Kinesiology & Recreation - Sport Management
Overview
This program helps students make the jump from sports fan to sport management. It includes innovative curriculum, small class sizes, and numerous opportunities to network and gain practical experience.
Our students work hard in the field and in the classroom. Through field trips, speakers, and class activities, students have numerous opportunities to connect with high-level sport executives and get practical experience with assistantships, internships, and volunteer opportunities.
These experiences give Illinois State students an impressive resume and thanks to our relationships with sport organizations throughout the country, they are able to form strong networking partnerships that often help them land a job in the sports industry.
Point of Pride
Sport Management students work directly with Redbird Athletics and other local and regional sport properties in consulting roles that connect students to the sport industry, solve industry problems, and serve our communities using sport as a vehicle.
Advising
Rebecca Achen
(309) 438-5557
McCormick 173
Schedule a Visit
Discover what life as a Illinois State graduate student is like with an Online Graduate Student Information Session.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- present unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term. If accepted, official transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 209 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
To be considered for this program, you must meet the following requirements.
GPA
You must have a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master's program.
Resume
Submit a current resume that outlines your education and work history (2-page maximum)
Career Goal Statement
Write a statement of your career goals that discusses:
- Why you are seeking Illinois State for graduate school
- How the sport management program will prepare you for your future goals
Reference Contact Information
Submit the names and email addresses of three references for letters of recommendation within the online application.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Term — February 1
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.