Frequently Asked Questions
Thanks for your interest in the Masters Program in the Department of Sport Management. Before you contact us, please check below for a list of frequently asked questions.
Q. What is the process used to gain admission to the program?
A. Contact the Graduate Admissions office for an application or download an application from the graduate admissions web site at www.umass.edu/gradschool. Take the GMATs no later than the January prior to the September you wish to matriculate. Application procedures are fully explained in the Graduate School Bulletin. Application forms for the Sport Management Program should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office by December 15 for earliest consideration, and no later than February 1 for September enrollment. (the only enrollment semester possible). Due to the fact that applications are reviewed on a "rolling" basis, (meaning they are reviewed as they are received) we strongly encourage applications to be submitted well in advance of the University deadline.
Selected candidates are invited for one of seven interview dates between February and May. A successful candidate will learn of his/her acceptance from the Graduate Admissions Office approximately two to three weeks after the interview.
Q. How competitive is the admissions process?
A. Very. The department receives between 100 to 150 applications a year. No more than 50 are invited for interviews of which 20 to 30 will be accepted.
Q. What are the standards for admissions? A. The Graduate School at the University requires a minimum of a 2.75 GPA. The average GPA of applicants who are accepted is approximately a 3.4. Although there is no specific minimum for a GMAT score, the average is approximately 610. The personal statement by the candidate should be very clearly constructed and presented (typed). This is a very significant part of the application process. The department requires a minimum of two letters of recommendation: one from an academic source, the other from an individual currently employed in the sports industries. College athletic background, employment in the management field and sport management experience would make a positive impression on the Admissions Committee during the application process. Undergraduate major is NOT a factor in gaining admission.
Q What are the employment opportunities upon completion of the program?
A. Employment in the sport industry is very competitive. The Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts cannot guarantee a full-time position upon completion of the program. Further, approximately 75% of our graduates from the last 10 years still work in the sport industry. To optimally prepare students to work in the industry, students spend the summer between their first and second years of study interning for a sport organization. The Department of Sport Management at UMass has one person who is dedicated to helping students identify prospective internship sites and relevant contacts.
Q. What types of positions are held by UMass Alumni?
A. Visit the field of Sport Management page to see a list of representative positions of graduates in the sports industry.
Q. Must I complete an internship in order to earn my degree?
A. No. Alternatives are to complete a thesis or take two additional 3-credit courses.
Q. Could you tell me about the internship program?
A. The internship program is the most popular method of earning a Master's Degree in Sport Management from the University of Massachusetts. An internship earns the individual six credits and is a minimum of 13 weeks in length for a minimum of 40 hours per week in a meaningful position within the sports industries. The Sport Management Database, Alumni Network and personal contacts of the faculty are available to the candidates. Professor Betsy Goff, the Director of Internships, will work with the candidates in order to help them attain an internship. Generally, the internships begin either in the late Spring/early Summer or Fall after completing the academic requirements.
Q. What is the nature of the Sport Management Master's degree curriculum?
A. Please see information under the Courses and Curriculum pages.
Q. Are graduate assistantships available? A. Please view the Graduate Assistantships page.
Q. What is the placement rate of graduates from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst Sport Management Master's degree program?
A. As it relates to the internship, placement for graduate students is nearly 100%. Answering a question about full time employment is difficult. However, we feel confident in saying that some classes have a placement rate of 90 percent or better.
Q. How long does it take to complete the program?
A. The policy of the University of Massachusetts is simple: the program must be completed in three years or less. Most (90 to 95 percent) of the students choose to complete the academic portion of the requirements within one academic year. There are instances, however, in which the student chooses to complete the academic courses in two or three years. This is usually the result of work commitments that occur during the academic year.
Q. May I begin by taking a course or two as a non-degree student?
A. No.
Q. Are there January admissions?
A. No. Foundational courses are only offered in the Fall.
Q. What is the size of a typical graduate class?
A. Required courses will enroll between 15-25 students. Elective courses are on the average smaller and can range from 10 to 25 students.
Q. Can the GREs be substituted for the GMATs?
A. Applicants with only a bachelor's degree are required to submit a GMAT score. Applicants who are scheduled to receive their master's degree or a law degree prior to September may submit a GRE or LSAT score in lieu of a GMAT score.
Q. Are there specializations in the curriculum?
A. No. Specialization occurs through course selection and the internship.
Q. Who can answer my specific questions about the Masters Program?
A. Contact Assistant Professor Stephen McKelvey