Frequently Asked Questions

The undergraduate program currently has 99 students, the master’s program has 44 students, and the Ph.D. program has 14 students.

There are nine full-time and adjunct faculty who support the Sport Management program.
Undergraduate applications are due on February 1st each year. Students apply in February of their sophomore year (4th semester) to begin the program in the fall of their junior year (5th semester). For more information, see the Undergraduate – How to Apply page. The master’s program application deadline is December 1st. Admissions decisions are made by late January and students are expected to notify the program and university of their intent by May 1st. The Ph.D. program application deadline is December 1st if funding is desired, and February 1st if funding is not desired. Decisions are made by February 15th and students are expected to notify the university of their intent by April 15th. For more information, see the Graduate Programs – How to Apply page.
Undergraduate – we are looking for students with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in their first two years at UConn. We also want them to have completed their general education requirements for Sport Management prior to beginning the program. Related work or internship experience is preferred. Graduate – UConn requires that students have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average from their undergraduate institution to be admitted into the graduate school. The same is expected for the master’s grade point average for students applying for the Ph.D. program. ONLY the Ph.D. candidates are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE's) however the program does not use a cut-off score for the GRE's. Your application will be reviewed holistically and GRE scores will be considered as one of many components to your application. Related work or internship experience is a plus. If you are an international student, you will need to submit TOEFL Scores. For more information about applying as an international student, visit the International Students Checklist.
Please see the respective undergraduate and graduate “How to Apply” pages for details on deadlines, materials, and application procedures.
There is no formal application process for graduate assistantships in the Department of Educational Leadership. Indicate your interest in a position when applying. A limited number of assistantships are available through the department and are typically reserved for Ph.D. students. Other options include the Division of Athletics or other offices on campus. It is advisable to contact those offices and work with your prospective advisor to pursue assistantship opportunities. This entirely depends on the type of graduate assistantship you have. Many master’s students work in the Division of Athletics as either assistant coaches or administrators. Their work experience in hands-on NCAA Division I athletics. Ph.D. students typically work as either teaching or research assistants for individual faculty members. That experience is outlines and managed by the faculty member. A full graduate assistantship is 20 hours of work per week. A half graduate assistantship is 10. For more information on pay rates please see Graduate Assistant Payroll.
A Sample Semester Sequence and Plan of Study are available on each program degree's information pages, listed above.
Students in the master’s program generally take 2 years to complete their degrees. Doctoral students generally take 3 to 4 years to complete.
The master’s program is geared towards the practical application of sport management and sociology and meant to give students a broad-based exposure to the theories and current topics in those fields. Graduates tend to find employment as college coaches, athletic administrators, professional sport managers, sport media producers, etc. The Ph.D. program prepares students for careers as faculty members in Sport Management with the opportunity to concentrate on the sociological issues in sport. Students can also choose additional concentrations in areas such a psychology, management, marketing, leadership, finance, etc.
Prospective Ph.D. students interested in studying with a particular faculty member should contact that faculty member directly. Faculty members will accept Ph.D. students who share similar research interests and background. Master’s students can request a faculty advisor on their application. Those who do not indicate a preference will be assigned to one of the faculty advisors.
From the UConn Graduate School site:
As a resource for the future—both for the state of Connecticut and for the students who enroll in its programs—the University of Connecticut can be anything a graduate student wants it to be. With the wealth of opportunities available, graduate students thrive in an environment that encourages them to choose their own path through post-secondary education. The University grows by responding to challenges, opportunities, and needs. What remains constant is UConn’s commitment to high quality teaching, research, and public service.
In Sport Management, graduate students receive a different education than in most other sport management programs. The emphasis on the impact of sport on society and the impact of society on sport make the program unique. Other benefits include the program being small to allow for small class size and considerable faculty-student interaction, being a part of an academic program growing in recognition, and attending a university that is making great strides in improving the education experience of its students.
For further information, please contact the following faculty members: Dr. Jennifer McGarry, Director of Graduate Programs or Dr. Laura Burton, Director of Undergraduate Programs.