M.S. Athletic Administration

This course is designed to provide the student with insight into various leadership styles and techniques that can be utilized within an Athletic Department to assure the success of the department in producing competitive programs that foster growth of its student-athletes in all areas. Particular focus will be placed on the development of a mission statement, vision statement and organizational goals for the department that align with the academic institution and assisting coaches in the same process and assuring its implementation.

This course equips students to analyze their own ethical philosophies and those of others in diverse Interscholastic and College Athletics environments and to incorporate those philosophies in solving ethical issues in their Athletic Departments. Included in the course is a study of different ethical models being applied in the modern athletics environment and the challenges faced by Christians in this morally diverse environment. This course also introduces students to important legal challenges they will face in leadership roles in Athletic Departments and how they should analyze relevant variables in those areas to make wise decisions. Areas such as Hazing, Negligence, Title IX, Sexual Harassment, Americans with Disabilities Act, and other employment laws will be discussed.

This course will focus on the development of decision-making skills for both effective and efficient marketing in Interscholastic and College Athletics. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of marketing in strategic planning and the critical process components in the development of effective marketing strategies to procure Ticket Sales, Concession Sales, Corporate Sponsorships and Donations. Topics will include market segmentation, use of marketing research in decision-making, use of media and promotion, budgeting, and marketing program evaluation.

This course will focus on the increasing need for college Athletic Departments to engage in fundraising to subsidize the funding received from the academic institution in order to sustain operations and have the ability to grow. Particular focus will be placed on alternative revenue sources that can be procured including donations, merchandise sales, concession and ticket sales, and corporate sponsorships. Additional focus will be placed on the operational steps for a successful fundraising campaign and the integration of the personal sales process into that campaign.