SPORTS ADMINISTRATION GRADUATE PROGRAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

(All courses 3 credits unless otherwise specified) 

ACCOUNTING COURSES

ACC 500 Fundamentals of Accounting (1 credit)

This course is an independent, self-paced study of accounting principles and practices for those with no previous background in accounting. The collection, reporting and interpretation of the financial data of modern business firm are emphasized. As a one-credit-hour-course, it is a prerequisite for MBA students who have not completed ACC 500 or its equivalent.

ACC 770 Managerial Accounting

An analysis of accounting information for the purpose of planning, controlling and decision making. Emphasis on concepts of financial statement analysis, funds flow statements, cost analysis, budgeting, and control techniques. Case study method is emphasized.

BUS 500 Fundamental of Statistics for Business (1 credit)

This course is an independent, self-paced study of statistical principles and practices for those with no previous background in statistics. As a one-credit-hour-course, it is a prerequisite for MBA students who have not completed ACC 532 or its equivalent.

BUS 673 Management Writing and Reporting

Effective methods of researching, writing, and presenting case studies and management reports.

BUS 704 Policy, Planning and Strategy Systems

Concepts, theories, and practices in public, private, and non-profit organizations of policy-making, strategy, planning, budgeting, and various implementing systems. The case study method integrated with a contingency approach to management. This course should be taken after most of the MBA core courses have been completed, but before taking the comprehensive examination.

BUS 705 Advanced Information Systems

Computer information systems approached from an operating manager’s perspective - what the system’s capabilities are, how they should be designed and managed, and how their benefits can be best assured for the organization.

ECONOMICS COURSES

ECO 500 Fundamentals of Economics for Business (1 credit)

This course is a one credit, independent, self-paced study of economic principles and practices for those with no previous background in economics. As a one-credit-hour-course, it is a prerequisite for MBA students who have not completed ECO 531 or its equivalent.

This course focuses on the application of microeconomic theories in the business environment and explores the relevance of economic reasoning to managerial decision-making. Both economic models and quantitative applications will be emphasized. Emphasis will be place in using analytical and quantitative tools to apply economic concepts to real world applications. Topics to be covered include: demand and cost analysis, forecasting, pricing decisions, game theory, risk analysis, capital budgeting and capital analysis. Prerequisite: ECO 500 or ECO 531 or equivalent

FINANCE COURSES

FIN 751 Financial Management

Acquisition of capital and debt, long-range and annual budgeting, budget management, cash flow management, short-term debt financing, interfacing with operation functions.

Prerequisite: ACC 530, ECO(BUS) 531 and BUS 532 or equivalents

MANAGEMENT COURSES

This is an introductory course on research design emphasizing computer skills, analysis and presentation of information. It is intended to make the student an informed consumer of research and must be taken within the first or second term of enrollment.

MAN 510 Management Ethics

The study of ethics and ethical behavior in public and private organizations is the fundamental purpose of this core course, which also explores broad areas of social responsibility to others in the enterprise, customers, the community and the preservation of the environment.

This course provides a micro-perspective on organizations within the context of motivation, leadership, communication, interpersonal relations and group dynamics. Students will be encouraged to apply theoretical material to case studies and their own organizations.

MAN 703 Human Resource Management

This survey course of human resource management examines human resource planning, equal employment opportunity, staffing, performance appraisal, compensation management, training and development, quality of work life, health and safety, and labor-management relations. The legal environment surrounding human resource management practices is explored.

SPORTS ADMINISTRATION COURSES 

This course will examine ethics within the context of a sport management environment, utilizing theory and case application. Human resource principles and concepts will be infused in assignments and discussions to add depth and breadth to the consideration of ethical implications specific to sport managers. The course will address criteria specific to moral and ethical developmental theories, teleological and deontological theories of ethics and code of professional ethics. In-class discussions will include personal and managerial missions and values and situational analyses using various ethic models. (This course is web-enhanced.)

SPO 540 Sports Media and Public Relations

This course covers a comprehensive study of the sports information profession on the collegiate, professional, and recreational levels. Included within the course are 1) the field of public relations, its history and evolution, 2) the skills and methods involved in the duties of the SID, public relations specialist, or media relations specialist and current attitudes and concerns in media relations between athletes, coaches, administrators, and owners. Students are exposed to professionals in the field, as well as athletic events in which the SID is involved.

SPO 543 Sports Financial Management

This course provides students with the facts, knowledge, and opportunity to better understand the true nature of financially operating a sports program/organization. The student develops additional knowledge and insight by exposure to actual situations. It will guide future administrators to become more effective financial managers when they plan and execute budgeting and accounting systems.

SPO 544 Sports Marketing and Promotions

This course introduces students to the principles of sports marketing and the application of these principles to sports and sports related organizations. The primary focus of the course is on planning, with additional emphasis on promotions management. This course includes presentations by guest lecturers, instructor’s lectures, and student’s presentations and is conducted in discussion format.

SPO 546 Facility and Event Management

Included within this course are the elements which shape the planning and construction of sports facilities and the issues and problems involved in facility and event management, including marketing, production, personnel, and budget. Students may also participate in the management of events. This course also includes visits to local facilities.

SPO 547 Principles of Leisure Services Management

This course examines all areas of the leisure service field, ranging from not-for-profit entities such as parks and libraries to businesses such as hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and country clubs. Students analyze operating problems and participate in case studies to enhance their knowledge and outlook on leisure facilities and operational management.

SPO 548 Sports Psychology

This course is designed to introduce students to the factors influencing sport socialization and psychology. Students will be provided with an extensive foundational experience in understanding the relationship between sport and the psychological contexts in which they exist. Topics for research will include, but are not limited to, the effects of personality, anxiety, motivation, and concentration as they relate to athletic peak performance.

SPO 549 Athletic Fund Raising

This course reviews the current approaches and techniques for increasing revenues and fund raising in athletic enterprises.

SPO 551 Negotiations in the Sports Industry

This elective course will introduce students to basic negotiating strategies applicable to the sports industries. The course will use, as its basic perspective, the theories and principles of current experts in the field of negotiation through reading text materials, faculty lectures, guest presentations, video presentations, practice negotiations, and case studies.

SPO 552 Governance of Intercollegiate Athletics

This course is designed to introduce students to the history, structure, rules and responsibilities of organizations that govern intercollegiate athletics. Current governance issues and trends are examined through a study of the literature, the insight of guest speakers, and actual case studies. Students are exposed to the complexities of the growing field of compliance.

SPO 717 Seminar and Principles of Sports Administration

This course is required for the Sports Administration graduate program degrees. It covers pertinent areas of overall management, leadership styles, decision-making, communication, philosophical and ethical conduct, and time and stress management. Timely topics of interest to the class are also researched and discussed. The course also provides students with opportunities to identify areas for potential internships and develop job/internship seeking skills. Guest speakers are frequently invited to class to share their experiences as practitioners in the field of sports administration. (This course is web-enhanced.)

SPO 719 Legal Aspects of Sports Administration

This required course provides the student with a background and understanding of the court and legal system in America and how law is used by, and applied to, athletes and athletics in America. Some of the major legal problems and issues confronting the sports administrator covered are: contracts, due process, defamation, actions against professional, college, secondary school and community programs; actions involving safety procedures; antitrust; collective bargaining and arbitration; and risk management.

SPO 750 Issues in Sports Administration

Special issues courses may be offered from time to time on topics of particular significance to the sports industries.

SPO 755 Special Topics in Sports Administration

Special topics courses are offered focusing on areas of concern and change within the evolving business of sports.

SPO 789 Directed Readings in Sports Administration

This independent study course is reserved for students who have already demonstrated excellence in their chosen area of study. It allows flexibility for those who are pursuing specialized objectives on an intensive basis or for those wishing to delve into an area of the sports industry that is not attainable through the normal course offerings. Directed readings are allowed only with the permission of the Sports Administration Graduate Program Coordinator.

SPO 790, 791 Supervised Internship I, II

Those students who have demonstrated ability and commitment to their major through active volunteer participation and adequate grade point average are encouraged and assisted in arranging internships with professional, college, and school programs; public and private recreational programs; sports facilities, or other sports related organizations. This experience provides a practical learning mode for the graduate student in which to acquire skills and practice in their area of study. Credit hours are directly related to the length of the internship and the work week.

Internship is Pass/Fail only and requires the advanced approval of the Sports Administration Graduate Program Coordinator. (Course offered in on-line format.)