Sport and Entertainment Management, M.S.

Overview

Neumann University’s graduate program in Sport and Entertainment Management is consistent with, and reflective of, the University’s Mission Statement. In the delivery of the program, professionals are prepared according to both Franciscan ideals which shape the curriculum, and to the standards of the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), which meet the growing challenges of an ever-expanding industry. Professional competence is developed through a comprehensive business and sport and entertainment management curriculum and demonstrated through required experiential opportunities.

The Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management Program seeks:

• To provide individuals working in the sport industry or related fields with both classroom and experiential preparation which are necessary to advance career paths within their organizations, and to increase their marketability to make a positive and desirable career change in the sport industry.
• To provide the baccalaureate graduate with additional educational and professional preparation and experiences related to managerial responsibilities, which are necessary for immediate leadership positions in the rapidly expanding sport and entertainment industry.

Philosophy and Principles

The curriculum design of the Master’s degree in Sport and Entertainment Management reflects the philosophy and principles of the program which:

• Recognize the trend in career ladder/transition in higher education.
• Understand societal changes which affect the role of the sport and entertainment manager.
• Support the working adult who aspires to advance to the professional level.
• Foster the growing capabilities, roles, and responsibilities of the sport and entertainment manager.
• Stress the need for lifelong learning.
• Affirm that the aim of learning is to provide service.

Accreditation

The sport management degree programs at Neumann University have received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Education (COSMA) located in Arlington, Virginia, USA. The sport management programs in the following degrees are accredited by COSMA: Bachelor of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management and Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management.

Mission

The graduate Sport and Entertainment Management Program at Neumann University, while embracing the Mission Statements of both the University and the Division of Business and Information Management, specifically addresses the need to educate and prepare individuals for the diverse and ever-growing sport and entertainment industry. While instilling theories and techniques, and along with their application, the program is mindful of the need to include social awareness and ethical values in discussions and decision-making practices. The graduate degree program prepares the student for additional graduate studies, and is committed to producing quality citizens and professionals in the sport and entertainment management field.

Program Goals

The Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management Program seeks to develop professional practitioners who:

• Acquire a mastery of skill development and an understanding of theoretical concepts in specific sport and entertainment management components, such as communication, finance, law, management, marketing, and global issues that are related to these areas.
• Develop an understanding of the political and sociological influences in the decision-making practices of sport and entertainment governing bodies in diverse global settings.
• Become familiar with the technology and skills that are necessary for effective research and communication in today’s sport and entertainment industry.
• Demonstrate the acquisition of marketing and promotion strategies for successful sport and entertainment businesses.
• Utilize the understanding of ethical and moral standards in the business decision-making process and personal judgments.
• Experience the responsibility of developing a major project, research endeavor, or business plan.
• Acquire the tools that are necessary for lifelong learning.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the graduate program in Sport and Entertainment Management, students will have demonstrated competence to:

• Apply the knowledge of ethical values to practical decision-making.
• Utilize management, technology, and communication skills in business situations.
• Appreciate the diversity of a global society, and the influence of that diversity on planning, organizing, and implementing decisions in the sport and entertainment industry.
• Understand the law and legal processes and the role of those protocols in resolving real or “realistic” scenarios.
• Utilize marketing processes and theories in developing promotional strategies for a variety of sport and entertainment businesses.
• Apply research skills and theories in planning and developing a major project or research endeavor.

Admission Requirements

Applicants with a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution who have successfully completed all prerequisite courses are eligible for entrance to the Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management Program, subject to the approval of the Program Director.  Acceptance is on a competitive basis after submission of all credentials and an interview.  All applicants must submit the following:

• A completed Graduate Student Application, in print or online through www.neumann.edu.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Resume and letter of intent detailing educational goals.  
• Three official letters of recommendation, with at least one letter from a professional person and one from an academic individual.

Once all admission materials have been received and processed through the Office of Admissions, the graduate Program Director will arrange for an interview, if appropriate, following a review of all candidate credentials.

The determination of the student’s level of preparedness rests with the Coordinator of the Sport and Entertainment Management Program and the Dean of the Division of Business and Information Management. For those students who cannot demonstrate an acceptable level of  competency, additional prerequisite course work may be required as a condition of acceptance into the Master’s Program (please refer to the Conditional Acceptance Policy in the Admissions Information section of this catalog).

Progression/Retention/Graduation Requirements

Students in the Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management Program are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in order to remain in the program. Students earning less than a “B” in any course may repeat that course once, and may only repeat that course at Neumann University. The grade for the repeated course that has been taken at Neumann University replaces the original grade on both the student’s academic transcript and in the calculation of the student’s semester and cumulative GPA.

Completion of the Master of Science degree in Sport and Entertainment Management must occur within five years from the beginning of the first required graduate-level course. To earn the Master of Science degree, students must (1) submit a signed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar on or before the date specified in the Academic Calendar; (2) have successfully completed all requirements for the degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better; (3) have participated in, and successfully completed, all experiential requirements; (4) completed a research thesis or project; and (5) have received the recommendation of the Sport and Entertainment Management faculty and approval of the Program Director.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Sport and Entertainment Management Program has been developed in accordance with standards published by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) and the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). It may be necessary, however, for a student to take additional courses to meet prerequisites, based upon his/her educational and employment history. The program consists of 36 credits, including a cooperative education field placement experience. This field placement may be increased by three credits  in place of one elective course, depending upon the student’s background, experience, or present employment status. The program’s elective options provide opportunities for students to pursue additional courses in their specific field of interest, and reflect trends in the sport and  entertainment industry. In the last semester, students develop and refine a master’s project in a supportive capstone seminar setting.

The courses in the Sport and Entertainment Management Graduate Program are offered in a fully online format. Each class, therefore, meets once a week in a scheduled classroom environment, with the remaining contact hours to be completed in an online environment.