Return to: School of Professional Studies

Studio West, Suite 156
(607) 753-4251
E-mail: spmg@cortland.edu
www.cortland.edu/spmg/

School

Professional Studies

Faculty

Ted Fay (Chair), John “Michael” Crauder, Daniel DePerno, Mark Dodds, Peter Han, Kevin Heisey, James Reese (Graduate Coordinator), Matthew Seyfried, David Snyder, Luisa Velez, Aaron Zipp, Sarah Zipp

Adjunct Faculty

For a listing of adjunct faculty see the Faculty and Administration  section of this catalog.

Programs Offered

Master of Science in Sport Management
Master of Science in International Sport Management
Master of Science in International Sport Management Dual Degree Program with London Metropolitan University

Master of Science in Sport Management (MS_SPMG)

The Master of Science in Sport Management (SPMG) is a comprehensive business and management program that is designed as a full-time, 30 credit-hour program. This program is designed to directly meet the growing needs and demands of national sport organizations, multinational corporations and businesses seeking to hire an educated and culturally aware work force prepared to work in a diverse and rapidly changing sport economy.

The M.S. in Sport Management is designed to allow for validation with the appropriate academic accrediting body in North America, the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), a joint commission created by the North American Society for Sport Management and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

Admission Requirements

1. A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 is preferred. Students with an undergraduate grade point average below 2.8 will be reviewed for admission on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration standardized test scores, the personal statement and letters of recommendation.
2. Completion and submission of Cortland’s Graduate Studies Application with the appropriate application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to SUNY Cortland Graduate Studies Office.
4. Either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores to be sent to SUNY Cortland by Educational Testing Service (ETS).
5. A personal statement containing the applicant’s professional and educational goals in 250 words or less.
6. A minimum of two letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the SUNY Cortland Graduate Studies Office.

The Master of Science Programs in International Sport Management (MS_ISPM and MS_ISMD)

The Master of Science programs in International Sport Management (ISPM and ISMD) are designed to focus on International Sport Management as a distinct discipline, meeting the needs of professionals who seek to work in an internationally focused organizational environment that demands diverse intercultural competencies and skills.

These programs are designed to attract those who are interested in career advancement in such international sport industry segments as: sport marketing; media and communications; event and facility management; sport law and labor relations; security and risk management; information technology in sport enterprises; sport economics and finance; sport production and supply chain management; plus sport governance and leadership.

The program balances theory and practice, with each graduate gaining a firm understanding of the management environment including diverse organizational cultures, intercultural perspectives and competencies, ethical and legal foundations and strategic planning involved in being successful in the field of international sport management.

The Master of Science in International Sport Management (ISPM) is a 30 credit-hour program where students complete 24 credit hours of course work on the SUNY Cortland campus and an international residency as part of their course of study.

The Master of Science in International Sport Management Dual Degree program with the London Metropolitan University Business School (ISMD) is a 36 credit-hour program. Students enrolled in this program are simultaneously admitted to both institutions and required to fulfill a minimum of one residential semester of course work at each institution. This program also requires completion of both an internship and a thesis in order to satisfy the dual degrees. Upon completion of the 36 required credit hours, students will be awarded a Master of Science (M.S.) from SUNY Cortland and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) from the London Metropolitan University Business School.

Admission Requirements

Student Admission Criteria (U.S. Residents and International Students)

These programs follow the general requirements of entrance to graduate study at SUNY Cortland, along with their own specific criteria.

1. Although many programs at SUNY Cortland allow entry in either fall, spring or summer semesters, the full-time residency M. S. degrees in Sport Management and International Sport Management accept incoming students for the fall or spring semesters only. The professional, part-time hybrid M.S. in Sport Management also acepts students for summer admission.

Admission to these programs is expected to be very competitive and highly selective and will be based on College, department and program specific requirements. Although SUNY Cortland has a rolling admission policy, it is recommended that application for admission to this program be filed for full consideration, along with all supporting documents, to SUNY Cortland’s Graduate Studies Office no later than April 1 preceding the fall semester of a specific academic year or September 1 preceding the spring semester.

2. Once the Graduate Studies Office receives all of an applicant’s required documents, the credentials of the applicant will be forwarded to the Sport Management Graduate Review Committee. Departmental decisions are then forwarded to the director of graduate studies through the chair of the Sport Management Department. The final notification regarding admission is transmitted to the applicant from the director of graduate studies. After formal admission, the student is assigned a faculty advisor who supports the applicant in planning a specific course of study.

3. Students admitted to any of the M.S. in International Sport Management shall possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited international institution of higher learning. Applicants who apply for graduate school before obtaining their undergraduate degrees may be accepted into a program but will not be allowed to register for classes until the degree is obtained and a final, official transcript is received by the Graduate Studies Office. For success in the program, it is expected that students possess good written communication skills, have strong information technology skills and have adequate quantitative skills. Students who have an undergraduate degree in an unrelated discipline may need to successfully complete prerequisite course work prior to admission into the program. Students will need to have taken an approved undergraduate accounting course at the 100 or 200 level. Students also may need to have taken a statistics course.

4. In addition to the above SUNY Cortland admission requirements, students must submit for consideration:

• A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 or its equivalent is preferred. Students with an undergraduate grade point average below 2.8 will be reviewed for admission on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration standardized test scores, the personal statement and letters of recommendation.
• Completion and submission of Cortland’s Graduate Studies Application with the appropriate application fee.
• Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to the SUNY Cortland Graduate Studies Office.
• Scores from either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) may be required if a student has less than an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or its equivalent. These scores should be sent directly to SUNY Cortland by ETS using the SUNY Cortland institution code of K6R-R0-01 for the GMAT. For the GRE, students must use institution code 2538 and department code 4314. If the GMAT or the GRE is required, these scores must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office prior to completion of admission review. The GMAT and GRE must be taken by the January test dates preceding the spring semester of admission review.
• A 250-500 word essay or a portfolio of professional practice or a personal statement of the applicant’s professional and educational goals.
• A minimum of two letters of recommendation, including at least one academic and one professional letter.
• Evidence of successful completion of any missing prerequisite courses in management, such as accounting and/or elementary statistics.
• Evidence of successful completion of a minimum of one year of foreign language or equivalent proficiency.
• An admissions interview either in person or by telephone may be required.
• Prospective candidates must be aware that, upon acceptance into this program, there will be some additional costs and fees associated with the program over and above standard tuition, academic fees and living costs charged to all students.

Additional International Student Admission Criteria

Foreign nationals are strongly encouraged to apply for this degree program in International Sport Management. Personal interviews, though strongly recommended, can be substituted with a telephone interview as an alternative. In addition to admission and program requirements pertaining to graduate study listed above, international applicants also need to complete the following requirements to be considered for admission:

• An English proficiency report
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will be required for all international students where English is not their first language and not common as an official language of their nation of status/citizenship.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam report with a minimum score of 550 (paper version) or 213 (computerized version), and 79 Internet equivalent on the U.S. scale. Candidates who are at or slightly above these minimum scores maybe asked to provide additional evidence of English proficiency. Graduate candidates interested in pursuing a dual degree program will be expected to meet the English proficiency standards of both institutions.
• Official college transcripts with professional translation of all documents into English along with the original documents.
• Financial support statement

Applications will be reviewed for admission based on academic accomplishments and the level of proficiency in the English language. Immigration form I–20, which the applicant will use to secure an F-1 visa, will be issued to the applicant once all required information has been received and the applicant has been accepted to SUNY Cortland.
 

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