James Madison University

Sport & Rec Management Graduate Programs Around the Nation

  • PHOTO: Alex Fotiou
  • PHOTO: Chris Collins
  • PHOTO: Tarin Carter
  • PHOTO: TJ Turner

For a listing of other graduate programs in sport management, these links can be helpful. However, more schools continue to add this degree program each year so do not rely exclusively on these links. Do not be afraid to use google or to search a school that you are interested in for the following phrases: sport management, sports management, sport administration and sports administration. Most programs will be located in the Physical Education or Kinesiology departments which are typically found in the College of Education on most campuses.

Start your graduate search early so that you can look for GA (graduate assistantships) opportunities to fund your education. These opportunities may be found by contacting that graduate program directly or contacting that school's athletic department. The early bird gets the worm so be sure to inquire about these GA spots to make graduate school more affordable, particularly if you head out of the state of Virginia. Always ask too!

For students interested in graduation programs in recreation please take the time to visit with Dr. Ham for his guidance.  For students interested in campus recreation graduate programs please see Dr. Wallace-Carr as presently JMU offers the only program in the nation focused on that particular field.

Schools Offering the MBA in Sport Management

A word of wisdom to undergraduate students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in sport management or athletic administration is that a MBA degree in Sport Management or a MBA degree with a concentration in Sport Management offers student a wide range of benefits. One benefit is that if the student "burns out" on working in the sports, they have a graduate degree that enables them to fall back into other areas of business. A second advantage is that MBA programs tend to offer a curriculum that is better suited to the modern issues in sport management rather than courses in the areas of physical education, kinesiology, or exercise science. Interested students need to take the GMAT's instead of the GRE's to apply to the respect business schools. Through the fall of 2007 these schools offer the MBA in Sport Management option:

Sports Law Programs

Recognized PhD Programs

  • Florida State University - Tier One
  • Indiana University
  • Ohio State University  - Tier One
  • Texas A&M
  • Temple University (Ph.D in Business Administration w/ Sport Management concentration)
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Georgia
  • University of Florida
  • University of Illinois
  • University of Louisville
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Massachusetts - Tier One
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Nevada - Las Vegas
  • University of New Mexico
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of Texas

Others have been listed by NASSM but may require some searching for more information as it may be PE-based and not focused on true Sports Management/Administration

(online doctoral degree programs should never be considered)