The sport management concentration equips students with the skills needed to succeed in the $490 billion sport industry. Whether you’re shifting careers or enhancing your existing skills, the sport management concentration prepares you to take on a leadership role in the industry.
Foundational coursework in core management, marketing, finance, law, facility and event operations, and leadership combined with flexible elective and capstone opportunities positions you for a career with private for-profit, nonprofit, and public sector sport organizations.
Students gain real-world experience thanks to our proximity and connections to sports-rich Washington, D.C., which boasts seven professional sports teams a half-dozen Division I universities, numerous sport facilities, and a vibrant sport events industry. Small classes with award-winning leaders in the field provide individualized attention and career ready graduates.
Graduates boast jobs in media relations, marketing, sales, alumni development, and coaching throughout the country, including with teams in the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLS, NWSL, university athletics departments, Monumental Sports Entertainment, national governing bodies, and more.
The Sport Management Program at George Mason University seeks to prepare reflective, principled, and knowledgeable graduates with professional skill sets that enhance their success in the $490+ billion sport sector. Serving one of the nation’s most diverse student populations, this dynamic, growing program is committed to excellence and seeks to develop students’ professional knowledge and dispositions through a curriculum guided by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) and the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) content standards. An integral part of the curriculum is the opportunity for field experiences in sport settings in the Northern Virginia region, metropolitan Washington, D.C., and throughout the world.
• General Manager
• Athletic Director
• Coach
• League Commissioner
• Olympic Sport Development
• Sport Marketer
• Sports Data Analyst
• Ticket Sales
• Community Relations
• Sports Information/Media Relations
• Sports Broadcasting
• Event Manager
• Facility Director
• Facilities Manager
• Academic Advisor
• Compliance Officer
• eSport Manager
• Sponsor Relations
MS Core Coursework (18 credits)
Select 5 credits from the following:
Sport Management Concentration Courses (12 credits)
Choose 3 credits from the following.
Note: Other courses may be selected with advisor approval.
SPMT 612 Economics and Financial Management in the Sport Industry may not be used to satisfy the concentration requirement if taken in SRST core.
Face to face on Mason’s Fairfax campus, usually completed in two to three years.
Fall Semester
(classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester
(classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester
(classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Priority*: April 1
Space Available: August 18 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 10 |
Priority*: February 1
Space Available: May 15 |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
All application materials must be submitted through George Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
- An earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the admissions policy here for information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may, in evaluating the meeting of this requirement, additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, any/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
- Grade of C or better in the following courses:
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$748.50
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$948.50
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,679.50) |
| VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$635.50
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD Course Fee |
$25 - $84 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$773.50 - $832.50 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$979.50 - $1,038.50 |
| Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$660.50 - $719.50 |
Graduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $159.50
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Academic Advisor
Melissa Busillo
Email: mbusillo@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-5261
Fairfax Campus: Krug Hall, Suite 213
To schedule an appointment: https://gmu.campus.eab.com/pal/oOhyMST5VC
Forms
Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.
Chris Green
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Pierre Rodgers
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Julie Aylsworth
Robert Baker
Laurence Chalip
Craig Esherick
Jacqueline McDowell
Brenda Wiggins
Charles Casserly