Sport Management Department
Ryan Vooris, chair
Tara Mahoney, graduate coordinator
Professional Studies Building, Room 1114
607-753-4251
Fax: 607-753-5795

Overview

Challenge your competitive spirit and love of sport to succeed in the fast-paced and complex world of business by earning the M.S. in sport management at SUNY Cortland.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the principles of the sport management field such as strategic management, sport marketing, sport finance, sport law and sport leadership.
2. Apply critical thinking skills to collect, evaluate, and interpret research models that include qualitative and quantitative techniques and be able to analyze and solve problems in an applied way.
3. Execute a variety of oral and written business communication styles.
4. Display an understanding for individual differences and appreciate the benefits of all dimensions of diversity including but not limited to ethnicity, gender, age, physical differences, sexual orientation, race and religion.
5. Gain practical knowledge within the sport industry through fieldwork or a culminating project that demonstrates the sport management core courses.

Program Highlights

Select from several options to pursue this 30-credit-hour degree, including full-time study, part-time, or online. All courses in the major are available either online or on campus, which makes it possible to complete the degree as an online M.S. program or on-campus. All options include fieldwork that provides sport management industry experience in specialties such as collegiate sport, professional sport (major and minor league), national sport committees, North American sport governing bodies, full-service sport marketing agencies, and event management firms.

Within the program, our outstanding faculty share their extensive professional, industry-based experiences while helping you consider the strategic leadership aspects of sport management.

Career Potential

After you successfully complete the program, you will be prepared for a career with sport businesses in areas such as sport marketing, media and communications, event and facility management, sport law and sport finance.

Graduate Admissions

Evaluation Policy

At the State University of New York College at Cortland, we seek a diverse and academically strong student body. Our admission policy and practice will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or marital status.

Required Materials

U.S. residents and international students

1. Completed online Graduate School Application – Apply Now
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to SUNY Cortland Graduate Admissions Office.
3. Either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores to be sent to SUNY Cortland by Educational Testing Service (ETS). A waiver for the test requirement may be given to students who have a 3.3 or better overall undergraduate GPA or can document five years of full-time industry experience in a related field.
4. A 500-1,000 word letter of intent explaining what your professional goals are and how our graduate program will assist you in achieving them.
5. A minimum of two letters of recommendation, including at least one academic and one professional letter. Applicants more than five years removed from their B.S. may submit two professional letters. 
6. A resume, submitted online with the application.
7. Additional supplemental materials such as an interview may be requested the department.

Additional International Student Required Materials

Personal interviews are strongly recommended. However, a telephone interview can serve as a substitute. In addition to admission and program requirements pertaining to graduate study listed in this catalog, you also will need to complete the following requirements to be considered for admission:

1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will be required if English is not your first language and not common as an official language of your nation of status/citizenship.
2. Official college transcripts with professional translation of all documents into English along with the original documents.
3. Financial support statement

Admissions Criteria

1. A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.8 on a scale of 4.0 or its equivalent is strongly preferred. If you have an undergraduate grade point average below 2.8, your application will be reviewed for admission on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration standardized test scores, your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and any previous industry experience.
2. 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

1. 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. If you are at or slightly above these minimum scores, you may be asked to provide additional evidence of English proficiency.
2. Applications will be reviewed for admission based on academic accomplishments and the level of proficiency in the English language. Immigration form I–20, which is used to secure an F-1 visa, will be issued once all required information has been received and you have been accepted to SUNY Cortland.

Deadlines

Fall semester applications: July 1
Spring semester applications: Dec. 1
Summer semester applications: April 1

Deadlines for International Students

Fall semester applications: April 1
Spring semester applications: Sept. 1

Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on a space availability basis.
Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 607-753-4800 to check availability.