Sport Administration Graduate Program
NEWS:
UNC Sport Administration Moves Up in Global Rankings
Our Mission
“Integrating theory and practice to prepare graduate students for leadership positions in intercollegiate athletics.”
Welcome! The graduate program of sport administration began in the fall of 1982. For the past 30 years, we have guided students to academic and practical success in the sport industry. We seek energetic, ambitious, and bright leaders to join us in this unique experience of the exploration of intercollegiate athletics In addition, Chapel Hill is considered one of the most attractive places to reside, study, and work in America. Thank you for visiting our website and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions!
Q: How many classes do you teach in your first year?
A: Typically sports administration students teach three physical education classes per semester during their first year.
Q: How many students are in the program each year?
A: The typical sports administration class has nine full time students with the possibility of an additional dual degree law student.
Q: Describe the internship interview and placement process.
A: During the first semester, all students are given the opportunity to “shadow” as many of the current second year students as possible. After acquiring a greater understanding of the responsibility with each particular internship, in January of the first year, all students will rank their top choices for internships. During the months of February and March, students will interview at their top 3·5 choices. After interviews, each student will again re-rank their choices after having a chance to meet members of each department. Internship advisors will also rank their choices after interviews. Upon completion, students will be placed in the internship that best reflects their preference and the internship supervisor’s preference. Typically students will be notified of their internship in late March or early April, depending on time constraints.
Q: How many applications are there on average each year?
A: The number of applications for the nine slots over the past 10years has ranged from 60- 125 per year.
Q: What type of experience is valued for admittance into this program?
A: Selection criteria for admission to the program include the academic record, GRE scores, recommendations, personal goal statement, experience in athletics, and employment background. Employment in athletics can range from high school, collegiate, and professional opportunities. It is important to excel at whichever opportunity one has experienced prior to application.
Q: What practical experience is available outside of the internship during the first year of the program?
A: Students are given operations duties at UNC athletic events, ACC tournaments, and NCAA post-season competition. There are typically three students working each Football and Men’s Basketball games as an usher supervisor or suite assistant (football games). Olympic sports duties range from ticketing, usher responsibilities, and hosting of officials and visiting teams at ACC and NCAA competition. In addition, students are given the opportunity to work as an operations assistant for Soccer and Lacrosse.
Q: How do I know if this program is right for me?
A: The focus and range of opportunities in this program is extremely unique in comparison to other sports administration graduate programs. If you are passionate and value working in college athletics, the specificity of classes, and experience with a major Division I athletic department, UNC is your choice! The combination of academic theory, practical experience, and high quality sports programs to “learn on” is extremely beneficial.
Applicants must be currently enrolled in their second year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School to apply for the LAW/EXSS Dual Degree Program.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has offered a dual MNJD in sport administration and law since the fall of 2004. This combined program will require full time study for four years on campus.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
The current law degree is 86 credit hours over three years of study.
The current sport administration graduate program is 32 credit hours and an internship. The combined degree is 112 credit hours over four years of study.
FIRST YEAR:
Full time Law School First year standard curriculum
SECOND YEAR:
Full time Law School required courses and electives
THIRD YEAR:
Full time in Exercise and Sport Science
EXSS 740- Administration of Sport
EXSS 748- Legal Issues in Collegiate Sport
EXSS 746- Economic and Financial Management of Sport
EXSS 744- Collegiate Sport Marketing
EXSS 700- Applied Statistics and Research Methods in EXSS
EXSS 705- Applied Statistics and Research Methods laboratory
EXSS 749- NCAA Governance and Compliance
EXSS 747- Facility and Event Management
Dual degree students are eligible to take one additional law class each semester.
FOURTH YEAR:
Six (6) credits of thesis (3 credits fall semester to propose; 3 credits in spring semester with thesis defense- of these 6 credits, 3 credits count as Law Independent Research toward the 86 law hours).
Two (2) credits- EXSS 750 & 751- Sport Administration Second Year Seminar Law School electives for remaining credit hours.
Recommended law electives (with approval of law School Advisor) may include:
- Business Associations (4)
- Evidence (3)
- Income Tax (3)
- Trusts and Estates (4)
- Administrative law (3)
- Alt. Dispute Resolution (3)
- Anti-Trust law (3)
- Education Law (3)
- Sports Law (3)
To achieve 86 credits of law, 3 credits of thesis would count as Law Independent Research and 3 additional credits would count as a law school elective.
- The 3 credits of Law Independent Research may be used to satisfy one of the two Law School writing requirements but will not be accepted as the “rigorous writing requirement” imposed by the Law School under ABA requirements.
Note: Program/degree requirements may be subject to change by the respective schools. It is the intent of both schools that the students in the dual degree program meet all program and degree requirements of each school.