Sport Management

Student studying in a library

(c) 2018 David Schmitz.

Welcome to the Graduate Sport Management Program [pdf]!

Our Program

The Sport Management Graduate Specialization at San Jose State University is housed in the Department of Kinesiology within the College of Health & Human Sciences. There are approximately 100 graduate students in the department, including a cohort of roughly 15 Sport Management students that are accepted into the program annually. Students from a variety of disciplines (e.g., Business, Hospitality, Kinesiology, Sociology, etc) are encouraged to apply.

Our Focus

A major focus of the program is to develop culturally informed professionals capable of management and leadership across the many sport industry professions.  In addition, the balance between applied research and practical experiences ensures that our graduates have a deep and transferable knowledge base as they enter the job market, as well as potentially influencing sport scholarship by pursuing higher levels of education.

Why MS KIN at SJSU?

  • Link your passion with future scholarship and/or employment
  • Advance your knowledge through a student-developed program of study developed to meet your goals
  • Complete a graduate project or thesis culminating activity
  • Gain hands-on experience at an internship site
  • Study in one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the United States

Highlights

  • Internationally published and recognized faculty
  • Strategic Location: Access to professional, collegiate, and community sport organizations, as well as influential companies outside the traditional sport scope.
  • Student developed, goal-focused, programs of study.
  • Internships with Bay Area sport organizations.

Program Entry Requirements

  • 3.0 GPA in last 60 semester units, (2.75 and above considered)
  • Complete Cal State Apply Application
  • Two letters of recommendation

Coursework At a Glance

The program consists of 30 units, which typically breaks down into ten, three unit courses (see curriculum). The program course requirements are as follows:

Core Courses: KIN 250 (Fundamentals of Quantitative Research in Kinesiology) & KIN 251 (Fundamentals of Qualitative Research in Kinesiology)

Sport Management Courses: KIN 281 (Legal Aspects of Sport), KIN 282 (Marketing & Social Aspects of Sport), KIN 283 (Management, Leadership, & Communication in Sport), and KIN 284 (Financial Aspects of Sport), KIN 280 (Advanced Fieldwork)

Master's Project:  (KIN 298: 3 Units) or Thesis (KIN 299: 6 units). For their final projects or theses, students have produced a variety of high-quality work, including the development of sport focused business plans, manuals, and research projects.

Electives: Depending on the culminating activity chosen (thesis/project) students will complete 3 or 6 units of elective coursework. Aside from classes housed in the Department of Kinesiology, students will often look to classes housed with the Lucas College of Business to fulfill their elective requirements.  

Students will graduate with a Master of Science Degree in Kinesiology.

Internships

Our students engage in high-quality internship opportunities across the greater SF Bay Area and beyond, highlighted by partnerships with local professional and university sport organizations.

SJ Eathquakes Logo  SJ Sharks  SJ Athletics   SF 49ers Logo

Careers

The goal of the Sport Management Specialization is to prepare graduate students for a variety of positions in the major sports industry segments:

  • Professional Sport
  • Intercollegiate Athletics
  • Interscholastic Athletics
  • Youth and Community Sport
  • Sport Tourism
  • Health and Fitness
  • International Sport
  • Event and Facility Management
  • Sports Governing Bodies and Associations
  • Sport Media

Alumni Testimonial

Tyler Barton, '19, BA '16 Assistant

Director, Events and Operations Stanford Athletics

Tyler Barton   

"SJSU’s Sport Management program is the main reason I am where I am today with Stanford University Athletics!
 
Academically, it prepared me to meet deadlines, collaborate with colleagues, and think critically. Professionally, it put me in contact with internship sites where I eventually landed my full-time career in collegiate athletics."
 

Sydney Carden, '20 Operations -

Manager, Young Life Asia Pacific

 Sydney Carden

"The Sport Management program at SJSU gave me a wonderful opportunity to further my education in the sport industry. The department is full of professors who are deeply experienced, knowledgeable, and always willing to help students.

My time at SJSU left me with lifelong friendships, a cherished educational experience, and connections in sports all over the world."

Ivanna Anderson-Villela, '24

Anderson Villela

"My experience in the Sport Management program at San José State University is everything I wanted it to be and more. The faculty truly care about the students and do an incredible job developing students through a combination of theoretical and practical learning. My time at SJSU has changed my career path for the better!"

Sport Management Faculty:

Dr. Armstrong

Cole Armstrong, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Spartan Complex 114
(408) 924-8932
cole.armstrong@sjsu.edu

 

Dr. Butryn

Ted Butryn, Ph.D.
Professor 
Spartan Complex 173B 
(408) 924-3068 
theodore.butryn@sjsu.edu
 
Dr. Dao
 
Michael Dao, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Spartan Complex 113
(408)924-2904
michael.dao@sjsu.edu
 
Dr. Williams
 
Lamont Williams, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Spartan Complex 173G
(408) 924-3014
lamont.williams@sjsu.edu