Sport Management Concentration

Student studying in a library

(c) 2018 David Schmitz.

Welcome to the Graduate Sport Management Program!

Sport Management Graduate Program Fact Sheet [pdf]

Our Program

The Sport Management Graduate Specialization at San Jose State University is housed in the Department of Kinesiology within the College of Health & Human Sciences. There are approximately 100 graduate students in the department, including a cohort of roughly 15 Sport Management students that are accepted into the program annually. Students from a variety of disciplines (e.g., Business, Hospitality, Kinesiology, Sociology, etc) are encouraged to apply.

Our Focus

A major focus of the program is to develop culturally informed professionals capable of management and leadership across the many sport industry professions.  In addition, the balance between applied research and practical experiences ensures that our graduates have a deep and transferable knowledge base as they enter the job market, as well as potentially influencing sport scholarship by pursuing higher levels of education.

Choose Sport Management at SJSU

  1. Internationally published and supportive faculty.
  2. Strategic Location: Access to professional, collegiate, and community sport organizations, as well as influential companies outside the traditional sport scope.
  3. Student developed, goal-focused, programs of study.
  4. Program affordability and accelerated learning environment.

Internships

Our students engage in high-quality internship opportunities across the greater SF Bay Area and beyond, highlighted by partnerships with local professional and university sport organizations.

    SJ Athletics   SF 49ers Logo

Careers

The goal of the Sport Management Graduate Program is to prepare graduate students for a variety of positions in the major sports industry segments:

  • Professional Sport
  • Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Interscholastic Athletics
  • Youth and Community Sport
  • Sport Tourism
  • Health and Fitness
  • International Sport
  • Event and Facility Management
  • Sports Governing Bodies and Associations
  • Sport Media

At a Glance

The program consists of 30 graduate units, which typically breaks down into ten, three unit courses (see curriculum). The program course requirements are as follows:

Core Courses: KIN 250 (Fundamentals of Quantitative Research in Kinesiology) & KIN 251 (Fundamentals of Qualitative Research in Kinesiology)

Sport Management Courses: KIN 281 (Legal Aspects of Sport), KIN 282 (Marketing & Social Aspects of Sport), KIN 283 (Management, Leadership, & Communication in Sport), and KIN 284 (Financial Aspects of Sport), KIN 280 (Advanced Fieldwork)

Master's Project:  (KIN 298: 3 Units) or Thesis (KIN 299: 6 units). For their final projects or theses, students have produced a variety of high-quality work, including the development of sport focused business plans, manuals, and research projects.

Electives: (two courses). Depending on the culminating activity chosen (thesis/project) students will complete 3 or 6 units of elective coursework. Aside from classes housed in the Department of Kinesiology, students will often look to classes housed with the Lucas College of Business to fulfill their elective requirements.  

Students will graduate with a Master of Arts Degree in Kinesiology with a Concentration in Sport Management.

Alumni Testimonials

Dora Gyulai, M.A. Kinesiology: Sport Management, Class of 2016

"The Sport Management program at SJSU has qualified professors who are dedicated to provide the best education possible and prepare students for the professional environment. One of the best things in the program is that the criteria is determined to provide real life work situations to students who then are able to manage work circumstances easier and become more successful sport professionals. The program offers elective courses that allow students to select courses based on interest, which widens their knowledge and strengthens their work portfolio. Class schedules are set to fit the needs of all graduate students considering students’ potential working hours.

One of the program's requirements is to complete internship credits. My internship with USTA Northern California helped me understand the operations of a non-profit organization, allowed me to learn valuable work skills and build professional relationships. At the time of my internship, USTA Northern California was in the process of hiring new employees, thus the work I did as an intern helped them decide to hire me full time. I am currently fulfilling website design and content management tasks as well as managing the organization's social media platforms

All professors and staff in the Kinesiology Department provide constructive information to students and are knowledgeable about school criteria.”

Therren Wilburn, M.A. Kinesiology: Sport Management, Class of 2016

"I’ve been given the opportunity to start my dream career as a High School Athletic Director; and I can thank my education through the Department of Kinesiology specifically Sport Management for preparing me to start my career journey.

Not only was the Sport Management both fun and challenging but the faculty's direct feedback for improving as a student was invaluable. There are professors you truly connect with and they continue to inspire me. I can’t speak highly enough of the Sport Management program as it continues to enhance the student experience and offer opportunities for upcoming Sport Managers."

Faculty

Any questions regarding this concentration can be directed to Dr. Cole Armstrong.

Cole Armstrong Cole Armstrong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Sport Management
408-924-9832
cole.armstrong@sjsu.edu

Dr. Theodore Butryn Ted Butryn, Ph.D.
Professor
Sport Sociology and Sport Psychology
Graduate Program Coordinator
408-924-3068
theodore.butryn@sjsu.edu