Master's Degree in Sport Administration

On-Campus

Ball State sport administration students are fortunate to have several world-class learning opportunities at their fingertips. Our NCAA DI FBS athletic department is a tremendous resource with knowledgeable sport professionals that welcome the opportunity to help educate our students. Whether it is graduate assistants who work directly in athletics, volunteer opportunities on game days, or internships supervised by industry experts, our partnership with our athletic department is strong. Students interested in college athletics will find this resource to be unparalleled.

Local Area

Outside of our campus East-Central Indiana offers many additional opportunities. There are smaller colleges within a short drive where students have volunteered or completed internships (Taylor University, Anderson University, Earlham College). Muncie has many youth and community resources including four “Y” locations, a Boys and Girls Club, and numerous club sports including one of the most recognized volleyball clubs in the world - Munciana. If high school sports is your focus, Delaware county has nine high schools of various sizes – all of which have partnered with our graduate program to provide internships or volunteer opportunities.

In-State

Beyond Delaware County, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne provide sport opportunities rarely found in the sport industry. Indianapolis has been called the “sport capital of the world” and is home to 11 professional sport teams including the Colts (NFL) and Pacers (NBA). It is also home to the NCAA headquarters, The National Federation of State High School Associations, the Black Coaches Association, The National Institute for Fitness & Sport, and the American College of Sport Medicine. It is known as the motorsports capital (Indy 500), and houses six U.S. sport governing bodies (football, track and field, gymnastics, diving, swimming, and rowing). There are three intercollegiate conference headquarters and hundreds of smaller sport venues and high schools. With assistance from the Indiana Sports Corporation, Indianapolis regularly hosts high-level sporting events that have included the Super Bowl and numerous men’s and women’s Final Four basketball tournaments.

Mike Dalgety, Ed.D. - Associate Teaching Professor of Sport Administration and Coordinator of Sport Administration Graduate Program
Dr. Dalgety earned a B.A. in Sport Sciences at University of the Pacific in 1997, and a M.A. in Information Resources and Library Science from the University of Arizona in 2003. He has 18 years of intercollegiate athletics experience, including roles as the Associate Director of Athletic Media Relations, Director of Compliance, and Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Affairs at Pacific. In 2012, Dr. Dalgety earned an Ed.D. from Pacific, specializing in higher education. Dr. Dalgety is now a lecturer in sport administration and has research interests in intercollegiate athletics.

Benjamin Downs, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Sport Administration
Dr. Downs earned a B.A. in History and Black Studies at the College of Wooster in 2008. After working in college recruiting and coaching, as well as professional baseball, he earned a M.S. in Sport Administration from Mississippi State University in 2016. In 2019, Dr. Downs earned a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University specializing in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport Management. Dr. Downs completed his dissertation on the evolution of urban multipurpose sport facilities. His research focuses on facilities and utilizes modernization to better understand the construction and renovation trends related to multipurpose arenas. Dr. Downs is also interested in issues of diversity and inclusion in sport.

Zachary Evans, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Sport Administration
Zachary Evans's research interests lie within the field of sport marketing, in particular sport sponsorship. Professor Evans examines consumer responses and attitudes toward the practice, and also examines different prominent sponsorships and sponsorship activation types.

James Johnson, Ed.D. - Professor of Sport Administration
Dr. Johnson earned a B.A. in Psychology at Franklin College in 1999, and a M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Ball State University in 2001.After two years as a commodity trader in Chicago, Dr. Johnson worked seven years within intercollegiate athletics as the Assistant Coordinator of Academic Support Services for Student-Athletes at Ball State University. In 2010, Dr. Johnson earned an Ed.D. from Ball State University specializing in adult, higher, and community education with a concentration in sport studies. Dr. Johnson is a Fellow in the College Sport Research Institute and has served as the sport administration graduate program coordinator since 2011.His primary research includes work in interscholastic and intercollegiate sport.

Admissions

How are admission decisions made?

After the application deadline, the graduate coordinator evaluates all complete application files. Admission decisions are based on quality of application materials and available openings in the program.

What is the minimum undergraduate GPA accepted for admission?

• The Graduate School has set the minimum undergraduate GPA for admission to 2.75. The same minimum is used for admission into the School of Kinesiology.
• GPA is used as one piece of information that is combined with all other application materials to create an applicant’s admission file.
• Typically, GPAs above 3.3 are desirable. GPAs below 3.0 would be considered low and would require the rest of the application file to be strong. These GPAs are approximations and are relative to the number and quality of applicants in addition to the available openings in the program. The graduate coordinator reserves the right to make subjective evaluations of all application materials.

Is the GRE required?

• No – GREs are not required.
• If a student elects to take the GRE there are no minimum GRE scores. If provided, GRE scores are used as one piece of information that is combined with all other application materials to create an applicant’s admission file.
• GMAT scores are also acceptable, but not required.

If I have an undergraduate degree other than sport management/administration, can I apply to the program?

Yes, students with any undergraduate degree can apply. There are no prerequisites for students without a sport administration degree. However, students should attempt to gain as much sport industry experience as possible before applying.

If I have an undergraduate degree other than sport management/administration will I be behind other students?

Students without a sport management/administration background will have to adapt a bit faster, but concepts will be advanced for all students. There are several students currently in the program that have undergraduate degrees other than sport management/administration.

How many students normally apply, and how many are normally admitted?

• For the March 1st application deadline (summer or fall enrollment) there are typically 20-30 applicants. Approximately 15-25 students are admitted.
• For the November 1st application deadline (spring enrollment) there are typically 3-7 applicants.
• These numbers vary annually. The number of students admitted depends on the quality of applicants and number of available openings in the program.

Program

How many students are in the program?

At any given point there are 25-35 students in the program. Numbers vary from year to year based on the amount of students admitted and retained.

Are any of the courses online?

Yes. Some elective sport administration courses will be available online. These online courses are designed to accommodate students who are completing internships or are away from campus during the summer. Occasionally there are some online elective courses offered during the fall and spring semesters. Overall, students should plan to take most of their courses on-campus during the fall and spring with online courses offered occasionally.

When are classes usually held?

During the semesters (fall and spring) each sport administration course is typically held one day a week on campus from 6:30-9:10pm. Occasionally, elective courses are held at other times depending on a variety of factors. Classes normally start after 5pm to accommodate working professionals.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The 33-hour program is designed to be completed in a two-year period taking 6-9 credit hours (2-3 courses) per semester. It is possible to finish the program in less than two years by taking 9-12 credit hours (3-4 courses) per semester.

Graduate Assistantships

What GA positions are available?

Students in the sport administration program regularly receive GA positions in a variety of different areas on campus. Prospective students are encouraged to seek GA positions anywhere on campus. Most students with GA positions are located in SOK or Athletics.

• Kinesiology – 3-4 GAs are assigned to faculty members in the sport administration program to assist with faculty research and help teach physical fitness and wellness courses. There are 1-2 positions open each year.
• Athletics – A variety of administrative and coaching GA positions exist in athletics. The sport administration program and SOK do not choose these GA positions. Interested students should contact the athletic department directly to inquire about open positions.

What are the benefits of being a graduate assistant?

GAs are expected to work 20 hours per week for their respective department in exchange for tuition reimbursement, stipend, and other perks. The stipend amount varies by department and funding cycle but is usually more than cost of living. GAs must pay student fees each semester.

Is there a separate application for a GA position?

No, there is not a separate GA application for GA positions in our department. When you complete the application to enter the sport administration graduate program there is a question that asks if you are interested in a GA position. If you check that box you will be considered for a GA position in SOK. If you desire a GA position in another department (e.g., athletics or recreation), you should contact those departments directly to inquire about their application process. Other GA positions on campus can be found through the Career Center page with posted assistantships.

Professional Development

Does the program help identify professional development opportunities?

Yes, students are provided access to a variety of professional development seminars, conferences, and workshops. Additionally, the department subscribes to sport-specific job-posting websites regularly utilized to find internships and jobs. Furthermore, during the spring of the first year a professional development section is included within the sport administration course and focuses on finding internships and jobs in conjunction with resume development and interviewing skills. Finally, faculty members assist in all areas of professional development.

What are the job prospects for someone graduating from this program?

Most graduates immediately find jobs in the sport industry, and many find full-time employment from their internship organizations. Some students choose to continue graduate school by enrolling in PhD programs or other master’s programs. Employment placement rates are near 100% but vary slightly from year to year.

How do I set up a visit?

To set up a visit, please contact Amy Vold. Amy is the administrative coordinator for graduate programs within SOK. Amy will customize a visit based on your interests. Amy’s email is avold@bsu.edu. Her phone number is 765-285-4453.