Athletics.
- Access to UT Austin’s vast alumni network.
Students of all academic backgrounds are welcome; no previous business or sport coursework is required.
Primary Contact
Emily Sparvero
(512) 970-8593
Billing Inquiries
Florian Hemme
Assistant Professor of Instruction
Registration Inquiries
Phillip Salazar
Graduate Program Administrator
(512) 232-6015
Program Overview
Application Requirements
Applicants must have an undergraduate degree and at least one year of full-time work experience. The GRE is required. You can waive the GRE requirement if you have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher and meet either of the following criteria:
- Have a previous graduate degree or
- Have three years of professional working experience
The institution code for The University of Texas at Austin is 6882
International applicants must submit the required, official TOEFL or IELTS score.
Individuals who do not meet the professional experience requirement may petition for conditional admission. Any individual who is accepted without the requisite experience will need to register for and complete an additional 6 semester credit hours of supervised internship as part of the degree program. This would bring the total required hours to 36.
Program Requirements
Courses are completed in 6-week sessions. Two 6-week sessions will be offered in each long semester (Fall and Spring), and one 6-week session will be offered over the summer. Students may complete one or two courses per session. Each course is worth three credit hours. Ten 3-credit courses are required to earn a degree.
- Organizational Behavior in Sport, KIN 395
- Sport Marketing, KIN 395
- Human Resource Management in Sport Organizations, KIN 395
- Legal Issues in Sport, KIN 395
- Facility & Event Management, KIN 395
- Ethics in Sport, KIN 395
- Strategic Management in Sport Organizations, KIN 395
- Leadership in Sport Organizations, KIN 395
- Theories and Issues in Sport Management, KIN 395
Graduate Placements
Our graduates hold positions in various areas of the sport industry, including marketing, event management, sponsorship and finance. As a graduate of this program, you will be a competitive candidate for positions in
- High school sport administration.
- Collegiate athletics.
- Professional sport organizations.
- Fitness centers.
- Youth organizations.
- Parks and recreation departments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of tuition?
The cost of tuition is $675 per semester credit hour. The degree consists of 10 3-credit hour courses, so the total cost of tuition is $20,250.
Do I have to complete an internship?
No. An internship is not part of the 10-course sequence required for the degree. If you wish to complete an internship for course credit, you should discuss this with Dr. Sparvero.
Can I use my veteran’s benefits?
You can use GI Bill tuition benefits toward your tuition. However, students in the online program are not eligible for the Hazelwood exemption. For more details, or to discuss your particular situation, contact the Dean of Students office.
Am I eligible for financial aid?
Students in this program are eligibile for federal financial aid. For additional information, contact the Financial Aid office. At this time, we do not offer merit-based scholarships.
How quickly (or slowly) can I finish the program?
Courses are offered in two consecutive sessions during the fall, spring, and summer terms. Most students elect to take one course in each of the sessions, which means that they take two courses in the fall, two courses in the spring, and two courses in the summer. At this rate, students are able to finish their degree in five semesters. Occasionally, students opt to take three courses in a semester, which allows them to complete the degree in four semesters. Some students also opt to take only one course in a semester, which is acceptable. You are not required to enroll every semester. However, you should notify Dr. Sparvero if you choose not to take classes in a given semester.
Will I get to participate in UT’s graduation ceremony? Will my diploma say that the degree was offered online?
The online degree is a different means of delivery for our M.Ed. in Kinesiology with a Sport Management focus. Thus, the diploma received is the same as our on-campus M.Ed. students. You are eligible (and encouraged) to participate in the graduation ceremony on campus. Graduation exercises for graduate students are held only once a year, at the conclusion of the spring semester. In order to graduate, you must have completed all degree requirements by the spring of the given year.
What are the classes like?
The courses required for the degree vary somewhat from professor to professor. However, all courses are delivered in an asynchronous format, which means that students will have the flexibility to work through course modules on their own schedules. Typically, courses are structured so that one module is covered per week. All coursework for the module must be completed within the assigned week. Courses are typically a combination of video or podcast lectures, readings, discussions, quizzes, and projects. Students are expected to engage with other members of the course as well as faculty. We limit the class size to ensure that the student experience is comparable to our on-campus program.
Is the degree completely online?
Yes. You can complete the degree without visiting our beautiful city or campus. At the same time, if you do find yourself in Austin, our faculty would be delighted to meet with you in person.
What is your typical student like?
Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, undergraduate majors, experiences, and industries. All of our students are motivated to pursue this degree so that they will have the capabilities and knowledge to advance their careers. Our students appreciate the academic rigor of the program and are able to balance their studies with work and family demands they face.
Will I have access to the library? Campus recreation? UT football tickets?
You have access to all of the same resources as students who are in residence, including the library, campus recreation, and other on-campus amenities. You are also eligible to purchase the Big Ticket, which is the student pass for athletic events.
Faculty
Examines the management of systems for athlete development, including how different sport settings influence performance and participation over the lifespan. Focuses on re-imagining the youth sport experience, with a specific interest in the developm...
Focuses on managerial mobility and retention, gender equity and personnel management issues in sport law, and effective marketing of participant focused sports.
Studies organizational change in sport through qualitative inquiry and historical methods.
Examines the intersection of physical culture and international political history.
Accepting new students
Studies managerial economics in sport relating to the market power of pro sports leagues under three primary branches: industrial organization, labor markets, and public policy and economic development.
Studies the historical, philosophical, sociocultural, and political dimensions of sport and physical culture.
Focuses on the development of sport policies and the ways in which professional sport teams can be leveraged to generate economic, social, and tourism benefits for host communities.
From Our Alumni
“I currently work in Athletics and thought I already knew a lot. This program revealed how much I didn’t know across the entire spectrum of sports. Each class has been 100% relevant to my career and I have learned so much about decision making, leadership, marketing, finance, organizational development, theories that have impacted the industry.
This program is perfect for anyone who currently has a career or other commitments that prevent them from being able to physically attend classes.”
— Ashley McLerran M.Ed. ’19
