St. John Fisher College to Offer Graduate Degree in Sport Management
In a first of its kind sport management program, St. John Fisher College announces it will launch a fully-online Master of Science in Sport Management degree.
Through an innovative partnership with Flower City Union, a Rochester-based expansion soccer club eyeing a spring 2022 start in the National Independent Soccer Association, students can immerse themselves in sport industry practices as front office members of the club. At the same time, students will complete a degree that will prepare them for the changing consumer demands, technological developments, and external influences on business decisions that sport managers face in the industry today.
“Our graduate program will train and educate the next generation of sport managers to meet the demands of the sport industry by engaging them in immersive practical experiences while they are being challenged by a rigorous online curriculum,” said Dr. Todd Harrison, Sport Management Department Chair. “A real strength of the program are the industry experiences provided by our partnership with Flower City Union, as well as developing opportunities in other segments of the sport industry for students to pursue.”
Like its undergraduate counterpart, the graduate program will be housed in the Sport Management Department within the School of Arts and Sciences. The degree is designed to be completed in 15 months, and courses will cover concepts including sport marketing, strategic management in the sport industry, risk management, data analytics, and venue and event management, among others. Candidates will also engage in a capstone experience in sport management, providing the opportunity to gain practical experience with a local, regional, or national sport business or enterprise. In addition to working within an organization, students will complete a set of assignments that provide opportunities for reflection on the work, organization, and industry segment.
Pat Gordon, interim director of the master’s program, noted that Fisher’s relationships with sports organizations nationwide will provide students the opportunity to engage in capstone projects of their choosing. “While Flower City Union is our flagship relationship we are finalizing formal agreements with organizations across the industry - college sport, agencies, and beyond - to meet the diverse interests we expect our students will have,” he said.
In its 22-year history, the Sport Management Department at Fisher has built a reputation for success and rigor. In 2016, its undergraduate program earned a seven-year accreditation from the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation; the first program in New York State to do so. The department has graduated more than 400 students, who have found success at local, regional, and national sports organizations including the PGA TOUR, Buffalo Bills, and IMG College, as well as municipalities, agencies and management firms, and colleges and universities.
Applications for the program are now being accepted with the goal of enrolling the first cohort in fall 2021. To learn more about the program, visit the M.S. in Sport Management webpage or call the Office of Graduate Admissions at (585) 385-8064.