Online Master of Science in Sport ManagementCollege of Health and Human Performance

PURSUE LEADERSHIP IN SPORT

Supporting Athletes in Every Arena

Keeping a sport organization strong—whether it’s a collegiate team, professional franchise, or governing body—requires specialized talent both on and off the field.

Behind every great player are thousands of dedicated professionals performing a variety of different administrative and supportive functions. From managing facilities to protecting the rights of athletes, the world of sport depends on leaders in the field to oversee a number of the essential, behind-the-scenes elements of competitive athletics.

The University of Florida’s online Master of Science in Sport Management can help you bring administrative proficiency, leadership ability, and specialized skills to the support of sport organizations worldwide. After completing the program, you’ll be well-prepared to confidently pursue leadership positions in a number of different areas, including:

• Sports administration (varying levels) • Game day coordination

• Sales and marketing coordination • Event coordination

• Financial/contract analysis • Guest relations management

• Facility operations management • Athlete performance and development

…and many other specialized paths.

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A Proud Athletic Heritage

The University of Florida is home to one of the premier athletic organizations in collegiate sports: the Florida Gators. With 21 varsity teams that cover a wide variety of different sports, the Gators have solidified themselves as a significant force within the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Some of the Gators’ many achievements, both on and off the field, include:

• Finishing first in the SEC All-Sports Trophy for the past 7 years, and for 12 years in a row before finishing 2nd in 2005-2006

• Earning 262 national titles across all sports, with 193 national champion student-athletes

• Sending athletes to 12 separate Olympiads since 1968, earning 45 gold, 23 silver, and 23 bronze medals

• Supporting four Gators being selected to the Capital One Academic All- American Hall of Fame, the second best total in the nation

• Placing 100 or more student-athletes in the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll each of the last 15 years, being the only SEC school to do so

We proudly invite you to join the Gator Nation, and study alongside faculty members who have helped solidify UF’s place as a leader in collegiate athletics.

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About the Program

The Master of Science in Sport Management is designed by UF’s expert faculty to reflect the latest advances in the field of sport, presenting an equally theoretical and practical approach to skills and knowledge critical to success in the industry. The program can help you develop your leadership abilities and administrative proficiency with an eye towards sport management, aiding the development of a specialized and comprehensive skill-set.

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Upon completing the program, students will be able to competently:

• Introduce advanced concepts of planning, organizing, leading and evaluating organizational goals to sport organizations

• Develop financial strategies and evaluate budgets and sources of revenues and expenses relevant to sport organizations

• Apply fundamental marketing concepts to the sport industry, create marketing plans, evaluate market segments, and predict consumer behavior

• Explain and judge fundamental legal concepts relevant to tort, contract, and constitutional law, and how they apply to the sport management field

• Understand the interdisciplinary nature of sport management at an advanced level

• Explain the internal and external factors that influence and shape sport

• Use qualitative and quantitative analysis through formal and informal assessment strategies

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Curriculum

HLP 6515 Evaluation Procedures in Health and Human Performance (3)

HLP 6535 Research Methods in Health and Human Performance (3)

Required Courses (15 credits)

SPM 5016 Sport Sociology (3)

SPM 5309 Sport Marketing (3)

SPM 5506 Sport Finance (3)

SPM 6158 Management and Leadership in Sport (3)

SPM 6726 Issues in Sport Law (3)

Electives (15 credits) Common electives taken include:SPM 5206 Sport Ethics (3)

SPM 6905 International Sport Management (3)

SPM 6905 Sport Mass Media (3)

SPM 6947 Graduate Internship in Sport Management (3-9; max. 9)

SPM 6948 Advanced Practicum in Sport Management (1-3; max. 6)

The program requires 36 hours of coursework to complete, along with a Capstone Project.

Research Core (6 credits)

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Specialization – Athlete DevelopmentIf you’re interested in working directly with athletes to help them successfully balance the demands of their sport with the demands of living a healthy and productive life off the field, the online master’s degree in sport management with a specialization in Athlete Development is the right fit for you.

Athlete Development is an emerging area of expertise and opportunity. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for positions including director of player engagement, director of player development, director of student-athlete development, and athletic director.

This specialization includes 12 credit hours of designated coursework plus 3 advisor-approved credit hours that can be used to satisfy the elective requirement for the M.S. in Sport Management degree program.

Athlete Development is designed to meet the academic requirements for certification through the Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS). Drawing from the latest research, you’ll gain a basic understanding of the psychological and physiological aspects of athletic performance and acquire advanced knowledge of how to develop a well-rounded athlete off the field. The specialization includes coursework that addresses these facets of athlete support:

• Financial Literacy• Media Literacy • Professionalism and Behavior• Mental and Emotional Health

• Character Development• Career Development• Transitions

Athlete Development CoursesSPM 5181 Athlete Development (3)

APK 5404 Sport Psychology (3)

APK 6408 Performance Enhancement (3)

SPM 5936 Sport Science for Athlete Development Specialists (1)

Advisor approved elective (3)

And at least 2 credit hours from the following courses:SPM 6948 Advanced Practicum in Athlete Development (2)

SPM 5936 Athlete Development Seminar – Variable Topics (2)

Specialization – High Performance CoachingIf you’re interested in learning how to help athletes achieve optimal athletic performance at the high school, collegiate, or professional levels, the High Performance Coaching (HPC) specialization may be the right fit for you. It is designed to enhance the efficacy of active coaches and to better prepare students for managerial coaching positions or careers in athletic administration. Individuals who will benefit from this training path include those pursuing career trajectories leading to these positions: head coach; associate head coach or coordinator; strength and conditioning coordinator; or sport administrator (working

directly with coaching staffs).

The High Performance Coaching specialization includes 15 credit hours of coursework that can be used to satisfy the elective requirement for the MS in Sport Management degree program. Courses from this specialization’s curriculum may also be taken as individual electives by students not pursuing a specialization.

Focusing on both the psychological and physiological elements of athlete performance training, the required courses are designed to offer theoretical and practical insight into creating an effective performance evaluation and development program. Drawing from the latest research, you’ll learn to work with athletes to assess their physical and mental abilities and develop programs to foster skill development and enhance performance. You’ll also acquire a deeper understanding of how coaches can apply sport management principles to team management.

HPC includes coursework that addresses these facets of performance development:

• Nutrition• Energy Systems • Physical Training• Athlete Fitness

• Athlete Health and Safety• Psychology and Mental Skills• Athlete Maturation

PET 5936 Training High Performance Athletes I (3)

PET 5936 Training High Performance Athletes II (3)

SPM 5206 Sport Ethics (3)

APK 5404 Sport Psychology (3)

APK 6408 Performance Enhancement (3)

High Performance Coaching Courses

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Specialization – Sport Law

SPM 6905 Advanced Sport Law (3)

SPM 6905 Fair Competition in Sport (3)

SPM 6905 Business of Sport Law (3)

Advisor approved elective (6)

The Sport Law specialization is available to all students who want to learn more about the laws that govern numerous aspects of the sport industry. The courses, taught by faculty in UF’s esteemed Levin College of Law, further students’ understanding of legal principles that many sport management professionals encounter in their work. This specialization is especially beneficial to students, including lawyers and collegiate compliance officers, whose current work or future career paths may require advanced knowledge of or familiarity with sport law.

Students in this specialization are required to complete 9 credit hours of coursework that can be used to satisfy a portion of the program’s 15 credit hour elective requirement. They must complete 6 additional elective credit hours to satisfy the elective course requirement for the degree program. Courses in Sport Law can also be taken as electives outside of the specialization.

Since sport and business frequently go hand in hand, students in Sport Law will learn about laws, regulations and judicial decisions that both govern business, in general, and frequently apply to the activities of sport businesses and players. Subjects covered in this specialization include real estate finance, mergers and acquisitions, fair competition, contractual relationships, agency representation, and liability for wrongful conduct.

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Sport Law Courses

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Capstone Project

The purpose of the Capstone Project is three-fold:

• Documents that the student is able to take newly acquired knowledge and skills and apply them to professional practice

• Helps the student understand their weaknesses and strengths when seeking employment

• Prepares the student in organizing information that will help them in seeking employment by effectively promoting themselves

Upon completion of at least 27+ credit hours, students must complete the Capstone Project, which serves as the exit requirement for the sport management degree. This project is the final step in the degree process and must be completed prior to graduation.

Capstone Project

Professional and Career Development Sequence

We offer students a personalized professional and career development sequence developed specifically for the online M.S. in Sport Management program. The five-semester sequence is part of a non-credit course called The Training Room. It engages students in a range of targeted discussions, assignments, and activities that include connecting with UF alumni who hold positions that align with the student’s interests and career goals.

A series of virtual one-on-one meetings with the Director of Engaged Learning and Outreach provides the framework for the sequence, which leverages the Gator Nation’s vast alumni network and supports our mission to prepare students for success in sport industry careers.

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Learning Online with UF

In addition to our online system that allows students to register for courses, pay tuition, manage their course-work, and access the program, those enrolled online also have access to:

The University of Florida online Master of Science in Sport Management has been designed by experts to reflect the latest advancements and best practices in distance learning. Built on an accessible, intuitive platform that delivers content that’s both engaging and varied in presentation, the program represents the perfect union between convenience and academic rigor.

Each online course’s academic content is derived from the latest research on essential topics in sport. The program is as thorough as it is flexible, offering a detailed examination of developing strategies and skills, but without scheduled class times and the commute to campus.

• Gator Careerlink – This career resource guide provides degree seeking students access to full and part-time opportunities, internships, co-ops, information sessions, workshops, career fair information, networking opportunities, mock interview options, career planning appointments, and so much more.

• A network of prestigious alumni

• 24/7 Tech Support – The e-Learning Help Desk and e-Libraries Help Desk sites are at your fingertips and ready to answer your questions.

Tuition & Fees

Cost/Credit Hour: $585.75*Total Tuition (36 Credit Hours): $21,087

The University of Florida offers financial aid for graduate students, including employment and loan programs. Graduate students should begin by applying for aid, using FAFSA on the Web.

Some merit-based scholarships may be available. All applicants will be considered at the time of admission and needn’t apply separately.

To learn more about the online Master of Science in Sport Management and begin the application process, visit sm.hhp.ufl.edu or contact an Academic Coordinator.

Phone: (877) 665-3860Email: smonline@hhp.ufl.edu

Department of Tourism, Recreation & Sport Management1864 Stadium Road, 300 Florida GymPO Box 118208Gainesville, FL 32611-8208

Next Steps

Online Master of Science in Sport ManagementCollege of Health and Human Performance