Masters

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.

Dr. Liz Sattler
(309) 438-1856
McCormick 162

Schedule a Visit

Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.

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

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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.