Our program is designed for coaches and administrators working at every level in athletics. Each course provides training that is immediately applicable to your current position, whether you are new to the field or have years of experience.
The University of Cincinnati brings decades of faculty experience directly to you with our 100% online sport administration master’s program. Our professors believe in the real-life applications of what you learn, not just teaching from textbooks or theoretical examples. That is why you will not take a single midterm or final exam. Our curriculum is focused on blending theory and practice. Our faculty have 40+ years of practical experience applying these concepts in the sports market.
A Master of Science in Sport Administration gives you the skill set needed to work in the field of athletics. Behind the scenes, there are many jobs that make the product on the court or field happen. If you are passionate about sports and interested in launching or advancing your career in the exciting field of sport management and administration, earning your Master’s in Sport Administration Online from the University of Cincinnati will help you stay ahead of the competition.
Athletics are ingrained in Cincinnati. Our city is the home of three professional sports teams, a handful of local colleges, and a robust high school sports scene. Our year-round sporting events and activities provide ample opportunities to grow and establish yourself in the sport management industry. Even though our program is completely online, there are plenty of opportunities to experience live sporting events and activities through internships, GA positions, volunteer opportunities, and group trips. Develop personal and professional narratives to effectively communicate your story in sports.
Interested in the program, but want to know a little more about what you’ll learn? Watch our webinar below, featuring faculty members Dr. David Kelley and Dr. Jason Simmons.
The UC Online MSA program has partnered with several organizations at both a state and national level. Through our relationship with the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), you will have the opportunity to complete the NIAAA certification program. Becoming a Registered Athletic Administrator or a Certified Athletic Administrator are both great options for helping to advance your career as an athletic director.
UC Online has partnered with WorkInSports to offer students additional professional development to complement their coursework. The Sports Career Game Plan is an online, module-based professional development course built for aspiring sport administration professionals. The four modules will focus on 1) Gaining the RIGHT experience, 2) Building and maintaining your network, 3) Mastering your resume, cover letter, and personal brand, and 4) Interviewing for jobs and internships.
Students of our sport management program have access to our internal networks and resources. Utilize our LinkedIn page where faculty regularly share news, events, and job offerings related to the sports industry. Our Sports Learning Online group is a space to connect with faculty, alumni, and students in a professional setting and develop your networking skills.
Learn more about all the professional development opportunities within the sport administration program.
University of Cincinnati Sport Administration Program Coordinator Dr. David Kelley was interviewed by NFHS podcast host Ken Burke. Their conversation includes David’s background in athletics, his approach to hands-on teaching, and how educators and administrators educate themselves on grant facilitation.
You can listen to this podcast here.
The UC Online Master’s in Sport Administration was rated as the #1 online program in North America by SportBusiness.
“Activities Beyond the Classroom was delighted to partner with the University of Cincinnati Sports Administration online masters program in the spring of 2023. There’s a terrific irony in nonprofit work: we always need more staff power to find the funding to grow the organization, but we can’t get more staff without the funds! That’s why we felt terrifically privileged to partner with this cohort of future athletics leaders, who are all well versed in the needs of young athletes and capable writers and communicators.
This cohort of masters students wrote a number of grant applications for our organization. While we provided guardrails and information to support them, I found that they needed very little supervision or management to accomplish the applications! And at the end of the semester- I got a handful of well-written applications in my inbox, ready for a final revision and submission. It’s the easiest grant writing has ever been for my team! Furthermore, several student team leaders emailed me sharing that this new experience helped them gain perspective as they prepared to enter the professional marketplace, and gave them skills they’ll absolutely leverage again someday.
This partnership will absolutely have positive impact on the 2023-2024 school year for our thousands of student athletes across Cincinnati. Our greatest hope is that this partnership continues for years to come- there will always be a need for qualified, hard working help, and it’s a relief and a gift to know we can count on UC’s Sports Administration program to support.”
To learn more about our Master of Science in Sport Administration program from faculty and students, check out our testimonial page.
UC Online has partnered with hundreds of companies to offer tuition scholarships to employees, spouses and dependents.
According to ZipRecruiter, the national average salary for a High School Athletic Director is $91,484/year, $44/hour.
Examples of careers our graduates pursue include:
Applications are reviewed three times a year in December, April, and August for any upcoming semester.
Deadlines:
Fall Deadline: August 13
Spring Deadline: December 11
Summer Deadline: April 22
Additional resources to support you from start to finish.
© 2025 University of Cincinnati Online Copyright Information
