A Top-Ranked Master's Degree for Sport Business & Administration

This 12-month master's degree features a convenient online delivery, and is one of the nation’s most highly-regarded programs. In the Sport and Exercise Science MS – Sport Administration Concentration, you’ll study sport finance, program management, marketing, law, events & facilities, fundraising & development, and current issues in the sport industry.

Through this program you will...

Discover new resources and expand your networking contacts
Transfer new skills to your work and open up new career options
Demonstrate greater expertise in your field
Incorporate your talents and interests into your degree

Prepare for a Rewarding Career in Sport Management and Administration

Graduates have secured jobs with organizations in the NFL, MLB, MLS, NHL and in university athletic departments across the country. The network of alumni from this UNC program includes professionals with:

The Denver Broncos
Colorado Avalanche and Rapids
The New York Yankees
Multiple U.S. Olympic sport organizations
The Air Force Academy, University of Colorado, Colorado State University and UNC

Where will you head with your sports career? Specialize your studies to pursue opportunities with team organizations, sponsorship, apparel and licensing, facilities, ticketing and more.

Hear It From Our Graduates

The experiences of our students tell the story best. Read about why our graduates love our program.

I'm Ready to Apply

SNAPSHOT

Credits Required:
30

Time to Completion:
12-15 months

Tuition:
$609/credit hour

Delivery Option & Start Term:
Online program: start any term

Get Started/Apply

APPLICATION INFO

Request Information

Meet with Admissions Coach

Program Coordinator

Alan Morse, Ph.D.
alan.morse@unco.edu
970-351-1722

Apply for Free on April 1!

UNC is waiving the application fee on Saturday, April 1 (12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m Mountain Time). You can start your application any time, but you must submit it on that day for the waiver. Fee waiver code: UNCFREEAPPDAY

This online program can be completed in one calendar year, and you can still work while pursuing your master's degree. Some students coordinate their internships during one extra term.

The program internships provide special opportunities to help you bridge the gap between theory and experience, which means you will complete our program with working knowledge and connections in the field.

Coursework (30 Credit Hours)

To see the upcoming courses, visit this program's Current Students page.

Sport Administration Courses (21 Hours)

Electives (Minimum 9 Hours)

SES 671 Fundraising & Development in Sport (3)
SES 692 Graduate Internship in Sport and Exercise Science (3 or 6) – this course involves working on a professional project; designed to assist students in gaining experience in the sport industry and/or to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
SES 699 Thesis (6) – for those who choose the thesis option.

Program Completion Options

Non-Thesis

A Comprehensive Examination must be completed by all students who do not elect the thesis option. Your comprehensive examination will consist of a non-sequestered written literature review and analysis paper, focused on the content addressed in the Sport Administration Concentration.

Thesis

The thesis option is completed via enrollment in SES 699, which can be applied to your elective credits (see above). The thesis will require completion of a research study, including data collection and appropriate analysis. The thesis option requires advisor approval, and is designed for students who may continue to a Ph.D. program.

For full details, see the official program listing in the UNC Graduate Catalog.

Admission Requirements

Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 point scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
If your undergraduate GPA (last 60 hours) is under 3.0, please contact the Program Coordinator for advisement regarding your situation.
Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for this program.

Eligibility by State

At this time, UNC can serve online education to students from every state, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. We are not currently accepting students to our online programs who reside in the CNMIs.

Because some states may have additional requirements or limitations for certain programs, please check the following page to verify your eligibility. Note: if your state is showing "limited authorization" it means you are likely eligible with additional documentation, but please contact kim.black@unco.edu for details.

Current State Authorizations for This Program

International Student Eligibility

International students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply to our online programs. Applicants for online programs must demonstrate English proficiency, or enroll in the UNC Intensive English Program, in order to be considered.

Students in completely online UNC programs are not required to come to the United States. You will not need a student visa or receive any immigration documentation, and do not need to provide financial documentation.

Please visit the International Students Admission Requirements page for details about English proficiency requirements and applying as an international student.

Transferring Credit

Applicable graduate credit with a grade of A or B from a regionally accredited university may be able to be applied towards this academic program. Master's degree students must complete a minimum of 24 credits at the University of Northern Colorado. All work counted in a master's degree program must be completed within five years. The time limit is calculated from the beginning of the first class transferred in and counted in the degree program. See the full Graduate Transfer Credit Policy.

Students must submit an original transcript to their advisor for review. Student and advisor then complete a Transfer of Credit form to submit along with the original transcript to the Grad School for review and final approval.

Tuition

This is an Extended Campus program, which means:

A flat per-credit tuition rate for all students (in-state or out-of-state)
There are no student fees – they are incorporated into our flat tuition rate
Certain courses may carry specific course fees for additional services and materials

Program tuition for the 2022-23 academic year (which runs Fall, Spring, and Summer terms) is $609 per credit hour. Tuition for the 2023-24 academic year will be determined mid-June 2023.

Financial Aid

Students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA priority filing date for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August) is June 1, although the form is now available by October 1 of the previous year and requests tax information from the year prior. For example, the FAFSA form for aid for the 2023-24 school year is released on Oct. 1, 2022, and is based off of 2021 tax return information.

Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted throughout the school year but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid. If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.

Master's degree students must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.

To apply for federal financial aid assistance

Fill out the FAFSA form at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

For more specific help, contact the Office of Financial Aid: ofa@unco.edu, 970-351-4862 or via the UNC Financial Aid website.

Students can also find helpful information such as the Guide to Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.gov/resources. Most of the resources are available in English, Spanish, and Braille.

Student Health Insurance

The University of Northern Colorado offers a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) to all degree-seeking students who enroll in courses on our main UNC Campus, an Extended Campus Center, or Online.

Degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in 6 or more credit hours will automatically receive this benefit each term. SHIP premiums will appear on your semester bill. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you must opt out of this plan each Fall via an online waiver process.

Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information about the insurance plan.

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What Our Students Say...

The UNC Extended Campus program allowed me to step into the sport industry as a versatile professional. Our industry constantly reflects cultural, economic, and societal changes in a highly public forum, and the sport administration program at UNC prepares students to succeed in that environment. From marketing and financial aspects to cultural and research elements, UNC produces students prepared for any career path in sports. I am forever thankful to Dr. Morse and his staff for pushing me to be a better student and continuing to stay in touch as an alumnus. I will always be a Bear!

– Tyler Boone, Major Gift Officer, Ohio State University

Photo of Tyler Boone, Sport Administration Master's Graduate

I chose the Sport Administration program because I had heard that this was one of the top programs in the country. My professors provided an outstanding education where they were able to share their real life experience and didn't just teach us out of a book. The program was challenging and they kept us engaged because we used the knowledge and tools we acquired on projects we completed for sports organizations.

– Terry Anderson, Dean - Allied Health and Wellness, Aims Community College

Photo of Terry Anderson, Sport Administration Master's Graduate

When I was deciding on where to get my Sport Administration Master’s degree, I was looking for several things: the experience of the faculty, convenience, and a small class size. The University of Northern Colorado’s Sport & Exercise Science department checked all of these boxes. During my time in the program I was challenged to think outside of the box, and given the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of classmates. I can truly say my degree from UNC made it possible for me to get to where I am today.

– Alex Yack, Assistant Athletic Director - Major Gifts/Director of Development, Texas Tech University

Photo of Alex Yack, Sport Administration Master's Graduate