Online Master of Science in Sport Administration
Our program is designed for coaches and administrators working at every level in athletics. Each course provides training that is immediately applicable to your current position, whether you are new to the field or have years of experience.
Master of Science in Sport Administration Program Overview
A Master of Science in Sport Administration gives you the skill set needed to work in the field of athletics. Behind the scenes, there are many jobs that make the product on the court or field happen. If you are passionate about sports and interested in launching or advancing your career in the exciting field of sport management and administration, earning your Master’s in Sport Administration Online from the University of Cincinnati will help you stay ahead of the competition.
Athletics are ingrained in Cincinnati. Our city is the home of three professional sports teams, a handful of local colleges, and a robust high school sports scene. Our year-round sporting events and activities provide ample opportunities to grow and establish yourself in the sport management industry. Even though our program is completely online, there are plenty of opportunities to experience live sporting events and activities through internships, volunteer opportunities, and group trips. Develop personal and professional narratives to effectively communicate your story in sports.
Master of Science in Sport Administration Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- Network with students across the United States with different life and work experiences
- Connections via program partnerships
- Learn how to compose, package, and put finishing touches on a Capstone project to help you prepare and succeed in the job you want
Flexibility
- 100% online. No campus visit required
- Asynchronous scheduling means you can complete coursework on your time
- Financial aid available
- Semester start dates in spring, summer, and fall
- Transfer credit may be applicable
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Meet the MS SPAD Program Director
Program Faculty
The University of Cincinnati's online Master’s of Sport Administration program is composed of faculty with over 40 years of high school and college athletic administration experience. Through our industry partners, together, they will provide the very best possible educational opportunities and cultivate the next generation of sport industry leaders. The professors are here to guide and help connect you with the areas you want to pursue after graduation. Check out the bios below to learn more about each professor.
The online Master of Science in Sport Administration degree at the University of Cincinnati takes a comprehensive approach to sports management education. The program is 30 credits and can be completed in 1.5 years.
Each course in this online program approaches athletic administration from a different angle, giving students the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in many areas that can prepare them for future high school, college and professional sports management careers.
This program will culminate in a capstone project where you will demonstrate mastery of your new skills. You will select an industry partner, with faculty approval, to tackle a real-world challenge in your area of interest.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SPAD7028 | Managerial Strategies in Athletics The focus of this course is on the application of leadership and management theory to issues in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics, including organizational behavior, strategic planning, and effective human resources management. Emphasis will be placed on the issues, forces, and problems impacting decision making. The course will utilize case studies and draw from current events and trends to connect theories with practice. |
3 |
| SPAD7013 | Strategic Athletic Marketing and Communications This course focuses on development of marketing and communication strategies associated with interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics; specifically, market and customer analysis, market segmentation, and marketing mix tactics. Topics will cover the strategies used to market the teams and maintain a relationship between the athletic department and media. |
3 |
| SPAD7036 | Applied Financial Management Strategies in Athletics This course will examine the application and effectiveness of the predominant forms of revenue generation and budgeting being utilized at both the intercollegiate and interscholastic levels. Students will gain an appreciation for the intricacies of financial strategies and acquisition techniques used for various types of private fundraising campaigns, corporate sponsorship programs, ticket sales efforts, and in other areas such as trademarks, licensing, and special promotions. |
3 |
| SPAD7032 | Sport Facility Operations and Systems Management The course will examine facility and event management within interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. The course will examine the process of planning or renovating a new facility through a feasibility study. Management systems will include capacity management, booking and scheduling, bidding on events, maintenance and security, and ADA compliance. Issues of volunteer recruitment and management, event evaluation, and sustainability will be addressed. |
3 |
| SPAD7012 | Sport and the Social Context This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the major sociological issues in interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic administration. All primary issues impacting athletics are covered, including but not limited to gender and sex, race and ethnicity, disability, religion, media involvement, and globalization. |
3 |
| SPAD7001 | Applied Research Methods for Athletic Administration This course is designed to change the way sport administrators approach problem-solving. Students will learn best-practice approaches to applied research, with the goal of generating trustworthy data to address real-world issues, challenges, problems and opportunities within the context of interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. |
3 |
| SPAD7023 | Athletic Governance and Compliance This course focuses on the structure and operations of interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic governing bodies. The class will discuss the role compliance serves in the management of athletic administration and how rules and regulations impact practices and procedures of athletic administration. Emphasis will be placed on discerning regulations, eligibility, practice, procedures, and bylaws by proactive oversight. |
3 |
| SPAD7014 | Risk Management in Sport This course is designed to focus on applying knowledge and skills needed to mitigate risks in athletics. Emphasis will be placed on administering civil law concepts to common scenarios within interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, students will learn how to develop, implement and evaluate policies and procedures addressing areas of liability within sport organizations. Students will be able to identify proper safety guidelines and standards within a diverse set of sport contexts based on relevant case law, statutes, federal law, and industry standards. |
3 |
| SPAD7040 | Student-Athlete Development This course will examine the unique, historical, and contemporary issues faced by student-athletes including mental health, student-athlete identity, and athlete transitions. Discussions will include theoretical approaches, practitioner recommendations, and established programming that are currently utilized for student-athlete development. |
3 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| SPAD7090 | Capstone in Athletic Administration This culminating capstone course is designed to assess students on problem identification, analysis, and decision-making regarding challenges and opportunities within the context of interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. Applied, real-world case studies will be used to drive student assessment and class discussion, focusing on the key topical areas throughout the sport administration curriculum. |
3 |
Prerequisites
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited college/university.
- An overall 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) or higher from all previous undergraduate coursework. Those with less than a 3.0 GPA, may be considered for acceptance if the applicant takes the GRE or has a minimum of 3 years work experience in Sport Administration post bachelor degree.
- Proof of English proficiency if English is not the applicant’s native language.
Admission Materials
- Resume or CV.
- Transcripts.
- Goal Statement.
- Two Letters of Reference.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees are waived for Summer 2026 applications submitted by March 1st, 2026
- Application fees are waived for Fall 2026 applications submitted by July 1st, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
Transfer Credits for Advanced Standing
Up to 12 of graduate credits may be transferred. Talk to your enrollment advisor to discuss specifics and how to start the petition process.
Current resume or curriculum vitae.
Two letters of reference from individuals who know you professionally or academically.
Applicants will need to provide a letter detailing their interest in the program and how it may match future professional goals.
Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 will need to receive a score of 297 or higher on their GRE or request for a GRE waiver. To be eligible for the GRE waiver, the prospective student must have three or more years of post-undergraduate sport industry work experience.
For International students, an English proficiency test:
- TOEFL minimum Internet-based 80
- Paper-based 520
- Computer-based 190
- IELTS minimum 6.5
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
April 24, 2026 August 13, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
University of Cincinnati Sport Administration Program Coordinator Dr. David Kelley was interviewed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) podcast host Ken Burke. Their conversation includes David’s background in athletics, his approach to hands-on teaching, and how educators and administrators educate themselves on grant facilitation.
You can listen to this podcast here.
The UC Online MSA program has partnered with several organizations at both a state and national level. Through our relationship with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), you will have the opportunity to complete the NIAAA certification program. Becoming a Registered Athletic Administrator or a Certified Athletic Administrator are both great options for helping to advance your career as an athletic director.
UC Online has partnered with WorkInSports to offer students additional professional development to complement their coursework. The Sports Career Game Plan is an online, module-based professional development course built for aspiring sport administration professionals. The four modules will focus on 1) Gaining the RIGHT experience, 2) Building and maintaining your network, 3) Mastering your resume, cover letter, and personal brand, and 4) Interviewing for jobs and internships.
Students of our sport management program have access to our internal networks and resources. Utilize our LinkedIn page where faculty regularly share news, events, and job offerings related to the sports industry. Our Sports Learning Online group is a space to connect with faculty, alumni, and students in a professional setting and develop your networking skills.
Partners
- National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
- National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA)
- Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)
The UC Online Master’s in Sport Administration was rated as the #1 online program in North America by SportBusiness.
“Activities Beyond the Classroom was delighted to partner with the University of Cincinnati Sports Administration online masters program in the spring of 2023. There’s a terrific irony in nonprofit work: we always need more staff power to find the funding to grow the organization, but we can’t get more staff without the funds! That’s why we felt terrifically privileged to partner with this cohort of future athletics leaders, who are all well versed in the needs of young athletes and capable writers and communicators.
This cohort of masters students wrote a number of grant applications for our organization. While we provided guardrails and information to support them, I found that they needed very little supervision or management to accomplish the applications! And at the end of the semester- I got a handful of well-written applications in my inbox, ready for a final revision and submission. It’s the easiest grant writing has ever been for my team! Furthermore, several student team leaders emailed me sharing that this new experience helped them gain perspective as they prepared to enter the professional marketplace, and gave them skills they’ll absolutely leverage again someday.
This partnership will absolutely have positive impact on the 2023-2024 school year for our thousands of student athletes across Cincinnati. Our greatest hope is that this partnership continues for years to come- there will always be a need for qualified, hard working help, and it’s a relief and a gift to know we can count on UC’s Sports Administration program to support.”
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We offer over 130 degrees from undergraduate to doctoral programs. Each program is supported by a team of Enrollment Services Advisors (ESAs) who are here to help answer any questions you have.