Department of Educational Leadership and Sport Management

The department offers courses of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management or an undergraduate minor in Sport Management. Masters degrees (Master of Arts; Master of Education) are offered in the areas of educational leadership and sport management. The Doctor of Philosophy (Education) and the Doctor of Education degrees are offered in Educational Leadership.

 The Department of Educational Leadership and Sport Management, housed in the College of Education, has excellent facilities for undergraduate and graduate study and research. The department sponsors and hosts a number of state, national, and international programs. Programs for superintendent, principal, and program administrator certification are available at the Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver campuses. A state-wide cohort-based superintendent program is also available.

Application for Graduate Study

Students who plan to study toward an advanced degree should contact the Office of Graduate Education in the College of Education. Individuals applying for admission to a graduate program must complete an application to the WSU Graduate School, and submit the following materials to the College of Education Office of Graduate Education: Departmental Application form; a statement of professional objectives; official college transcripts; three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to comment on the applicant’s academic and professional abilities, and the Graduate Record Examination (for the Sport Management program only). Interested students should contact the Office of Graduate Education for specific requirements of each program area.

Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management

The Department of Educational Leadership and Sport Management offers a major in Sport Management, which leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management. This degree provides professional preparation for students wishing to pursue a management career with sport organizations or in the sport and recreation industry. Students must complete a core program in sport management and must select an area of specialization from business or communication. Additional information on the areas of specialization can be obtained from the department. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 is required for admission to the major or minor.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Sport Management curriculum is designed to enable graduating students to:

1. Identify and analyze ethical, legal, and socio-cultural issues and formulate responses for use in managerial decision making and policy determinations in sport.
2. Employ principles of strategic planning, and financial and human resource management.
3. Assess marketing and media needs in sport and formulate short-term and long-term solutions.
4. Develop and apply critical thinking and abstract reasoning skills in analyzing sport management issues and in managerial planning and decision making.
5. Demonstrate information literacy and communication skills.
6. Conceive, plan, execute, and evaluate a sports event.

Practical application of theory and knowledge is obtained through enrollment in practicum hours and through the completion of a 10-12-credit internship at the end of the required coursework. The internship serves as the bridge between the student's college career and opportunities for employment in sport management.

The general prerequisite for enrollment in 300-400-level sport management courses is admission to the Sport Management major or  minor. Additional prerequisites for specific courses are listed in the course descriptions. The department chair or assistant chair must approve any exceptions to these requirements.

Undergraduate Minors

The Department of Educational Leadership and Sport Management offers an undergraduate minor in Sport Management. Students interested in declaring a minor in Sport Management should contact the department or consult its website for additional information.