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Bachelor of Art in Sport Management
The B.A. in Sport Management at MSU Denver focuses on the business and operations of sports. Our dynamic, applied, and career-focused education emphasizes the unique business skills and knowledge required for success in the sport industry. The COSMA accredited curriculum develops graduates who are prepared to enter this competitive field.
MSU Denver is located in the heart of downtown Denver, one of the top sport cities in the nation. Campus is within walking distance of the Ball Arena, home of the NBA Denver Nuggets and the NHL Colorado Avalanche, Coors Field, home of the MLB Colorado Rockies, and Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, home of the NFL Denver Broncos. The MSU Denver Sport Management program also has professional connections with Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the MLS Colorado Rapids, USA training center in Colorado Springs, Special Olympics of CO, and more. The close proximity to professional sports venues, as well as the presence of several large NCAA Division I and II schools along the front range, provide students with crucial networking and career-building opportunities.
Sport Management Image Gallery - Students & Faculty
SM Students at the TeamWork Online Sport Sales Workshop & Job Fair (April 2024)
SM Major Jackson working at his Field Experience site, Volo Sports
SM Major Isaiah working at his Field Experience, Blazer5 gaming
SM Major and Fall 2022 President's Award Winner, Jamie Farmer
Isaac (2021 graduate) at his internship with the Bismark Larks
Kayla (2021 Graduate) at her internship with MSU Denver Athletics
Degree Requirements
The degree requirements for the Sport Management major are listed below. Please note, this major recommends students pursue a minor of their choosing. Visit the University Catalog to learn more about the program, course prerequisites, and other degree requirements. The University Catalog can be found HERE
For a printable list of these course requirements, click here: SM_Degree Requirements
Sample 4-Year Schedule
| Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (15 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|---|
| SM 2050: Introduction to Sport Management (3) | SM 2070: Sport Venue Management (3) | |
| GS: Written Communication (3) | GS: Written Communication (3) | |
| GS: Oral Communication (3) | GS: Natural & Physical Sciences (3) | |
| GS: Quanitative Literacy (3) | GS: Social & Behavioral Sciences (MC recommended) (3) | |
| GS: Historical (GD recommended) (3) | GS: Social & Behavioral Sciences (3) |
| Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (15 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|---|
| HPS 3990: Field Experience (3) | HPS 4660: Legal Liability for Physical Educators, Coaches & Administrators (3) | |
| SM 3600: Sport Promotion (3) | SM 4610: The Sport Enterprise (3) | |
| SM 3650: Technology & Social Media in Sport (3) | SM Approved Elective (3) | |
| SM Approved Elective (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) | |
| Minor (or approved elective) (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) |
| Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (15 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|---|
| SM 2730: Sport in Society (3) | SM 2300: Sport Event Management (3) | |
| SM 3100: Sport Media Operations (3) | SM 3200: Sport Governance & Policy (3) | |
| GS: Arts & Humanities (3) | GS: Arts & Humanities (3) | |
| GS: Natural & Physical Science (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) | |
| General Elective (3) | Minor (or approved elective) (3) |
| Fall Semester (15 Credit Hours) | Spring Semester (15 Credit Hours) | |
|---|---|---|
| SM 4600: Organization & Administration of Sports (3) | SM 4890: Internship for Sport Management (9) | |
| SM 4860: Seminar in Sport Management (3) | SM 4891: Professional and Career Development in Sport Management (3) | |
| SM Approved Elective | Minor (or approved elective) | |
| Minor (or approved elective) (3) | ||
| Minor (or approved elective) (3) |
Field Experience & Internship Requirements
The sport management Field Experience (FE) and Internship opportunities exist to assist students in making a successful transition from the classroom to the professional work environment, validate the student’s academic knowledge, and help the student develop a professional career orientation. Before registering for either the FE or Internship course, students must attend the mandatory FE/Internship meeting one semester prior and receive approval from the instructor of record listed for that semester’s FE or Internship.
Click to view approved SM Field Experience and Internship Sites*
*This is a list of students who have completed their Field Experience and/or Internship at these sites and have been vetted thoroughly by faculty. If a student wants to complete their Field Experience and/or Internship at a site that’s not listed, they will need approval from the instructor of record first!
Field Experience
The FE is a 3-credit hour course that must be taken before the internship. Students are responsible for finding an appropriate agency site to complete at least 90 hours of work.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Declared major in Sport Management
- Be a sophomore, junior, or senior standing with a letter grade of C or better in the following courses: SM2050, SM2070, and SM3100
- Grade point average of 2.75 or better in the major
Internship
The Internship is a 9-credit hour course that is taken concurrently with SM4891: Professional and Career Development in Sport Management. Students are responsible for finding an appropriate agency site to complete at least 405 hours of work. It is recommended that the internship agency site be different from the FE agency site.
Students must meet the following requirements:
- Declared major in Sport Management
- Senior standing with 75% of the Sport Management course requirements completed
- Grade point average of 2.75 or better in the major
7th Annual Women in Sport Management Panel
Video produced by Laryss Rodriguez, Sport Management student
COSMA Accreditation
The Sport Management degree program at Metropolitan State University of Denver has received specialized accreditation through the The Commission on Sport Management Accreditation located in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. The accreditation is valid for seven years (2017-2024).
MSU Denver’s Sport Management program is the only COSMA accredited program in Colorado, and one of only 32 Bachelors programs in the United States to achieve this accreditation.
COSMA is a specialized accrediting body whose purpose is to promote and recognize excellence in sport management education worldwide. Programs, students, employers, and the general public all benefit from the external verification of quality provided through COSMA’s accreditation process. They also benefit from the process of continuous quality improvement that is encouraged by COSMA’s developmental approach to promoting excellence in sport management education.
The Sport Management program supports and enhances the mission of the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences at Metropolitan State University of Denver by providing students with the academic and practical experiences needed to gain successful employment in the sport industry. Successful graduates are developed through a dynamic, applied, and career-focused education emphasizing the unique business skills and professionalism required in the sport industry.
The Sport Management Bachelor’s of Arts degree at MSU Denver has received specialized accreditation through the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) located in Fort Collins, CO, USA.
In keeping with COSMA’s transparency and accountability, the most recent statement and assessment of student learning outcomes and operational effectiveness goals are listed in the “Annual Reporting of SLOs and OEGs” menu option.
CONTACT: If you have any questions about the student learning outcomes, operational effectiveness measures, program profile information or would like a hard copy of the data, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Colleen Colles at [email protected].
The broad-based goals for the MSU Denver Sport Management program are to:
- Provide a core curriculum that allows students to develop the fundamental skills and knowledge required for success within the sport industry.
- Offer real world, hands-on experiences applying management principles and concepts within the sport industry.
- Embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and social responsibility through course offerings and applied experiences.
- Expose students to current trends in the industry and offer contemporary courses to prepare them for careers in sport and/or graduate school.
- Provide students with opportunities to network into and within the sport industry and to demonstrate their understanding of current issues and expected professionalism.
Summary of Student Learning Outcome Assessment:
SLO #1 Identify and describe the fundamental principles and demonstrate skills related to both the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) professional components and success in the sport industry
SLO #2 Accumulate more than 400 hours of applied experiential learning in which knowledge and skills acquired in SM classes are successfully applied in a sport industry setting.
SLO #3 Develop and apply problem-solving skills related to effective decision-making in the sport industry.
SLO #4 Recognize, describe, and assess issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
SLO #5 Model professionalism and employ effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication.
SLO #6 Effectively research and select software/technology applications appropriate for use in the sport industry.
Click to view MSU Denver Sport Management’s Program Level Effectiveness Goals and Student Learning Outcomes Matrix for AY 2023 to 2024.
Sport Management Faculty
| Name | Email Address |
| Brandi Rideout | [email protected] |
| Alex Rondon Azcarate | [email protected] |
| Jamie Hurst | [email protected] |
| Ronan O’Shea | [email protected] |
| Anna Mills | [email protected] |
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Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences
Email: [email protected] l Phone: 303-615-1818
Main Office Location:
Physical Education/Event Center (PE) 217
Campus Map
Mailing Address:
PO Box 173362
Campus Box 25
Denver, CO 80202
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