Best Sport and Fitness Management Masters Programs in Arkansas

The Recreation and Sport Management program prepares students with the necessary competencies to pursue career opportunities primarily in intercollegiate athletic administration, but also more generally in public recreation administration, commercial recreation, sport management, community recreation, and outdoor recreation either in private or public sectors, including university settings. A minimum of 36 credit hours is required for the M.Ed. degree.

The Sport Administration is a Master of Science Program in the Health, Physical Education Sport Sciences at Arkansas State University. The program serves graduate students interested in professional management or administrative opportunities in professional sports, interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics administration, sports facilities, sports media, and sports marketing and management agencies.

The goal of this program is to balance theory and practice in order to best prepare each graduate for employment in the field of sport administration. Each student will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the management, business, socio-cultural, ethical and legal applications in the administrative capacities within amateur and professional sports environments.

The Sport Administration graduate program will allow students and professionals to receive an advanced level degree that will develop their knowledge and skills to successfully prepare them in their chosen careers. As an applied field of administration, it is essential that students be able to incorporate information learned through this program, their own work experience, and cultural backgrounds and apply these to current or future employment.

Our geographic area exposes students to a variety of sports industry professionals and organizations (Memphis Redbirds, Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Riverkings, Verizon Arena, FedEx Forum, St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Arkansas Travelers, Arkansas Naturals, Arkansas Twisters, Arkansas State University Athletics, Jonesboro Parks Recreation, Memphis Parks Recreation, University of Memphis Athletics, University of Arkansas Athletics, Sunbelt Conference, Southeastern Conference, and Conference USA). These entities can provide students networking, and volunteer opportunities.

Students will be immersed in a required core of courses and an internship or thesis. Students will also be required to successfully complete comprehensive exams (excludes successfully defending thesis).

Community-based sport (e.g. YMCA, parks recreation programs): $26,000-32,000.

Sports information media relations (e.g college, professional, Olympic, conference, NCAA and other national governing agencies): $28,000-38,000.

Sport marketing (e.g market research, promotion, fundraising and sales): $35,000-45,000.

The minimum requirement for admission is the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution.

Applicants must present evidence of potential ability to perform academic work at the advanced graduate level. Past grade performance will be used to provide the primary data for judging academic ability. Based on past academic performance, an applicant must qualify for either unconditional or conditional admission status.

Students may also be admitted with a 3.0 graduate GPA over at least six earned credit hours.

For conditional admission: Students may be conditionally admitted with less than a 2.75 GPA, provided work experience in the program field is detailed on the resume and supported by one professional work reference letter (past or present employer) to be submitted with application materials. For conditional admission, students must a maintain a grade of B or better for the first 12 hours of graduate work in the program.

Official transcripts as verification of all coursework and degree(s).

One professional reference letter who can speak to your professional responsibilities or academic potential.

Curriculum and degree requirements can be found in the most current Graduate Bulletin.

The sport management programs in the following degrees are accredited by COSM .