2025-2026 Graduate Catalog

SPAL - Sports Administration and Leadership

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SPAL 5710 Advanced Sports Marketing and Promotion

Students will learn how professional, amateur and college sports teams manage their businesses, fans, athletes and brands, including planning, hosting and implementing effective marketing programs. Theories will be supplemented with industry-recognized speakers, case studies and historical research. One class project and presentation of that project is required.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Spring

Notes

Previously: BSAD 545

SPAL 5780 Sports Law and Compliance

This course is designed to enable students to expand their knowledge of some of the laws, rules, and regulations that apply to the sport industry and that impact the work setting of sport organizations. Students will learn about and analyze substantive legal concepts in the following core areas of law: constitutional, employment, antitrust, labor, intellectual property, and contract and business law. The purpose of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the legal issues involved in the operation and management of organizations in the sport industry, and to equip students with the skills and strategies needed to work effectively with business executives and lawyers to resolve these issues. The course will focus on the managerial and practical application of laws, rules and regulations to situations current students will likely face (and decisions current students will likely need to make) when they become sport business managers. In-class discussions on current legal issues and emerging legal trends in sport will constitute a major portion of this class.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Fall

Notes

Previously: BSAD 541

SPAL 6610 Success in Coaching

This course addresses various ideas and philosophies about what it takes to be successful in coaching.  Student presentations, discussions, and contributions by outside speakers are used to embrace the learning experience.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Fall

Notes

Previously: SAL 610

SPAL 6700 Advanced Sports Management

Students will learn how professional and amateur sports teams manage their businesses, fans, athletes and brands, including planning, hosting and implementing marketing programs for specific events and sports programs. Theories will be supplemented with industry-recognized speakers, case studies and hands-on work for local clients. Class/client projects, as well as presentations are required.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Fall

Notes

Previously: BSAD 640

SPAL 6730 Sports Finance and Fundraising

Students will learn fundamental approaches to financial management in specific application to sports organization. Topics include budgeting, analyzing financial performance, valuation of investments in facilities and athlete contracts and sources of capital. The course explores perspectives of both professional sports organizations and athletic departments affiliated with athletic institutions.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Spring

Notes

Previously: BSAD 625

SPAL 6750 Applied Sports Psychology

This course is designed to give students a practical, hands-on introduction to performance enhancement techniques available in sport psychology. Historical and current research will also be explored and critically analyzed.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Summer online

Notes

Previously: SAL 645

SPAL 6940 Sports Administration and Leadership Practicum

The graduate practicum provides the opportunity for students to engage in a rigorous culminating project focused on an area of professional interest to the student and consistent with the learning outcomes of the Sports Administration and Leadership (SAL) program. Specific details and objectives of the theory- and research-based educational experience project will be determined in conjunction with the SAL coordinator, practicum instructor and on-site supervisor, who will meet prior to the project’s launch to share project details and expectations. Specific details, objectives, meetings, and communication schedule will be determined by student and instructor at the beginning of the practicum.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer

Notes

Previously: SAL 694

SPAL 6950 Internship

This internship program provides an opportunity for students to participate in a learning experience away from the traditional classroom. Students will be placed with internal departments or local organizations so they may work with business procedures and observe decision making processes within the sports industry. Students will be able to see how concepts and theories learned in the classroom are applied in practice. The student will be under the direct supervision of an officer of the cooperating organization and progress will be monitored by the MSAL Program Director. May be taken twice.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer

Notes

Previously: SAL 695

SPAL 6970 Topics

Each course offering may be a different topic in Sports Administration and Leadership.  May be taken twice.

Credits

3

Offered

Every Interim

Notes

Previously: SAL 697