School of PAES: Sport Management Ph. D

Program Objective

Preparation emphasizes conceptual development coupled with research methodology and statistical skills.

Areas of Specialization

Sport and Exercise Management a specialization of the Sport and Exercise Sciences program in the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services provides programs of study that will lead to the master's and/or doctoral degrees. Established in 1978, more than 800 alumni now hold prestigious positions in all segments of the sport industry as athletic directors at universities or colleges, general managers of professional sport franchises, and executive directors of public and private sport, leisure, and fitness organizations, and collegiate and high school coaches. Sport and Exercise Management doctoral degree recipients occupy faculty and management positions throughout the world.

Career Opportunities

OSU and the Columbus area offer a uniquely rich environment for students pursuing educational and professional opportunities in sports. Students concentrating on intercollegiate athletics have direct access to the athletic department at OSU and six other colleges in the Columbus area. Students with an interest in professional sports have four professional sport franchises (soccer, hockey, baseball, and arena football) in the immediate area and six major league franchises within a two-hour drive. Additionally, there are a variety of sports organizations in and around Columbus. These venues offer students experience in stadium operations, advertising and promotion, ticket sales, media and public relations. In addition, Ohio State's Department of Recreational Sports provides an excellent training ground for prospective recreational sports administrators. Noted as one of the largest and best-managed campus recreation programs in the U.S., OSU can furnish the variety and depth of experiences necessary to meet the demands of this growing field.

Time of Study

The curriculum is designed to allow doctoral students to complete all requirements within three academic calendar years. The length of student programs can vary from 36-48 months (12 to 16 academic terms) depending on a number of factors.

Admission Criteria

1. A Master's degree in an appropriate discipline from an accredited university or college, and suitable experience in the designated area of specialization
2. A graduate cumulative grade point average of 3.3
3. A minimum combined score of 1000 in the verbal and quantitative sections and a minimum 3.5 on the writing section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
4. A minimum of 550 on the paper and pencil or 213 on the computer version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for those students whose mother tongue is not English (unless a degree was earned in an English speaking country).
5. Acceptance of the applicant as an advisee by a graduate faculty member (based on area of research interest).

Other factors considered include the strength of letters of recommendation, evidence of clearly stated goals, objectives, motivation, and readiness to pursue graduate study.

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