I chose UofL because of the academic variety in the program and the opportunities that are available to students to get involved on campus. The professors here really help in pushing you to find internships and other activities to get involved in. They also truly engage you in discussion with current and interesting topics in the classroom. The athletic department here opens the door for graduate students, which provides great internship opportunities.
Matthew Thune, Sport Administration Student
The University of Louisville offers a Master of Science Degree in Sport Administration. The SPAD program has a diverse student population representing a variety of geographical, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds. UofL SPAD graduates find jobs in professional sports, business and marketing, exercise science, physical education, collegiate and high school coaching, collegiate and high school athletic administration, recreation, health and fitness, and other areas of the sport industry.
The graduate program is approved (accredited) by NASPE/ NASSM Sport Management Program Review Council and is designed to prepare graduate students to pursue or expand careers in the sport industry.
Sport Management Program Review Council, National Association for Sport and Physical Education, North American Society for Sport Management
When applying for graduate school, I was looking for a Sport Administration program that offered a variety of backgrounds and sport-related experiences from the professors. Real world situations combined with theory in the classroom is vital for students to learn and comprehend the business and management of sports, and I believe we are getting the full experience. I am also able to learn from my peers and cohorts who come from a variety of backgrounds and undergraduate programs and are able to relate their experiences with the course work.
Alicia Cintron, Sport Administration Student
Our curriculum is NASPE/NASSM approved. Students take six required sport administration courses, two research methods courses, and complete an internship. In addition, students are required to take three elective courses. These can be any of the variety of sport administration electives or approved courses from other academic departments.
For details about this program, visit the Graduate Catalog.
Prerequisites: Admission to the CEHD or CPBA or officially accepted as a sport administration minor, and SPAD 381. This course is designed to introduce students to principles and practices of planning, funding, operating, and evaluating events within the sport industry. This course includes actual hands on involvement with event planning and management.
An effort to understand the role of the American woman at sport. This course studies concepts about woman, sport, and society in contemporary and historical perspectives.
Covers the application of various promotional strategies such as advertising, direct sales, sales promotion, and publicity and examines how those strategies are integral to a sport organization's marketing plan.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Selected projects of interest to sport administration faculty.
Examines basic financial and managerial accounting concepts necessary to be financially literate in the business of sport. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding annual reports, using financial analysis ratios, and examining methods for increasing revenue and controlling costs in the sport industry.
The course will examine several different types of sporting facilities. The course will also delineate the factors involved in the planning, design and management of each facility. At the conclusion of the course, the student will be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of several facilities and will be able to design a hypothetical facility.
This course is an overview of the nature and scope of the sport industry. This course is also designed to expand the student's understanding of various management theories, research, and their application to sport organization and administration.
This course examines one or more topics in sport administration. Although new special topics are always possible, popular special topics in the past have included Sport Governance, The Sport Industry, Stress Management, Research in Sport Administration, Professional Team Sports, and Sport Publicity and Promotion.
Examination of the historical development of athletics within American institutions of higher learning with an emphasis upon concept and ideas that underlie the developments and the major problems affecting contemporary intercollegiate athletics.
This course will introduce students to the unique nature of sport marketing as it relates in various business industries. This course is also designed to introduce students to all aspects of planning, organizing, marketing, evaluating and conducting special and sport events. The class format will include lectures, group discussions, videotapes, and guest speakers.
Trends and issues of importance to the practitioner in sport administration.
Examines legal issues including negligence, constitutional law, product liability, administrative law, and contract law as it applies to the sport industry.
Supervised practical work experience in an organization or business related to student's academic field, area of specialization, or career interest.
Critical examination of research in education. Emphasis given to historical, empirical, and experimental methods of research; to techniques of research design and statistical analysis; and to skills in writing reviews and critiques of research literature.
Prerequisite: HSS Tests and Measurements (HSS 377) Techniques used in developing the research project. Development of outline for action research project.
Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums do not guarantee a student will be accepted to the program.
I chose UofL's Sport Administration program because it comes highly regarded throughout the country and because it offers a wide variety of courses to educate students about a variety of career paths. I have had many volunteer, internship, and hands-on experiences while a graduate student in the SPAD program that have helped further my knowledge in my desired career field of sport event management that I feel I could not receive from many other Sport Administration programs; it truly is been a one-of-a-kind experience!
Brooke Gilbert, Sport Administration Student
Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the University of Louisville School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
Applicants who have attended a college or university outside of the United States are also required to submit an evaluation of their transcript through either WES (World Education Services) or ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators). Please note that transcript evaluations can sometimes take several weeks.
In addition to these requirements, admission to the degree program may require completion of specific prerequisite undergraduate courses.
Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.
Applicants will be considered for admission during a given review cycle only if all of the above materials have been received by the due date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The due dates for each review cycle are as follows: February 1 (for Summer or Fall Admission), April 1 (for Summer or Fall Admission), July 1 (for Fall Admission), and November 1 (for Spring Admission). After the initial review of admission materials the committee members can either choose to reject the candidate without an interview or decide to proceed with an interview. Following the interview phase, the Admissions Committee makes its final recommendation to accept the candidate for admission or to deny admission.
Learn more about our SPAD program faculty.
Marion Hambrick
Department of Health & Sport Sciences
College of Education & Human Development
104 HP/Theatre Arts Bldg
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-8286
In general, the sport industry is divided in commonly recognized segments, including, but not limited to, professional sport, intercollegiate athletics, voluntary athletic associations such as the NCAA and high school athletic associations, recreational sport, facility management, event management, promotions & marketing, health & fitness, and sporting goods retail operations just to name a few. Within each of these segments, job opportunities exist ranging from sales, marketing, box office management, ticketing, player development, golf course management, accounting and finance, facility operations, athletic training, operation of intramural sports, restaurant management, pool management, academic services for athletics, fitness club operations, outdoor recreation programs, compliance in college athletics, internet web design, sponsor development, special event coordinator, sports reporters, sports editors, sports information director, sport talk show hosts, and many, many more diverse and unique opportunities.
In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.
Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
Most students con complete the program in 1 1/2 to 2 years. The length of the program typically depends on three factors:
Most classes are offered in the evenings (4:30 pm or 5:30 pm). All required courses are offered during fall and spring semesters. Additional courses are often offered during summer sessions.
More information on sport administration internships is available online.
Admissions are competitive. We receive between 100 and 125 applications each year. Over the last two years, we have enrolled 30-35 new students each year.
