Old Dominion University is also featured in our ranking Top 50 Master’s in Sports Management Degree Online Programs.
Online Master of Science in Sport Management at Old Dominion University
Ranked the 20th most affordable online college for a master’s in sports management, the Master of Science in Sport Management at Old Dominion University (ODU) gives students the skills and knowledge they need in order to succeed in the sports management industry. The degree is available entirely online, and many classes do not have a scheduled meeting time, which means students can take their courses as they fit into their personal schedules. However, exams and assignments may be scheduled at specific times. All courses follow ODU’s regular academic calendar. The mission of the master’s degree in sports management is to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities associated with careers in the sport industry. ODU provides students with the practical and theoretical knowledge that will enable students to become successful leaders.
The curriculum falls in line with the practices and principles of both the sporting marketplace as well as academic standards set by institutions across the country. Students must complete six core courses as well as four electives for a total of 36 credit hours, including a capstone initiative. Students may select one of two capstone options: a thesis or an internship. Students who wish to pursue an internship must first complete a comprehensive exam after they finish their required courses but before they begin the industry-related capstone experience.
Students earning their master’s degree in sports management from Old Dominion University must take 12 credit hours in core courses that cover areas such as sport leadership and management, sport law, strategic marketing in sport, and sport finance. The research core consists of six credit hours in either applied research methods in education or an introduction to research methods in education as well as an introduction to applied statistics and data analysis. Elective options focus on more specialized areas, including social issues in sport, ethics in sports management, sponsorship and event planning, youth development in recreation, and facility management for entertainment, recreation, and sport.
Throughout the program, students will expand on their undergraduate coursework and learn how to use both new and current technologies, legally and ethically manage sports organizations, operate sporting facilities, and plan events. Courses will also teach students how to develop, implement, and monitor specific marketing strategies that are designed to identify what sports consumers want and need, use critical thinking skills to solve problems, conduct research and analyze data, and implement principles of finance and management to achieve the objectives of the organization.
Graduates have the experience, knowledge, skills, and education to pursue positions in the sporting industry, including intramural recreation and sports, corporate management and marketing firms, health and fitness industries, non-profit sports organizations, event and facility operations, community recreation and leisure agencies, collegiate athletics, and professional athletics. Students may also use their master’s degree in sport management as preparation for doctoral studies.
About Old Dominion University
Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research post-secondary institution that also operates two satellite campuses in Hampton Roads. ODU was named after one of the state’s nicknames, “The Old Dominion,” given to Virginia by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War. It was established as the College of William & Mary’s Norfolk Division in 1930 and has developed into one of Virginia’s largest universities, educating more than 24,600 students per year. Its 251-acre campus is located five miles from downtown Norfolk and straddles the city neighborhoods of Lambert’s Point, Highland Park, and Larchmont. In addition to providing nearly $2 billion per year to the regional economy, ODU offers nearly 170 graduate and undergraduate degrees in areas such as the sciences, health sciences, engineering and technology, education, and business, and it is ranked among the universities that provide the most online courses in the U.S. There are approximately 124,000 ODU alumni residing in 67 countries and all 50 states.
Old Dominion University Accreditation Details
Old Dominion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award doctoral, master’s, and baccalaureate, and education specialist degrees. Accreditation indicates that the school has undergone, and passed, a review conducted by a body of its peers. Becoming regionally accredited allows institutions to accept transfer credits from other accredited institutions as well as request federal financial aid. Accreditation also serves to inform students and the public that the school has adhered to, and is expected to continue to adhere to, its mission statement, goals, and high standards of quality.
Old Dominion University Application Requirements
In order to be admitted into the online master’s degree in sports management, students must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) or higher on a 4.0 scale in the undergraduate major, and a 2.8 cumulative GPA. Applicants must also provide a minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score of 291 or higher as well as a minimum Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score of 400 or higher. Old Dominion University offers a GRE waiver for students who have expired GRE scores, have shown high potential as undergraduates, military experience, and/or a terminal degree. Applicants are required to provide official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, a current curriculum vitae or resume, a two-page statement of career goals, and three letters of recommendation from former or current employers or faculty members.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Virginia residents with Virginia domicile will pay $523 per credit hour for their degree, while Virginia residents without Virginia domicile will pay $1,320 per credit hour. Out-of-state students will pay $568 per credit hour for their tuition. Old Dominion University (ODU) offers a number of forms of financial aid for graduate students such as tuition-unfunded scholarships, work outside the university, fellowships, scholarships, federal loan programs, work-study programs, and graduate assistantships. Specifically, ODU students pursuing a master’s degree in sports management may choose to apply for a graduate assistantship provided by ODU Recreation & Wellness, ODU Athletics, and other sports organizations in the area. In addition, Old Dominion University recognizes the Post-9/11 GI Bill and offers a number of benefits and tuition discounts for active-duty military members, their spouses, and their dependents.