Master of Sport Leadership
The Master of Sport Leadership program prepares graduates to be strategic leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive success within the sports management landscape. They will be ready to assume positions of leadership in athletic administration, coaching, program management, event management, compliance, and risk management, while contributing positively to the broader sports ecosystem.
Mission
The mission of the Master of Sport Leadership program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is to prepare athletic coaches and administrators with a foundation for becoming practitioners in the field, with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of general concepts related to leadership in sports management industry.
Admission Requirements
The Master of Sport Leadership program is a fully online one-year, 30-credit hour graduate program. To apply for the Master of Sport Leadership program, students must have:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) on any undergraduate and graduate work
- Completed application
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Official transcripts of all collegiate work
- One to two-page essay describing your interest in the Sport Leadership program and what you hope to gain from it
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional or academic experience
- Résumé
- Current technology equipment including access to the Internet, webcam, and audio for virtual classroom participation
GMAT Test Optional: An applicant is not required to take the GMAT test. An applicant may wish to strengthen their application if they do not meet the GPA requirement of 3.0/4.0 or the five-year work experience. Their undergraduate degree does not have to be in business. MLD/MHA students will not be required to take the GMAT. During the review of the application materials, the MBA team recommends that students who have a deficiency in statistics will be required to take a placement test.
Admission requirements for graduate study are designed so that admitted students will have a high probability of success in graduate-level academic work. Graduate study is much more than a continuation of undergraduate work and should be considered by those students with the capacity for independent thought and investigation.
For more information about the Sport Leadership program, contact Dr. Tonya Sawyer: Tonya.Sawyer@smwc.edu.
Graduation Requirements
Completion of the 30-credit hours curriculum outlined in the Course Requirements (10-course, 30 credit hours) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required. Up to nine hours of relevant transfer graduate credit may be accepted per Graduate Program Director approval.
Woods Ring Requirements
Students must have 75% of coursework completed, or in progress, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to participate in the Ring Ceremony or receive the Woods Ring. Read here to learn more about the century-old tradition.
MSL Curriculum
(30 credit hours)
Required Courses
| MLD 503 | Leadership Identity | 3 |
| MLD 504 | Ethical Decision-Making | 3 |
| MLD 505 | Critical Analysis of Research | 3 |
| SL 506 | Compliance and Risk Management | 3 |
| SL 508 | Compliance and Risk Management | 3 |
| SL 510 | Facility and Event Management | 3 |
| SL 551 | Sports Business Analytics | 3 |
| SL 556 | Sports Law, Contracts & Effective Negotiating | 3 |
MSL Electives