CSULB’s master degree program in Sport Management provides a solid foundation in the business of sport resulting in meaningful employment. This accelerated 18-month program incorporates a rigorous curriculum, experienced faculty, and a prestigious Program Advisory Committee. Courses are scheduled to fit your busy schedule with each eight-week course offered one evening per week and two Saturdays. Upon completion of this 36-unit program, individuals will be prepared to work in the sports industry in a variety of settings, including professional, fitness, college and scholastic organizations, private businesses, and academic institutions.

This program is offered by CSULB's Department of Kinesiology, in partnership with the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE).

The Sport Management program balances theory with the practical side of the sport industry, and provides students with three internship opportunities, which often lead to careers. In this video, Nina Cash visits the San Diego Hall of Champions and talks to graduates of the program, who say that it prepares students for real-world experience in a competitive but rewarding industry.

Each class is 3 units, and there are 36 units total in the program.

KIN 521 
Foundations in Sport Management (3)
The Foundations course will set the stage for each of the following courses and will deal with management and supervisory philosophies, fundamental sales and marketing concepts, the principals and practices of administering and managing sport entities, strategic and tactical planning, program and product innovation, and key traits of successful leadership. Students will be challenged in the areas of Innovation, Leadership, Analytical Thinking, Problem Solving, Marketing & Sales Capabilities, Teamwork, Personal Presence, Personnel Development, Ethics, Accountability, and an emersion in Current Events. All of these areas will play an important role ones success in the Business of Sport!

KIN 591 
Field Studies in Sport Event Management (3)
This course will primarily focus on the student’s professional development through a practical experience (100 hours) in the event management industry and event management seminars (15 hours). It will be directed and evaluated by a faculty member with the supervision of an on-site professional. The students will be assigned in a professional event fieldwork setting that enables students to experience the basic event management concepts and principles of their career specialization. The Event Fieldwork experience often provides a critical event in clarifying the student's professional goals.

KIN 513 
Facility Planning and Personnel Management (3)
Students completing this course will have a distinctive professional brand and be prepared to successfully compete for and hold leadership positions in sports event and facility management. This course includes site visits and case studies exploring past and future facility designs, systems, construction, operation and administration. Students will work in small, entrepreneurial project groups to write and present an original event business plan. Professional communication skills in a commercial setting (formal and informal writing and speaking) will be developed. Students will each write a Professional Development Plan for success as a sports event and/or facility manager.

KIN 592 & KIN 592A 
Sport Management Internship (3 each)
The internship is designed to provide a variety of opportunities for students to participate in sports management activities and programs in a variety of practice settings. The purpose of the internship is to prepare students for careers in the sports industry through practical application of knowledge and skills acquired in classes and elsewhere. The internship is designed to refine and extend courses and experiences in the MA degree program as well as prior education and experience. The students will participate in a sport management setting, for a minimum of 200 hours over six months for three academic units within each of the final two semesters in the program. The internship will be comprised of active preparation, management, & development of a sport related event to experience the basic sport management concepts and principles. In the final week of the session the students are required to submit an internship journal, final report and an oral summary presentation.

KIN 512 
Legal and Ethical Issues in Sport (3)
During this course, students will learn basic elements of law applicable to the sports industry. Students will learn information to assist them in (a) understanding the federal and state legal systems, (b) establishing sound legal relationships, (c) avoiding costly litigation, and (d) understanding laws protecting the rights of individuals. The course will develop the students’ ability to apply legal principles to sports management situations.

KIN 514 
Sport Finance (3)
Course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive coverage of the traditional and more innovative revenue acquisition methods available to sport organizations. Topics for study include: media rights, tax support, municipal and corporate bonds, ticket sales, concessions, fundraising, ration analysis, cash flow management, economic impact multipliers and break even analysis.

KIN 511 
Sport Marketing, Fundraising & Development (3)
An overview of sport marketing and basic market terminology, as well as the role of present day sport marketing and the application of these modern concepts. Topics for discussion include sport sponsorship and activation, licensing, branding and positioning, community relations, media relations, customer relations, and the use of digital marketing and social mediums in revenue generation and product growth.

KIN 515 
Sales: The Concept, the Pitch, the Close (3)
The learnings from this course will be the cornerstones of the student’s ability to execute the fundamentals of the hated word, ‘Sales’. Delivered by an experienced group of practioners, the students will be exposed to ‘Concept Development’, building upon an idea and delivering against an identified need. Students will develop the ability to influence those decision makers who will decide the fate of their ‘Concept’. To bring it full circle, the expectation is to execute the fundamentals of selling and close the deal. From step one to brining an idea, product, solution, to life will be the ultimate expectation.

KIN 577 
Sport in U.S. Culture (3)
Analysis of physical activities in U.S. culture. Consideration of the relationships between sports and games and the factors of status, values, environment and cultural change.

KIN 696 
Professional Literature Review, Research Methods & Statistical Analysis (3)
Methodological approaches to contemporary problems in physical education; research design and reporting; bibliography. Required of all master's degree candidates. To be completed within the first 12 units of 500-600 series courses.

KIN 694 
Capstone in Kinesiology (3)
The goal of this culminating class is examine current trends and issues in Sport Management by way of a research project. This class allows students to research, develop, and present a multi-disciplinary strategic plan relating to a property, cause or event in the sport business. The research project becomes a tangible asset that can be shown to prospective employers as a demonstration of the student's ability to use analytical skills, writing ability and creativity in the sport environment.

Potential students interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to attend a free information session. The information sessions include short presentations by a program representative, designed to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the program's benefits.

Upcoming online Information Sessions are listed below when they are available. Choose a date and click the link to register for that Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the meeting.

If no sessions are listed below, then none are currently available. Please check this page at a later date to view updated sessions.

October 16, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (Pacific)

Program admission requirements:

• Minimum GPA: 2.5
• Statement of Purpose
• Three Reference Forms
• Resume
• Official Transcripts

Apply now using the online Cal State Apply system. Cal State Apply is California State University's online resource to help you quickly and easily apply for graduate admission. Please make sure that you meet application deadlines.

Note the following as you complete your online application:

• By applying online, you can start, stop, and save your application information throughout the process. You do not have to complete the entire application during one session. For example, you can save your application and revisit your application to add or change information when convenient.
• Have your previous academic information ready when you apply. For example, you'll be asked to submit information about the colleges you have attended (including community college). You will need the name of the college(s), dates attended, units completed, major, honors, and GPA. For each institution you identify on the application, you will need to request that a transcript be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records at CSULB.

When applying online, select New User if you are a first-time Cal State Apply user. This will start your application process.

1. On the application form, identify CSU Long Beach Graduate as the university you wish to attend.
2. Select Start New Application to create a new application file. An application general information page will display.
3. Select Begin Application for CSU Long Beach Graduate. This button will appear at the bottom of the general information page.
4. Under Enrollment Plans, indicate the term for which you are applying.
5. Click on Select a Campus and Major, and a window will pop up titled College and Major Selection. From the Campus/Program drop-down menu, select Special Sessions Degree Program. Then click on Set Campus. You MUST select SPECIAL SESSIONS DEGREE PROGRAM. Do NOT select Long Beach Campus for this item.
6. For Intended Major, find your subject area and click on Set Major.
7. For Degree Objective, find you degree objective and select it.
8. For Credential Objective Name, select “Not interested in a credential program.”
9. Complete the section for Previous Application/Attendance and click NEXT at the bottom of the page.
10. Submit other information on the application form as requested. You may wish to collect this information before you apply for admission. For example, you'll be asked to identify (a) previous work experience, (b) the names and addresses of references, (c) honors, (d) languages spoken, and (d) test scores (leave test scores blank if no tests were taken). The absence of test scores will not affect your application. If you have a resume, keep it handy for this part of the application process.
11. If the program you are interested in requires a Statement of Purpose, you will need to include one. The Statement of Purpose tells us why you want to enroll in the program. You may wish to prepare this statement before applying. Then, cut-and-paste or print your Statement of Purpose into the application form when prompted.
12. Certify that your application is correct and pay the application fee. You can pay by credit card online.