Content Analysis of Sport Management Graduate Degree Programs in the United States

Abstract

Sport management is a rapidly changing and highly competitive field. With over 200 graduate and over 400 undergraduate degree programs in the United States, faculty are tasked with regular assessment of their program’s curriculum to ensure that students graduate with the knowledge, skills, values, and opportunities that make them marketable in a competitive marketplace. The purpose of this study was to describe and identify trends in the admission requirements, coursework, and culminating experiences for degree completion in sport management graduate programs in the United States. Content analysis was used to collect data from university websites and course catalogs on 230 sport management master’s degree programs. Minimum grade point average (GPA) standards were listed for 52% of programs, 44% required test scores for admission, and 28% did not require either a test score or GPA. Law, marketing, and research methods were the only three courses required by more than 70% of programs. At least one research-related course (research methods, statistics, or sports data analytics) was required by 78% of programs. One third of programs prescribed a specific course sequence to earn a graduate degree, while two thirds provided students with options on how the degree could be completed. Only 7% of programs required students to complete a thesis, and 27.8% required a comprehensive examination.