Sport Leadership & Administration
Graduate Certificate
Online
Course Delivery
13
Total Credits
$933
Credit Hour
1 year
Minimum Duration
Program Overview
This fully online graduate certificate is designed for professional in sports administration who are seeking to gain knowledge and skills related to administrative and leadership practices. The program allows you to increase your competency as a sports administrator without making the commitment to a full master’s degree.
The courses you take in the Sport Leadership and Administration program are taught by experts in their fields, who share the most current evidence-based principles from kinesiology, sport science, leadership, and management. We will prepare you to take on the biggest challenges of the sport environment today and into the future.
Program Outcomes
Our graduate certificate will enable you to build your confidence and improve in your capacity as a sports administrator, providing the necessary skills and knowledge to help you advance in the job market. Completing the graduate certificate also allows for you to transfer your classes into the master’s degree program.
This graduate certificate can help you develop expertise in the following areas:
- Management and organizational behavior in a sport context
- Principles of diversity and equity and inclusive leadership
- Practical strategies and methods for management, development, and advancement of sport professionals, athletes, and stakeholders
- Fundamental business aspects of the sport industry
- Principles of marketing, communications, economics, budgeting and finance applied to sport
- Governance structures and organization processes of professional, collegiate, scholastic, and amateur sport
- General legal concepts, federal and state legislation, legal liabilities, duty of care for sport coaches and administrators
Career Outlook
The Sport Leadership & Administration graduate certificate program is designed for individuals seeking to gain knowledge and skills related to administrative and leadership practices, including scholastic athletic directors or employees of collegiate athletic departments. Although a degree or certificate is not a requirement for entering into the coaching profession, it will enhance your knowledge and skills and help you advance in the job market. There are some circumstances where higher education is a requirement for placement or advancement.
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Andy Driska
Assistant Professor, Program Director
Dr. Andy Driska is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, where he directs the graduate programs in sport coaching and leadership, advises and mentors students, and teaches graduate-level courses in sport psychology, skill acquisition, leadership, ethics, and coaching science. He has served as a consultant for several collegiate sports programs and for USA Swimming. He has published journal articles and book chapters on topics including mental toughness, the design and evaluation of coach development programs, and coaching ethics. He recently served on the nationwide committee to revise the National Standards for Sport Coaches and is a member of the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.
Course Information
Core
KIN 852 – Ethics in Sport Coaching, Leadership, and Administration (1 credit)
KIN 849 – Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 credits)
KIN 851 – The Sport Enterprise (3 credits)
KIN 853 – Athletic Administration and Governance (3 credits)
KIN 854 – Legal Aspects of Sport (3 credits)
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
- Undergraduate degree transcript that shows a minimum GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution of higher education
- Current résumé (2-page max) that highlights all work experiences relevant to sport coaching and leadership
- A written academic statement clearly stating your professional goals and how you anticipate this program would help you to attain them. Your statement should be very close to 750 words. An ideal statement shows research into our course offerings and shows your deliberation and planning on what you hope to achieve in this degree program. It will also be used to help assign you to an academic advisor that best matches your interests.
- 3 letters of recommendation: One should come from an academic source who can vouch for your credentials as a student, the other should come from workplace source who can vouch for your credentials on the job. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
- Optional: Written personal statement that illustrates your unique qualities and life experiences that might make you a stronger candidate for admission (750 words max).
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send all transcripts to Michigan State University.
- International applicants should speak with the program director about potential restrictions for online degree programs.
Key Dates
Fall
Application Deadline
June 15th
Spring
Application Deadline
October 15th
Summer
Application Deadline
January 15th
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$933
$933
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
Program Overview
This fully online graduate certificate is designed for professional in sports administration who are seeking to gain knowledge and skills related to administrative and leadership practices. The program allows you to increase your competency as a sports administrator without making the commitment to a full master’s degree.
The courses you take in the Sport Leadership and Administration program are taught by experts in their fields, who share the most current evidence-based principles from kinesiology, sport science, leadership, and management. We will prepare you to take on the biggest challenges of the sport environment today and into the future.
Program Outcomes
Our graduate certificate will enable you to build your confidence and improve in your capacity as a sports administrator, providing the necessary skills and knowledge to help you advance in the job market. Completing the graduate certificate also allows for you to transfer your classes into the master’s degree program.
This graduate certificate can help you develop expertise in the following areas:
- Management and organizational behavior in a sport context
- Principles of diversity and equity and inclusive leadership
- Practical strategies and methods for management, development, and advancement of sport professionals, athletes, and stakeholders
- Fundamental business aspects of the sport industry
- Principles of marketing, communications, economics, budgeting and finance applied to sport
- Governance structures and organization processes of professional, collegiate, scholastic, and amateur sport
- General legal concepts, federal and state legislation, legal liabilities, duty of care for sport coaches and administrators
Career Outlook
The Sport Leadership & Administration graduate certificate program is designed for individuals seeking to gain knowledge and skills related to administrative and leadership practices, including scholastic athletic directors or employees of collegiate athletic departments. Although a degree or certificate is not a requirement for entering into the coaching profession, it will enhance your knowledge and skills and help you advance in the job market. There are some circumstances where higher education is a requirement for placement or advancement.
A Top-Ranked Education
- #1 in Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #2 in Online Master's in Education Administration — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #6 in Online Master's in Education/Instructional Media — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
- #7 in Online Master's in Special Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
Dr. Andy Driska
Assistant Professor, Program Director
Dr. Andy Driska is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, where he directs the graduate programs in sport coaching and leadership, advises and mentors students, and teaches graduate-level courses in sport psychology, skill acquisition, leadership, ethics, and coaching science. He has served as a consultant for several collegiate sports programs and for USA Swimming. He has published journal articles and book chapters on topics including mental toughness, the design and evaluation of coach development programs, and coaching ethics. He recently served on the nationwide committee to revise the National Standards for Sport Coaches and is a member of the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.
Course Information
Core
KIN 852 – Ethics in Sport Coaching, Leadership, and Administration (1 credit)
KIN 849 – Theory and Practice of Modern Sport Leadership (3 credits)
KIN 851 – The Sport Enterprise (3 credits)
KIN 853 – Athletic Administration and Governance (3 credits)
KIN 854 – Legal Aspects of Sport (3 credits)
Admissions Requirements
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree
- Undergraduate degree transcript that shows a minimum GPA of 3.0 from an accredited institution of higher education
- Current résumé (2-page max) that highlights all work experiences relevant to sport coaching and leadership
- A written academic statement clearly stating your professional goals and how you anticipate this program would help you to attain them. Your statement should be very close to 750 words. An ideal statement shows research into our course offerings and shows your deliberation and planning on what you hope to achieve in this degree program. It will also be used to help assign you to an academic advisor that best matches your interests.
- 3 letters of recommendation: One should come from an academic source who can vouch for your credentials as a student, the other should come from workplace source who can vouch for your credentials on the job. Provide contact information for your recommenders and the MSU application system will provide instructions to them.
- Optional: Written personal statement that illustrates your unique qualities and life experiences that might make you a stronger candidate for admission (750 words max).
To apply to this program:
- Complete a university graduate application and pay the application fee.
- Submit all required materials to the application portal.
- Send all transcripts to Michigan State University.
- International applicants should speak with the program director about potential restrictions for online degree programs.
Key Dates
Fall
Application Deadline
June 15th
Spring
Application Deadline
October 15th
Summer
Application Deadline
January 15th
Tuition & Fees per credit
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$933
$933
Cost of Attendance
The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.
The MSU Value Promise
You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.
As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.
MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.
MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.
MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.
MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.
Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.