GW School of Business site logo

School of Business

 

MS in Sport Management

Olympian Elana Myers and GWSB students
Olympian Elana Myers and GWSB Sport Management students

The Master of Science in Sport Management (MSSM) program prepares students for executive careers in events and facility management, sports marketing, athlete representation, sports analytics, sports media and the sporting goods industry, working with professional teams and leagues and in collegiate athletics.

The MSSM program is designed to prepare graduates for careers in this rapidly expanding field. The sports industry is currently estimated to be a $500 billion business and the employment demand for trained, credentialed professionals is growing. Students will learn to recognize issues facing sports industry leaders and make sound, ethical business decisions; identify revenue streams and expenses for sports organizations; understand legal terms, operational structure and contract clauses; and apply analytic and research skills to solve problems and increase performance for sports-related businesses.

 

 

This new specialized Sport Management program is built upon GWSB’s award-winning quarter century of experience in the discipline, which includes Olympics and World Cup study abroad programs, the annual Travel Events and Management in Sports (TEAMS) and Sports Industry Networking and Career conferences, and more than 500 graduates placed in influential positions with professional sports franchises, leagues and organizations, sporting goods manufacturers and sports media companies.

Career Benefits of the Master of Science in Sport Management Degree

Lisa Delpy Neirotti talks about what it takes to be successful in the sports industry.

Connect With Us

The George Washington University School of Business
Master of Science in Sport Management
2201 G Street NW, Funger Hall, suite 315
Washington, D.C. 20052

Phone: 202-994-1212
Fax: 202-994-3571
Email: [email protected]

Meet Our Faculty
photo - Lisa Delpy Neirotti

Lisa Delpy Neirotti

  • Director, MS in Sport Management Program
  • Associate Professor of Sport Management

 

 

 

Explore Networking Opportunities

Join our LinkedIn Group

Join our LinkedIn group to connect, network, and get acquainted with fellow GWSB grad students in your academic program, and learn about upcoming professional development opportunities, student engagement events, online events and more.
Please note: this group is only open to current students and alumni.

 

 

 

 

News Highlights

For MS in Sport Management students, learning and networking occurs far beyond the classroom. Students in the MSSM program choose from several for-credit domestic and international opportunities, including:

  • Consulting in developing global destinations
  • Domestic case studies
  • Immersion programs at the Olympic Games and the World Cup

MSSM students, faculty and staff are also regularly featured in print, radio, television and online news publications around the world.

 

More News Stories
GWSB Professor Lisa Delpy Neirotti poses with students in the Sport Social Enterprise workshop in Bahrain

Professor Neirotti Teaches Workshop in Bahrain

Professor Neirotti traveled to Bahrain in 2022 to teach a workshop on Sport Social Enterprise at the invitation of the U.S. State Department.

photo - Women Leaders in the Sports Industry panel

GW Panel: Women Leaders in the Sports Industry

The GW Sport Business Association and the MSSM program recently hosted the Sport Integrity Global Alliance’s (SIGA) event, “Female Leadership in Sport: Making It Happen,” at the University Student Center. Students had the opportunity to hear from and meet with women executives in the sports industry, and Prof. Lisa Delpy Neirotti was one of the featured speakers.

photo - Lisa Delpy Neirotti speaks at the 2019 WSET conference in China

Prof. Neirotti Hosts World Sport Event and Tourism Summit

Speakers at the 2ndWorld Sport Event and Tourism Summit (WSET) in Yangzhou, China included representatives from the International Olympic Committee, the UN World Tourism Organization, UNESCO, MLB China, and 10 international sports federations.

image - GW Sport Management Cactus League logo

How COVID-19 Shook the Cactus League

For this extensive project, GW student teams researched and then virtually interviewed nine baseball industry and Arizona government officials to learn how the pandemic had touched their work and personal lives.

Professor Neirotti Presents at United Nations
The MSSM director presented in Geneva on the topic of financial integrity in sports.
GW Alumnae Featured In Sports Industry Story
Sarah Lyon writes about several former students working in the sports industry and how GW played a role in their development.
Lisa Delpy Neirotti on the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
CGTN's Elaine Reyes spoke to Lisa Delpy Neirotti about the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
GW Sport Management Case Team Makes Top 10 in NCSS Championship
The National Collegiate Sports Sales Championship was a very competitive event in which students had to pitch professional sport team executives. Shannon Kearney and Waseem Mansoor made it to the final rounds for individuals, but the GWSB team as a whole scored well enough to place in the top 10 overall.
GW at the 2018 Olympics
Join us as 21 students, seven Olympic volunteers, and three alumni attend the 2018 games in South Korea!
GW at the 2018 World Cup
Join us as we explore Russia for the 2018 World Cup!
Alumni in the Media
GW alumnus Ryan Riffenburgh

Alumnus Gets World Series Ring

Ryan Riffenburgh, MS in Sport Management ’20, received the ring from the Washington Nationals in recognition of his internship with the team during its historic championship season.

Articles & Media Coverage

Professor Delpy Neirotti

Professor Zavian

TV, Print, Radio & Podcasts

GW Sport Management Professors - Expert Opinion Highlights

Videos
MSSM Newsletters

November 2019
October 2019

 

Industry Connections

Featured Internship and Job Opportunities Through the MSSM Program
  • NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MLS
  • Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Under Armour, Red Bull
  • Octagon, Lagardere, IMG, AEG, WMG, CAA, GMR, Momentum, Velocity Sports, Wanda Sports
  • NFL Players Association
  • ESPN, CBS, NBC, Fox, BeIN Sports
  • Google
  • Comcast-Spectacor, SMG
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports
  • US. Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee
  • Special Olympics International and International Paralympics Committee
  • SnowSports Industries of America
  • Washington Redskins, Wizards, Mystics, Nationals, Capitals, D.C. United, Seattle Sonics, Texas Rangers, Orlando Magic, LA Dodgers and Chargers,
  • Chicago Whitesox and Bulls, Miami Heat and Dolphins, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, Knicks and Rangers, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia Sixers, Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, New Jersey Devils
  • NCAA and numerous Division 1 collegiate athletic programs
  • Nielsen, Aramark
Past Guest Speakers at MSSM Conferences and Classes
  • George Bodenheimer, former President, ESPN
  • Albert Chen, author, Billion Dollar Fantasy: The High-Stakes Game Between FanDuel and DraftKings That Upended Sports in America
  • Adam Rippon, U.S. figure skater, bronze medalist, 2018 Winter Olympics
  • Lisa Baird, Chief Marketing Officer, U.S. Olympic Committee
  • Richard Deitsch, Host, Sport Media Podcast; Media Reporter, The Athletic
  • Phil de Picciotto, President Octagon
  • Kelly Flanigan, Talent Buyer, Live Nation
  • Alexa Herndon, VP of Human Resources, Washington Nationals
  • Bob Miller, Assistant General Manager, Washington Nationals
  • Michele Powell, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Capital One Arena at Monumental Sports & Entertainment
  • Doug Nickerson, Senior Director of CRM, Washington Redskins
  • Elizabeth Noe, General Manager, Aramark
  • Bennet Omalu, neuropathologist who discovered the first CTE case in a professional football player
  • Grant Paranjape, Director of Esports Business & Team Operations, Monumental Sports Entertainment
  • Jacob Raim, Senior Director of Digital Media, Monumental Sports & Entertainment
  • Joel Segal, President, Lagardere Sports & Entertainment
  • Adam Sinclair, Director of Operations, USTA/U.S. Open
  • Tommy Sheppard, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations, Washington Wizards
  • DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director, National Football League Players Association
  • Greg Stangel, Senior VP of Global Solutions, Fox
  • Matt Taylor, Senior Director of Football Communications, Miami Dolphins
  • Lara Tosani Weems, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (76ers, Devils)
  • David Touhey, President, Venues MSE
  • Abby Wambach, U.S. Olympic and World Cup soccer player
  • Michael Wilbon, ESPN, co-host of "Pardon the Interruption"
  • Rebecca Winn, VP of Marketing, Washington Wizards
  • Jon Miller, Major League Baseball broadcaster and commentator
  • Christine Brennan, national sports columnist, USA Today; commentator, ABC News, CNN, PBS NewsHour

"My time in the MTA program was perfect — [it] got me this opportunity."

Rebecca Winn, Vice President of Marketing, Washington Wizards & Mystics
MTA '06 – Sport Management Concentration

Program Overview

The MSSM program is 36 credit hours. Three-credit courses are full semester (14 weeks) in length. Courses that are 1.5 credits are seven weeks in length and are offered in either the first or second half of a semester.

Students typically complete degree requirements in the following time frames:

  • Part-Time: 30-48 months
  • Full-Time: 18-24 months

Degree Requirements

Students must successfully complete the following course and program requirements, achieve at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at the time of graduation, and complete all degree requirements within five years to be eligible for the MS in Sport Management degree.

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 36 credits, including 21 credits in required courses and 15 credits in elective courses.
Required
TSTD 6251Applied Quantitative Methods
TSTD 6264Sport Marketing
TSTD 6265Sport Law: Contracts and Negotiations
TSTD 6266Sport and Event Facility Management
TSTD 6267Sport Media and Communications
TSTD 6270Research Methods and Applications
TSTD 6283Practicum
Electives
15 credits in elective courses. Students may elect to use these credits to focus in one specific area, earn a specialized graduate certificate, or choose courses from different business areas with guidance from the advisor.
DNSC 6214Pricing and Revenue Management
DNSC 6279Data Mining
DNSC 6404Sports Analytics
FINA 6224Financial Management
FINA 6234New Venture Financing: Due Diligence and Valuation Issues
IBUS 6201International Marketing
MGT 6215Conflict Management and Negotiations
MGT 6290Special Topics (Business of e-Sports)
MKTG 6243Marketing Research
MKTG 6246Marketing of Services
MKTG 6248Advertising and Marketing Communications Strategy
MKTG 6252Digital Marketing
MKTG 6256Integrated Marketing Communication
PPPA 6031Governing and Managing Nonprofit Organizations
PPPA 6032Managing Fundraising and Philanthropy
TSTD 6277Event and Conference Management
TSTD 6282International Experiences
TSTD 6296Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Digital Marketing

Additional Requirements for Specific Degree Programs

Bachelor’s/MSSM

The MSSM degree can also be combined with a bachelor's degree through GWSB's new 4+1 Program, which enables students to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years.

MBA/Master of Science in Sport Management

For students pursuing a MBA and a Master of Science in Sport Management dual degree program, all requirements for both degrees must be fulfilled. In the dual MBA/MSSM program, up to 24 credits may be double-counted toward degree requirements for the MBA/MSSM as follows:

  • 3 credits of required courses may be double-counted, as the courses are equivalents (for example, TSTD 6251 will be replaced by the equivalent MBAD coursework, MBAD 6224)
  • 12 credits of required MSSM core courses may be counted as electives toward the MBA
  • 9 credits of other GWSB courses completed as electives for the MBA may count toward MSSM electives

Students may pursue a dual degree in any MBA program. Part-time students take courses for both programs simultaneously. Full-time students take courses for the Global MBA in their first year and then complete the remainder of the degree requirements simultaneously. In both cases, the degrees may be conferred sequentially. Those who enter GWSB as a MSSM-only student but wish to pursue a MBA must complete the Certificate in Business Foundations MBA core courses simultaneously with the MSSM courses. If the four courses listed below are completed with a grade of B or higher, admission into the dual degree program is automatically granted. 

Certificate in Business Foundations courses:

  • MBAD 6211 - Financial Accounting (3 credits) - Fall
  • MBAD 6274 - Marketing (3 credits) - Fall
  • MBAD 6235 - Finance (3 credits) - Spring*
  • MBAD 6263 - Organizations and Human Capital (3 credits) - Spring

*Must be taken after MBAD 6211

 

 

Admissions

Admission to the MSSM program is highly competitive and enrollment is limited. Students operate in two cohorts throughout the academic year.

Due to the rolling admissions policy, it is highly recommended that candidates submit applications early. The candidate’s major and trend in grades, personal achievements, and letters of recommendation also affect the admission decision. This program seeks social, ethnic, cultural and geographical diversity in its student body.

Prerequisites
  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Strong academic performance
  • Demonstrated professional interest in sport management
Admissions Process

Applying to a program at the GW School of Business may seem like a complicated process, but the GWSB admissions team is here to help. The application process for this program can be found on our How to Apply page. All application materials should be sent to the GWSB Graduate Admissions Office. The GRE or GMAT test is not required — however, if you feel that submitting your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them. We also offer a wealth of resources to help you finance your degree, from scholarships and fellowships to loans and work-study arrangements.

Application Requirements

To be considered complete, the following must be included in the application:

  • Completed online application form
  • Application fee (non-refundable)
  • Current résumé uploaded through the online application system
  • One letter of recommendation from a professional and/or academic reference
  • Statement of Purpose: In no more than 500 words, describe how this program fits into your professional life and your career objectives.
Additional Application Requirements
  • Upload copies of your transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, whether or not the program was completed or the credit appears as a transfer credit on another transcript. Note that admitted students will be required to submit official, sealed transcripts with proof of bachelor’s degree. There is no need to submit them at the time when you first apply.
  • The GRE or GMAT test is not required for this program — however, if you feel that submitting your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them. Learn more about our test-optional policy on the How to Apply page. GW School of Business applicants interested in taking the exam can benefit from 10% off any Kaplan GMAT or GRE preparation course. Use discount code GWUSB10.
International Applicants

Applicants who require a visa to study in the United States must also fulfill additional requirements in order to be considered for admission to a graduate program at the School of Business. Please visit our How to Apply page for further details.

Admissions Process

Applying to a program at the GW School of Business may seem like a complicated process, but the GWSB admissions team is here to help. The application process for this program can be found on our How to Apply page. All application materials should be sent to the GWSB Graduate Admissions Office. The GRE or GMAT test is not required — however, if you feel that submitting your scores will strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit them.

 

Application Deadlines

Candidates seeking financial assistance and international students requiring visas are encouraged to apply early. Only completed applications, with all required materials, will be considered for admission.

  • Spring 2023 - Closed
  • Summer 2023 - Extended to February 1, 2023
  • Fall 2023 - Extended to February 1, 2023

Please note: Admission to the Global MBA, Accelerated MBA, MAccy in Accounting Analytics, and M.S. in Business Analytics programs is only offered for the Fall semester. Admission to the MBA in Security Technology Transition is only offered for the Spring semester. Summer admissions deadlines apply only to the Online MBA and Healthcare MBA programs. Admission to all other programs is only offered for the Fall and Spring semesters. Additionally, our doctoral and executive education programs may have different admissions deadlines.

Tuition and Other Costs

Explore tuition rates and fees, view health insurance and housing costs, and more.

Tuition and Fees

Please visit the Student Accounts Office for a complete list of tuition rates and fees.

Other Expenses
  • Student Health Insurance
    GW offers voluntary comprehensive health insurance through Aetna Student Health. All F-1 and J-1 international students are automatically enrolled. See the Student Health Insurance page for rates and other important information.
  • Housing
    View information about on-campus and off-campus housing for full-time GW graduate students.

 

Financial Resources

From scholarships and fellowships to loans and work-study arrangements, we offer a wealth of resources to help you finance your degree.

GWSB Fellowships and Financial Support

The GW School of Business offers merit-based fellowships to incoming students at the time of admission. While applying to graduate degree programs at GWSB, prospective students may opt in to be automatically considered for all fellowship award opportunities funded by the School of Business as well as various university-funded tuition awards administered by the Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF). Unless otherwise stated, no separate application is required.

In limited circumstances, current students may also be eligible for merit-based tuition fellowship awards.

Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships (OGSAF) maintains a comprehensive database of GW and external fellowships to support graduate-level study and/or research. Incoming and current students are encouraged to browse the OGSAF website for information about additional merit-based funding opportunities.

Federal Financial Aid

U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens may qualify for:

  • Federally sponsored education loans through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Programs
  • Need-based financial assistance through the Federal Work Study Program, which allows students to earn income while working part-time at pre-approved organizations during their program

To apply for federal financial aid, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the appropriate deadline using GW’s FAFSA school code: 001444. Please note that students must apply for federal financial aid each academic year.

Visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance for details about eligibility criteria, application steps, and deadlines. Information about alternate private and federal loans is also available.

Tuition Discounts

Employer Discounts

The GW School of Business offers a tuition discount to current employees of the following companies:

  • Leidos
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Organization of American States (GS/OAS)
  • SAIC

Please note that eligible programs vary by employer. View details about eligibility, conditions, and the application process.

Veterans and Military

Nationally recognized as a top military- and veteran-friendly university, GW offers a wealth of services and benefits to student veterans, military personnel, and dependents of the United States Armed Forces. As a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program, GW funds tuition expenses exceeding the maximum base pay amount covered through the GI Bill®, and its contributions are matched by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

For more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program and other education benefits, visit GW Veteran & Military Services (VMS).

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Student Employment and Internships

The F. David Fowler Career Center supports GWSB student and alumni professional development by providing career management resources, career fairs and expos, and employer information sessions. GWSB students also have access to employment services and resources provided through GW’s Center for Career Services.

Handshake is the official online recruiting platform and event calendar for the F. David Fowler Career Center and the Center for Career Services. To search for jobs and internships, find and register for events, and connect with career coaches, log in to Handshake.

Federal Work Study

The Federal Work Study Program is a federally-funded and need-based work program that allows GW students to earn income through part-time employment during the academic year at GW and other pre-approved organizations. Graduate students interested in the program must submit the FAFSA and apply through the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The Center for Career Services provides awarded students assistance with finding positions. Visit the Center for Career Services for information about the Federal Work Study Program at GW.

International Students

Students studying at GW on F-1 or J-1 visas may have additional restrictions on their employment due to visa regulations. F-1 Students are required to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization from the International Services Office for all paid, off-campus internships and employment. GW-sponsored J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to obtain employment authorization for all employment, whether on-campus or off-campus.

For more information about the CPT application process, see GWSB Global & Experiential Education’s Curricular Practical Training page.

For information about how your visa status may affect your employment options, please visit the International Services Office.

Billing and Payment Processing

The Student Accounts Office manages all student accounts and processes student bills, refunds, disbursements, payment plan enrollment, employer reimbursements, third party billing, and financial holds. For inquiries regarding your Student eBill, tuition and fees, or payment options and due dates, visit the Student Accounts Office.

 

Next Steps

 

Apply Now

Applications are submitted through the GW Student Portal. You can sign up for an account if you don't have one.