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College of Business
Copeland Hall
1 Ohio University
Athens OH 45701-2979
African American man in blue suit standing at railing overlooking football field
Online Master of Sports Administration
Earn the World Champion of Sports Business Degrees

Online Master of Sports Administration

100%
online courses
5
semesters
36
credit hours
COSMA
accredited

Be the Outstanding Captain Your Team Needs

Ohio University is the birthplace of sports business education. With Ohio University's Online Master of Sports Administration (OMSA) degree, you can score the credentials you need to strengthen your skills and build a successful career. This #1 Online Sports Administration Degree program1 helps you master concepts from revenue generation, law, analytics, and more, as these apply to athletics. You will graduate ready to pursue advanced career opportunities in college athletics, professional sports, sports media, and more.

Program Benefits

  • Online, flexible format
  • COSMA accredited
  • #1 Online Sports Management Masters Degree Program1
  • Small class sizes
  • Interactive, engaging curriculum

FAQs

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Lead with Passion and Skill

Whether you pursue leadership roles in college athletics, take to the professional leagues or advance in the world of sports media, an Online Master of Sports Administration degree can help you chart your course to new professional heights. Gain the critical sports business knowledge and the soft skills you'll need to advance your career.

The average sports management salary for someone with a master's degree is $69,239 per year and can range from $42,000 to about $133,000 per year.2

Career Outlook

Student Testimonial

"What sets Ohio University apart is the network - there are Bobcats everywhere in the sports world."

- Stefan Onorato, OMSA, May 2024

stefan onorato

Careers in Sports Administration

Get the best sports business graduate education in the world - designed for working professionals to advance your education without putting your career on hold.

  • Operations Manager Average Salary

    $57,975

    per year4

  • Marketing Manager Average Salary

    $65,646

    per year5

  • Director of Ticket Operations Average Salary

    $79,858

    per year6

  • Director of Operations Average Salary

    $184,493

    per year7

Program Update from Professional MSA to Online MSA

In line with our mission to be the best program in online sport business graduate education, we have made important changes to our Professional (hybrid) Master of Sports Administration program. Beginning Fall 2023, the program has been renamed the Online Master of Sports Administration program. 

The overarching goals of the program continue to be to ensure that students receive a high-level sport business education while also offering the opportunity to connect with the Bobcat Sports Ad network at residencies and sport business conferences. To reach these goals, we updated our curriculum to include important content areas like Sport Marketing and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and have reduced the number of required residencies. 

We continue to provide online graduate sport business education for sport business professionals who want to further their education without pausing their careers. 

Online MSA Curriculum

36 Credits | Part-time format | 2 Starts/year (Fall & Spring)

The 36-credit OMSA program combines the flexibility of online learning with crucial, in-person networking and residency opportunities. The curriculum is centered around a sports administration core plus five special topic courses that cover a variety of important trending topics, like Sport Business, Esports, and Sports Betting/Gambling. Students will take a 1 credit hour Capstone course in their final semester. 

The OMSA program will host two residencies in Athens and will offer experience options like the National Sports Forum conference and Ohio University Sports Administration Symposium to ensure students have several opportunities to connect with alumni, faculty and other Sports Ad students during their time in the program. 

Course Highlights:

  • SASM 6100 Leadership in Sports Administration

  • SASM 6585 Sport Business Revenue Strategies

  • SASM 6700 Financial Administration of Sport

View Complete Curriculum

Admission Requirements

No GMAT Required | Transfer Up to 6 Credits

Summer 2024:

  • Application Deadline: 04/15
  • Classes Begin: 05/06

Getting started with your application is easy and we're here to help. Admission requirements for the OMSA program include:

  • Regionally accredited bachelor’s degree
  • GPA of approximately 3.0
  • Official transcripts from all degree bearing institutions at the bachelor’s level or higher and unofficial transcript for any additional college coursework
  • Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic references. At least one letter from a supervisor is required
  • Professional resume or CV
  • Current full-time employment in the sport industry. 2 years of professional experience in the sport industry is preferred
  • $50 application fee

While this is a high-profile program, we take a holistic admissions approach, considering career success and experience as well as GPAs. We welcome purpose statements that supplement your grades with evidence of your study habits and overall academic ability, even if your GPA may not reflect your overall achievements.

View Application Process

An Affordable, Online Program

$29,808 Total Tuition (Resident) | $828 Per Credit Hour (Resident)

OHIO has a long tradition of preparing sports professionals for meaningful career advancement. 

When you invest in the COSMA-accredited online MSA program, you gain the leadership and master’s level sports-specific business skills you need to advance in the sports industry.

Ohio University is committed to providing an affordable higher education option for students.

Financial Aid

OHIO is committed to offering affordable, competitive tuition and has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as a best-value university by U.S. News and World Report. In addition, student veteran, active military members, alumni, and corporate partners are automatically eligible to receive a 15% scholarship. Depending on your background, costs and credit hours will differ.

Tuition Details

  • Residency Opportunities

    The OMSA program will host residencies on the Athens campus, and also offers students experiential learning opportunities to attend national conferences – such as the National Sports Forum and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics – as a part of the program. Our goal is to ensure that academic content is provided in an online format and that crucial in-person networking opportunities, with alumni, faculty, industry experts, and other Sports Ad students, are provided during the student's time in the program.

  • Online Learning at OHIO

    Ohio University has a long tradition of offering online programs specifically designed for the modality and created for working professionals. Our online students complete engaging, comprehensive coursework that combines the academic excellence and experience-based learning of a traditional program with all the flexibility and convenience of online study.

    With asynchronous courses and part-time scheduling (one course per seven weeks), you can earn your degree while maintaining your current work and personal commitments. Virtual office hours give you the opportunity to connect with peers and faculty. Access your coursework 24/7 and complete your assignments on a schedule that fits your life.

What You'll Learn

Students will develop a firm mastery of concepts essential to sports leadership, including sport law, analytics, business, revenue strategy, and more. Together, these outstanding qualities make the online sports administration master's program worthy of recognition by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation.

Program Outcomes

  • Understanding of sport business knowledge across business disciplines.
  • Professional skills and abilities relevant to the sports business profession.
  • Ability to formulate decisions using sports business principles, methods, trends, and best practices.

Support from Accomplished Sports Management Professionals

Our OMSA faculty are accomplished scholars and active sports business professionals that maintain deep contacts in the industry, from local to international levels. They bring many years of experience and industry knowledge to their courses to support students in achieving their career goals. In addition, each course includes guest speakers who are expert industry professionals. 

Program Director Kelley Walton spends a significant amount of time getting to know and support each student in the OMSA program. This can be for interview preparation for the student's next job, letters of recommendation, or career counseling. 

Meet our Faculty

Faculty Spotlight

Kelley Walton,

Assistant Professor of Instruction in Sports Administration; Director, Professional Master of Sports Administration (PMSA)

 

Kelley Walton is an Associate Professor of Instruction in Ohio University's Department of Sports Administration. She is also an attorney and consultant with over ten years of legal and human resources experience in the Sport Industry. She received her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and a Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School.

 

 

Read More About Kelley Walton

 

Kelley Walton

Related Program

  • Online Master's in Athletic Administration

    Prepare to lead K-12 athletic departments and develop programs for student-athletes with our Online Master's in Athletic Administration. Our partnership with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) ensures that industry-aligned leadership concepts are built into your curriculum.

    View the Online Master of Athletic Administration

Answers to Common Questions

Find answers to common questions about the online program. For information not covered here, our expert admissions team is available to provide additional details and guidance.

Get More Answers

Does the Online Sports Administration Master's have a part-time option?

Yes. The online program is designed for professionals who work full-time and is offered part-time with students taking one 7-week course at a time. This allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school, and personal responsibilities and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb the information in your coursework. To see the curriculum, view our OMSA curriculum page.

Is the Online Master of Sports Administration accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)?

Yes, the OMSA program is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), a specialized accrediting body that promotes and recognizes excellence in sport management education in colleges at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. 

Does the Online Master of Sports Administration require work experience?

While not required, two years of professional experience in the sports industry is preferred for OMSA applicants. You can learn more about our admissions policy here.

What are the start dates for the Online Sports Administration Master's program throughout the year?

The program has 2 intakes per year in the Fall and Spring semesters. You can learn more about our admissions policy here.

Does the Online Sports Administration Master's have a residency component?

Yes, the OMSA has a residency in Athens, Ohio. In addition, students will have the option to attend national conferences (e.g. National Sports Forum, NACDA) as a part of the program. The goal is to ensure academic content is provided in an online format but crucial in-person networking opportunities are provided in person during the student's time in the program.

Sources

  1. "Top 20 Online Best Sports Management Graduate Programs," College Rank. Retrieved on March 20, 2023 from https://www.collegerank.net/best-online-sports-management-masters-degree-programs/.
  2. "Sports Management Pay FAQ," Glass Door. Retrieved March 20, 2023 from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/sports-management-salary-SRCH_KO0,17.htm.
  3. Average Athletic Director Salary," PayScale. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Athletic_Director/Salary.
  4. "Average Operations Manager Salary," PayScale. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Operations_Manager/Salary.
  5. "Average Marketing Manager Salary," PayScale. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Marketing_Manager/Salary.
  6. "Director of Ticket Operations Salary". https://www.comparably.com/salaries/salaries-for-director-of-ticket-operations.
  7. "Operations Director Salary in the United States". https://www.comparably.com/salaries/salaries-for-director-of-ticket-operations
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