Sport Leadership and Administration (MS)

Program Availability

The 30-credit MS in Sport Leadership and Administration is offered asynchronously and 100 percent online, with primarily 8-week courses and six entry points each year. The program is open to U.S. and international applicants who meet admission requirements.

This flexible structure allows you to begin when you’re ready and maintain momentum as you balance coursework with your professional and personal commitments.

Why Earn a Sport Leadership and Administration MS at Indiana State?

Indiana State’s Sport Leadership and Administration MS is built for students who want more than a general sport management degree. It is Indiana’s only graduate sport program structured around stackable certificates, allowing you to earn meaningful credentials as you progress, rather than waiting until graduation to show results.

You’ll complete graduate certificates in Sport Administration and Sport Leadership, then choose a focused specialty in Coaching, Sport Venue Management, or Strategic Sport Marketing. This structure gives you flexibility to shape your path while steadily building credentials that carry value in the workplace.

The curriculum blends leadership development and sport business fundamentals. You’ll study areas such as sport law, risk management, finance or analytics, and organizational leadership—developing the ability to navigate real challenges facing today’s sport organizations.

You’ll also complete required coursework in Psychosocial Aspects of Human Performance and Sport in Contemporary Society, preparing you to lead organizations, athletes, and teams. That human-centered focus – understanding motivation, performance, and social dynamics – sets this program apart.

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

Faculty in Indiana State’s Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport maintain strong relationships with sport industry professionals, from coaches and administrators to executives and organizational leaders. 

Small class sizes allow you to work one-on-one with faculty who serve as mentors and collaborators. You’ll receive personalized feedback while developing ideas you can carry directly into your career.

The program includes leadership from Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Craig Morehead, PhD., whose teaching emphasizes applied learning, case studies, and professional growth. Faculty bring both academic expertise and industry awareness, helping you connect what you learn to what organizations need right now.

What You’ll Learn in the Sport Leadership and Administration MS

The Sport Leadership and Administration MS helps you develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage programs, lead people, and make informed decisions in complex sport environments.

You’ll build a strong foundation in sport administration, including leadership principles, legal and ethical considerations, and organizational strategy. Coursework also develops your ability to analyze data, evaluate challenges, and make decisions that improve performance on and off the field.

As you move through the program, you’ll strengthen key professional skills including:

• Applying critical thinking to solve real-world sport industry challenges
• Evaluating organizational issues and recommending evidence-based solutions
• Communicating effectively with athletes, staff, stakeholders, and the public
• Understanding how psychological and social factors influence team performance and culture
• Connecting your academic experience to your long-term career goals

By the time you complete the program, you'll understand how sport organizations operate and be ready to lead within them, contribute to their success, and make a meaningful impact on the people they serve.

Required Coursework

Sport Administration Certificate (9 credits)

• SPM 600 Principles of Athletic Administration — Foundations of managing athletic programs
• SPM 623 Sport Law and Risk Management — Legal, ethical, and safety considerations in sport
• SPM 622 Sport Finance OR SPM 630 Analytical Decision‑Making in Sport — Financial oversight and data‑informed strategy

Sport Leadership Certificate (9 credits)

• SPM 631 Leadership Development in Sport — Leading teams and sport organizations
• SPM 633 Sport in Contemporary Society — Contemporary challenges across the sport industry
• KIN 666 Psychosocial Aspects of Human Performance — Performance, motivation, and human behavior in athletic settings

Directed Electives (9 credits)

Choose the stackable graduate certificate that is most relevant to your career path. 

Certificate in Sport Coaching

• KIN 504 Scientific Aspects of Coaching
• KIN 617 Periodization & Program Design
• KIN 660 Motor Learning

Certificate in Sport Venue Management

• SPM 515: Staffing Sport Organizations
• SPM 521 Revenue Strategies in Sport
• SPM 540 Sport Facility Planning & Management

Certificate in Strategic Sport Marketing

• SPM 521 Revenue Strategies in Sport
• SPM 624 Branding in Sport
• SMP 637 Strategic Communication in Sport

Career Possibilities for Sport Leadership and Administration MS Graduates

Graduates of the Sport Leadership and Administration MS are prepared for leadership, management, and coaching-adjacent roles across the sport industry. With a strong foundation in administration, leadership, and strategic decision-making, you’ll be ready to pursue opportunities in collegiate athletics, interscholastic sports, community and nonprofit organizations, commercial sport, and related performance settings. Depending on your experience level and career goals, common roles may include:

• Athletic Director
• Sport Program Administrator
• General Manager
• Operations Director
• Marketing Director
• Sport Marketing Manager
• Event and Game Operations Manager
• Facility or Venue Manager
• Sport Development or Player Development Manager
• Head Coach or Coaching Administrator
• Performance or Athlete Development Coordinator
• Community Sport Director
• Revenue or Sponsorship Manager
• Sport Communication or Media Relations Manager
• Recreation or Wellness Program Manager
• Campus Recreation Professional

Whether you want to lead programs, support athletes, manage events and facilities, or help shape the future of sport organizations, this program helps you move forward in your career with confidence and high-quality credentials.

Accreditation

Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Admission Requirements and Instructions

Enrollment is accepted for six entry dates, in January, March, May, June, August, and October.

To ensure consideration, all materials must be submitted by the first of the month prior to the month of entry desired. All students seeking admission to the online Sport Leadership and Administration graduate program must apply and be accepted as a graduate student by Indiana State University. Applicants are considered for admission based on academic background, a personal statement outlining your career goals, and a resume.

Application Instructions

The following are application instructions and deadlines for the online Sport Leadership and Administration MS program.

Next Steps

Once admitted, you will receive notification from the University as well as your University ID number needed to activate your University username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important services, including email and University announcements.

Note: Returning Indiana State University students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended the University for more than two calendar years.