Program Description

The combined program in Sport Leadership allows students to begin working toward a Master’s degree as they finish their undergraduate degree. For students admitted into the combined program, 12 hours of 500/600 level courses can be double counted toward the B.S. and M.S. The degree may be obtained in 5 years or less, particularly if students bring advanced standing credit into the Bachelors degree. This combined program prepares students to succeed in leadership positions in the sport industry (recreational to professional, youth to adult) by providing them with knowledge and skills to critically analyze and innovatively engage in the business and culture of sport. Students will be prepared to pursue leadership roles in athletic administration, student-athlete development, higher education, coaching, or positions in sport agencies.

Undergraduate Preparation

The combined program is designed for Sport Leadership and Management (SLAM) undergraduate majors. Students from other undergraduate majors may be considered pending review by a SLAM faculty advisor. At the time of application, candidates should have completed all Miami Plan foundation courses toward the B.S. degree. By the end of the first semester senior year, candidates should have completed all Sport Leadership core requirements in SLAM, and have completed a minimum total of 112 credit hours toward the B.S. degree.

Declaration of Interest

Students may declare their interest in enrolling in a combined program anytime during their academic career at Miami, from the time they are admitted for an undergraduate degree.

Full Admission

Upon earning a minimum of 64 credit hours and having a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or greater, students may apply for admission to the combined program. Regular time-limits for completing the master’s degree apply to students in a combined program (see the Graduate School Policies for more information).  The program does accept part-time students.

Application Procedures

• Apply to a combined bachelors/masters program by completing the online application and paying the $50 application fee. Be sure to check “combined program.” Students should complete the graduate application and submit three letters of recommendation, official Miami transcripts, and a statement of interest to the Sport Leadership and Management department by February 1^st of each academic year, to the 
Department of Sport Leadership and Management, 106 Phillips Hall Oxford, Ohio 45056 Attn: Director of Graduate Studies
• Admitted students will be assigned a graduate faculty advisor within the Sport Leadership combined program. Students admitted to the program should be aware that in the fifth (graduate) year their academic progress is evaluated using the performance standards expected of all graduate students

Double Counting Graduate Hours

• With permission of the appropriate advisor(s) and dean(s) or their designee(s), departments or programs with a combined degree option may allow students to double-count up to 12 hours of graduate course work toward their undergraduate major, minor, electives, or university requirements.
• A minimum total of 150 hours earned toward graduation is required by the State of Ohio to receive both a bachelors and masters. A minimum of 120 semester hours earned toward graduation is required for the bachelor's degree (may be undergraduate and graduate credit) and a minimum of 30 additional hours of graduate semester hours earned toward graduation is required (500 level or above) for a master's degree.
• Based on each program’s required minimum number of hours, it may not be possible to double-count up to 12 hours. For example, if a student takes the minimum hours required for the bachelors degree (128 hours) and the minimum graduate hours required for the masters degree (30 hours), the student may only double count up to 8 hours of graduate credit toward their undergraduate degree.

Student Classification and Graduation

• Students in a combined program will remain undergraduates until they apply for graduation or submit a request to the Graduate School to have their classification changed from undergraduate to graduate. 
• Students must have completed a minimum of 128 hours to be classified as a graduate student (undergraduate and graduate hours combined). 
• Students may receive their Bachelor's degree prior to completing their Master’s degree. 
• Upon receiving the Bachelor's degree, students will automatically be classified as graduate level students. 
• Students receiving the Bachelor's degree prior to completing the Master’s degree can count up to 12 hours of graduate course work toward their Bachelor's degree. Those hours can also count toward the completion of their master’s degree. Undergraduate hours cannot count toward the graduate degree.

4 + 1 Combined Sport Leadership Program Curriculum

*Do not repeat course taken at 400 level.

Suggested Electives for Double Counting Undergraduate/Graduate Credit Hours

SLM 517       Legal Issues in Sport Leadership (3)                                                            
SLM 548       Global Perspectives in Sport (3)
SLM 538       Principles of Effective Coaching (3)
SLM 516       Sport Marketing (3)
SLM 575       Women, Gender Relations and Sport (3)
SLM 553       Special Topics in Sport (3)
SLM 514       Facilities and Event Management (3)

Graduate Requirements

Students must complete all graduate requirements for the Masters degree, including a minimum of 30 credits and successful completion of a Final Certifying Examination.

A.  Research Foundation (6 credits)

SLM 621       Research Foundations In Kinesiology and Health (3)
EHS 667       Quantitative statistics (3) OR SLM 623 Qualitative inquiry and analysis (3) OR EHS 668 Quantitative Statistics II (3)

B.  Sport Leadership Core Courses (12 credits)
Four of these:

SLM 632       Psychological Foundations of Sport (3)
SLM 633       Psychological Interventions in Sport (3)
SLM 634       Social Psychology of Sport & Exercise (3)
SLM 635       Strategic Management of Sport Organizations (3)
SLM 673       Developmental Perspective on Youth Sport Participation (3)
SLM 676       Cultural Studies of Sport (3)

C.  Electives (12 hours)

Completed as Undergraduate at Graduate Level

D.  One of these

1. SLM 700 (6 credits of SLM 700) Thesis research (oral defense of completed written thesis) OR
   
2. SLM 620, SLM 610 or SLM 600 (4 credits of any combination of 600, 610, 620)  Research experience (oral defense of research and oral exam over coursework) or Practicum (oral defense of practicum project and oral exam over coursework) OR
3. Written comprehensive exam over 30 hours of coursework taken.

Academic Plan For Graduate Program –  with 12 credit hours previously completed at the graduate level (500 level).

Fall Semester

SLM 621, 2 Sport Leadership Core Courses – (9 cr. hrs.)

Spring Semester

SLM 623 or EHS 667 or EHS 668, 2 Sport Leadership Core Courses - (9 cr. hrs.)