Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching
Leveraging the strengths of Western New England University’s expertise in sport management and leadership education, the Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching is a game-changing program. The 30-credit program offers two cohort tracks in Athletic Administration and Athletic Coaching. The program is taught by expert faculty from the University’s AACSB International accredited College of Business, nationally renowned Klein Group Instrument (KGI®) leadership creator, and Management and Leadership faculty. The program offers a convenient learning model consisting of two required one-week residencies, one offered at the beginning of the program and the other at the end. Each residency is followed by a series of graduate courses that will be offered online.
Why Choose Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching?
The MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching is ideal for students seeking to enter athletic administration (educationally-based sport organizations), athletic coaching, or managerial positions within any sport organization. The program is also a great choice for rising and mid-career sport industry professionals who are seeking to advance their skills in the areas of leadership, decision-making, team building, fundraising, marketing, legal and compliance aspects, and related functional competencies. Our program will help students develop the skills to build and manage a team, assess and recruit talent, and to create a high performing business enterprise that supports organizational and individual success. View our current tuition rates.
What Will You Study?
Skills and Value
demography Earning a master’s degree from Western New England University will help you develop the skills and knowledge to accelerate your career and constantly create value. Learn More »
Viewing the sport organization as a business enterprise, coursework is focused on:
- Leadership theory, personal leadership assessment, directed leadership development mentoring based on the Klein Group Instrument (KGI) model of positive social psychology, and team dynamics
- Organizational theory and team behavior
- Data-based decision making and problem solving sport analytics
- Revenue development elements including fundraising, sponsorship, and related traditional and non-traditional sport revenue streams
- Evaluation and development of on-field and administrative teams through theoretical constructs and models related to management and recruitment of player and team personnel, including player evaluation and representation through sport agencies
- International sport and cross cultural perspectives
- Innovative strategies for sport marketing, sport sales, and promotions
- Legal aspects of sport, governance, oversight, compliance, and ethical dimensions
- A mentored capstone research project and linked field experience
Top 5 Reasons to Choose The MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching
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In Demand Leadership Skills for Advancement and Professional Mobility–Leveraging the strengths of Western New England University's expertise in sport management and leadership education, the Master of Science in Sport Leadership and Coaching promotes holistic development of skills that will help you yield top team and staff performance.
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Emphasis on Operational and Analytical Skills Building–Our one-of-a-kind curriculum will help you to develop critical functional skills for developing and managing the business side of sport programs, including fundraising, marketing, recruitment, staff development, and compliance strategies. You will also learn to enhance your decision-making and problem solving skills utilizing Sport Analytics.
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Our Faculty is in a League of Its Own–Our faculty include sport industry professionals with decades of experience in sport agency, resource development, athletics administration and compliance, operations management, and coaching. They'll teach you how to create synergies on teams and develop the strategies to inspire and support player and staff long-term social growth. Recognized leadership experts, including Dr. Robert Klein, creator of the Klein Group Instrument®, will give you unique insights into the development of universal skills for small groups or team contexts.
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A Master's Degree from an AACSB International-accredited Institution–Western New England University is the only private institution in western Massachusetts accredited by AACSB International, and among fewer than 5% of business schools in the world. Member institutions confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive multiyear review.
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Online Learning and Short-term Residencies that Fit Your Schedule–Our blend of online learning and skill-enhancing residencies, coupled with multiple terms offered annually, provide you with the flexibility to fit grad school into your schedule and earn your degree in as few as 15 months.
Faculty
Sport Management
Our stellar Sport Management faculty includes professors with years of experience in the sport industry, including an MLB sport agent/attorney, a professor who formerly worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the NCAA, an active sports arbitrator, an expert in collegiate and high school sports, and a veteran of professional sports and sports facility and event management. Their mentorship and industry connections make them a valued resource for both students and our highly connected sport industry alumni.
The Klein Group Instrument (KGI®)
Program Co-director Dr. Bob Klein is a nationally-respected leadership expert and the creator of The Klein Group Instrument (KGI®), an assessment designed to help people develop skills and strategies essential to maximizing performance in the team-based environment, including relationship building, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution. Dr. Klein works closely with Western New England University’s varsity teams to help students find success on and off the field. As a candidate in the MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching program, you will learn firsthand how to utilize the KGI to get the most out of your team.
Admissions Requirements
Candidates seeking admission to the MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. Admission decisions will be based on undergraduate cumulative average, scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), and professional experience (not required). Such tests will be waived for students holding an Athletic Training License or appropriate licensure or qualification. Please reference the GMAT Waiver Form, found with the graduate application for admission, for a complete list of waiver options.
This is a low-residency cohort-based program with four entry points in the fall, summer, spring, or winter. It is designed to accommodate professionals with “in-season” demands. The University urges candidates to apply as early as possible in relation to their anticipated start date. Applications are processed on a “rolling” basis. Admission decisions are typically released within one to two weeks of an application being complete.
How are Courses Offered?
Course Delivery: Online with two short-term (5-6 day) residencies held on campus
Total Credits: 30
The MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching is a low-residency program, though most of the program is completed online. It includes two short-term residencies (6 days) that are a part of SPMN 631 and SPMN 635. Each residency will feature courses that will be offered in part online with mandatory in-class sessions. All other courses are offered entirely online.
Online courses are offered with a fusion of regularly meeting live small-group class sessions via Web conferencing software, and ‘at-your-pace’ learning via Kodiak, Western New England University's online learning management system. In this rich online learning environment, you will be able to interact with faculty, students, guest professionals, alumni, and clients, as well as enjoy flexibility in absorbing course content both through attending live sessions from the comfort of your home and posted videos, discussions, and readings. Online courses will be scheduled for one night during the week, meeting in the early or late evening in two-hour sessions. The remainder of the course will be delivered online, asynchronously.
Short-Term Residencies
The MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching includes two short-term residencies that are a part of SPMN 631 and SPMN 635. These courses consist of online delivery combined with a 6-day required residency, typically scheduled the last week of May into June.
AACSB International
The best business schools in the world are accredited by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Western New England University is the only private institution in western Massachusetts accredited by AACSB International and among fewer than 5% of business schools in the world to hold this accreditation.
Learn More
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Study the World’s Biggest Games—In Person
Don’t just watch the world’s biggest games, study them in person. MS in Sport Leadership and Coaching graduate students are offered opportunities to engage in study linked to sporting events and facilities, including travel courses that coincide with some of the world’s biggest international sporting events through the University’s Center for International Sport Business.
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Tap the Power of Analytics
The program provides students not only with an in-depth understanding of the core concepts necessary to run critical program functional areas like marketing, fundraising, player evaluation, and corporate sponsorship, but also facilitates the development of analytical abilities required to make sound business decisions. Students will learn how to mine and use data through the University’s Business Analytics Center.
