Quick Highlights
Is there a difference between a sport administration master’s and a sport management master’s? The names overlap, and the difference is usually emphasis, not outcome, so a program’s course list and accreditation tell you more than its title does. Arkansas State University offers the COSMA-accredited online M.S. in Sport Administration program.
Sport administration and sport management sound interchangeable, and programs use the two names loosely. If you already work in athletics as a coach, operations coordinator or event manager, this guide helps you decide which master’s fits your current role and the role you want next. Arkansas State University (A-State) offers an online Master of Science (M.S.) in Sport Administration program, and the sections below compare it with a typical sport management master’s.
Sport Administration vs. Sport Management Master’s: Is There a Difference?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, sport administration programs typically place greater emphasis on athletic department operations and leadership, while sport management programs may place greater emphasis on the broader business aspects of sport. The table below shows that usual pattern, and A-State’s online M.S. in Sport Administration program sits on the department-leadership side of it, with required courses in Sport Law, Sport Finance and Budgeting, and Sport Governance and Operations.
| Category | Master of Sport Administration | Master of Sport Management (a general program type) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical focus | Often centered on running athletic departments and sport organizations | The wider business of sport, which can include marketing, media and analytics |
| Typical courses | Often law, finance, governance and leadership | Often marketing, sales, analytics and management |
| Who each suits | Staff aiming at department leadership | People aiming at the business side of teams, leagues and media |
Important Note
A-State’s graduate degree is the online M.S. in Sport Administration. “Sport management master’s” names a general program type, not an A-State degree. A-State’s undergraduate degree is the online Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Sport Management.
What A-State’s Online M.S. in Sport Administration Includes
Every student takes the same 10 required courses, each worth three credits, before completing a six-credit internship or thesis. The 10 courses are:
- Ethical Issues in Sport
- Sport Law
- Sport Marketing
- Sport Finance and Budgeting
- Sport Communications
- Sport Leadership
- Sport Governance and Operations
- Sport in Society
- Current Readings Seminar in Physical Education and Sport Science
- Research Design
The online M.S. in Sport Administration program is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) and totals 36 credits. The internship is offered in summer across two five-week terms, and the thesis is completed over two seven-week terms. Tuition is $12,600 with all fees included (36 credits at $350 per credit), and the program can be finished in as few as 12 months, with seven-week courses in fall and spring and five-week courses in summer. Those short terms let working coaches and athletics staff study in focused blocks.
Admission requires a bachelor’s degree, a current resume, one professional reference and a $30 application fee, along with a 2.75 GPA (or 3.0 over your last 60 hours); applicants below 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission with relevant work experience. No GMAT or GRE is required.
Important Note
Tuition and program details are current as of October 2026. Confirm current tuition, fees, required materials and admission requirements before you apply. The 12-month timeline is the fastest pace and depends on how many courses you take each term.
How to Choose Between Programs
The right program depends on the role you want, whether that involves leading a department or working on the business side of sport. A coach or staffer comparing options can sort them with five checks:
- Read the full course list. If you want to run a department, look for law, finance and governance as named required courses; if you want the business side, look for marketing, sales and analytics.
- Check the accreditor. COSMA is an accreditor that reviews sport management programs.
- Add up the total price with every fee and compare totals across programs.
- Find out what the capstone requires and when it is offered.
- Ask who teaches the courses and what jobs they have held.
Graduates frequently highlight the program’s emphasis on practical leadership topics such as sport law, finance, governance and operations. These are individual graduates’ experiences, and these outcomes do not guarantee employment or advancement.
Shaquille Spearman, a 2016 graduate and former Red Wolves running back, said in his profile in January 2022: “I went back for the master’s degree to expand my understanding of sport administration at all three levels — high school, college and professional. … It was tons of information on governance, finance [and] operations.” Benton Austin, a 2019 graduate and former college football coach, said in his profile in February 2020: “It’s actual functional learning. … It prepares you for actual work.”
Key Stat
The Arkansas State University online M.S. in Sport Administration is ranked #2 of 45 in Intelligent.com’s Best Online Master’s in Sports Management Degree Programs of 2025.
If you want to develop the insights to run an athletic program, A-State’s COSMA-accredited M.S. in Sport Administration program includes required courses in law, finance and governance, in a fully online, 36-credit format. To test the fit, read the required courses and ask which ones cover work you already do, such as budgets, contracts or compliance questions, and which ones cover work you want to do next.
If you work in athletics and want to move into department leadership, explore Arkansas State University’s online M.S. in Sport Administration program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does COSMA accredit both kinds of programs?
Yes, at A-State: COSMA accreditation applies to individual degree programs, and the online M.S. in Sport Administration program and online B.S. in Sport Management program are both COSMA-accredited. When you compare other schools, confirm that the specific degree you are considering is accredited.
Do I need a sport degree to apply?
No. The admission requirements list a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and do not name a required major.
Should I choose the thesis or the internship?
Choose the internship if you have availability during the summer and want hands-on, supervised professional experience. Choose the thesis if you want to do research or you work in athletics year-round.