Accelerated Dual Degree Program (B.A./M.A.) - Sports Leadership and Sports Leadership

The Accelerated Dual Degree Graduate Program between the B.A. in Sports Leadership and the M.A. in Sports Leadership is designed for students who wish to pursue both an undergraduate and graduate degree in Sports leadership in five total years. Undergraduate students may apply for admission to the program after completing at least 75 undergraduate credits and may begin graduate coursework after completing at least 90 credits, per the Accelerated Dual Degree Program policy. Once students are accepted, nine credit hours of graduate level course work in Sports Leadership can be completed during the 4th year and will count toward the Sports Leadership undergraduate major and/or towards the required 120 credits for the undergraduate degree. These graduate level credits will also count towards the graduate program degree requirements. Upon completion of 120 credit hours, students will earn their B.A. in Sports Leadership and upon completion of the integrated program, students will earn their Master of Arts in Sports Leadership.

Undergraduate Sports Leadership Program

Program Description

The Mike Cleary Major in Sports Leadership (SPL) is offered by the Department of Exercise Science and Sports Leadership.

Sports and sports-related business are significant aspects of society across the continuum of age and time, encompassing the world in which we live—physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially. Sports can be found in all corners of our lives, e.g., school, community centers, business, politics, and world relations. The Mike Cleary Major in Sports Leadership is designed to develop and prepare the John Carroll graduate to make a significant contribution to others through, and with, sports: to recognize and respect that sports play a vital role in our society and world—from business to education, to health and wellness; and to follow in the footsteps of John Carroll alumni who have distinguished themselves in sports and sports-related roles such as athlete, coach, athletic trainer, physician, allied health professional, administrator, and sports-information professional. The major in Sports Leaderships provides our graduates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become a leader with, and for, others in sports and sports-related careers.

The major in Sports Leadership is one of two majors offered within the Department of Exercise Science and Sports Leadership. The overall program is committed to the value and importance of high-quality physical activity in the lives of all people and, to that end, provides a comprehensive curriculum that encourages the development of knowledge, skills, and dispositions across the continuum of physical activity. The ESSL program is grounded in the Ignatian ideal of the dignity of the individual and promotes goals and outcomes that respect this dignity and strives for the maximum achievement of individual potential.

Candidates will receive in-depth preparation for careers in sports and sports-related positions in such areas as sports administration and management, sports, fitness, and wellness for diverse populations. The curriculum focuses on administration, management, program development and implementation, leadership, and working with diverse populations. In addition to the course work, candidates for the major will experience fieldwork, practicums and internships that enhance their sense of vision and mission in connection with their career. The Sports Leadership major is composed of 27-28 hours of core courses, 16 hours of course work within a selected program, and 6 hours of electives. Candidates selecting a major in Sports Leadership are encouraged to pursue a minor or additional coursework in business, economics, exercise science, communications, entrepreneurship, or psychology to enhance career and graduate school options.

The Department of Exercise Science & Sports Leadership is committed to providing a progressive sequence of professional development opportunities for our candidates within courses, and specifically through fieldwork, practicum and internship experiences.

Program Learning Goals in Sports Leadership

Students will have the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be able to:

1. Demonstrate their knowledge of history, philosophy, mission, personal and professional identity.

2. Demonstrate their knowledge of working with diverse populations within multiple types of sports administration and sports-related settings, and provide evidence of their ability to be an effective leader.

3. Demonstrate their knowledge of organization, leadership, and planning for a variety of situations.

4. Demonstrate their knowledge of research and the appropriate use of research in papers and projects, and for problem-solving and critical thinking.

5. Demonstrate their knowledge related to the collection and interpretation of data and the effective use of date-driven decision-making in an ethical and moral manner with attention to the decision-making process and its impact on others, e.g., employees, those being served, and the broader community.

6. Demonstrate their knowledge related to moral and ethical behavior in decision-making for sports professionals in leadership positions.

7. Demonstrate their knowledge in a professional internship setting in sports administration, coaching, and/or leadership, through planning, organization, decision-making, reflection, oversight and implementation of rules, policies, and procedures.

Requirements for acceptance and continuation as a Sports Leadership major

1. Application Process 

   • A formal meeting with the chair of Exercise Science and Sports Leadership.

   • An evaluation of academic course work.

   • The fulfillment of the following academic requirements:

     • 2.0 or higher major GPA

     • 2.0 or higher overall GPA

2. Acceptance Decisions 

   • Accept: Candidate may continue to take course work within the major course of study.

   • Conditional Acceptance: Candidate may continue to take course work within the major course of study, but certain restrictions have been placed on continuation in the program. Conditional acceptance may remain in effect for no longer than one academic year.

   • Defer: Student is not accepted into the major at this point.

3. Continuation in the Major 

   • Student evaluations will be conducted each semester for continuation in the program.

4. Practicum      

   • Candidates must identify one, or more, practicum experiences that align with their professional and/or graduate school goals. The total practicum requirement is 36 hours.

   • These hours are completed by enrollment in SPL 3500.

   • Approval of the practicum(s) experiences by the ESSL Director of Practicum and Internships must be obtained in writing prior to beginning the experience.  Please consult the Practicum Handbook for specific details and required forms.

   • Please consult the Practicum Handbook, and the Canvas PDP site, for specific details and required forms.

5. Capstone Experience: Internship 

   • Candidates, during the junior year, must identify a specific 150 hour internship experience that aligns with intended professional and/or graduate school goals.

   • Prior to the beginning of the internship, candidates are responsible for the following:

     1. Completion of the 36-hour practicum requirement.

     2. Meeting with the ESSL internship director for approval of the specific internship experience.

     3. Obtaining approval from the proposed internship site supervisor for completion of all internship requirements.

     4. Completion and submission of all required formal documentation to the John Carroll internship director for final approval of the internship experience.

     5. Approval of the internship experience by the ESSL internship director must be obtained in writing prior to beginning the experience.

     6. Registration for SPL 4997 in the semester when the internship will be completed - summer, fall, or spring.

     7. Please consult the Internship Handbook, and the Canvas PDP site, for specific details and required forms.

   *If a candidate is not approved for an internship, additional content-area work will be substituted.

6. Exit Assessment:  Each senior will complete an online Program Evaluation Survey in the Capstone course SPL 4997.

The M.A. program in Sports Leadership (SL) is offered to students with a variety of backgrounds who desire a concentrated plan of study to prepare for a career in areas of sport leadership including coaches, athletic directors, or other leadership roles in the specialized area of athletics including marketing, communications, event planning, fitness/wellness, or other nonprofit sports organization. The SL program is part of the Department of Exercise Science and Sports Leadership. The undergraduate and graduate programs benefit from an esteemed advisory board including members from collegiate and professional sports and other high level athletic administrators.

The SL program is practitioner-focused, emphasizing core skills and knowledge designed to position professionals in the sports industry to be exceptional leaders and decision-makers in their profession. The degree foregrounds the knowledge domains that sports professionals draw on every day, including psychology, communications, marketing, finance, and ethics, and offers opportunities for hands-on experiences in the industry through project-based work, internships, and other practical experiences. The SL program is delivered completely online with the exception of a Sports Symposium each summer. The Symposium will be a weekend event held on JCU’s campus with guest speakers, networking opportunities, and social events.

Graduate Sports Leadership Program

Program Learning Goals

M.A. in Sports Leadership students will:

1. Develop into effective leaders through grounded principles of leadership with application to sport and the sports industry.

2. Demonstrate an understanding of professional, legal and ethical principles in pursuit of truth, accuracy, and fairness for an individual or organization.

3. Demonstrate an understanding and ability to develop and implement policy regulations and operational strategies.

4. Develop written and verbal communication skills with knowledge of current events and issues in the world of the sports industry.

5. Understand the concept of diversity and inclusion and its impact on sports in socially responsible decision making.

Admission Requirements

• An undergraduate major in Sports Leadership at John Carroll

• An undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

• Two references. One must be the undergraduate academic advisor. The other should also be familiar with the applicant’s academic work, professional work, vocational commitment, and suitability for a role of leadership are required. Ideally, these references can comment on the suitability of the applicant for graduate study.

• Current Resume including work and volunteer experience

• Professional Goals Statement outlining career objectives and goals. The statement should be 400-600 words in length.

The Mike Cleary Major in Sports Leadership Requirements

Sports Leadership Core (30-31 credits)

Select one

Select one

Students must choose at least one of the following two curricular programs

1. Sports and Athletic Administration

Select one pair for 6 credit hours:

Required courses

Subtotal: 16

Electives

Minimum of 6 credit hours (both of which may be graduate-level courses, as outlined in the following "Combined" section)

Subtotal: 6

2. Coaching & Personnel Development

Required courses

Subtotal: 15

Electives

Minimum of 6 credit hours (both of which may be graduate-level courses, as outlined in the following "Combined" section)

Subtotal: 6

Other electives may be approved in consultation with the academic advisor and chair.

Total Undergraduate Credit Hours: 45-53

Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Requirements

Any three (9 credits) of the following graduate-level courses may apply toward either the undergraduate major's elective requirement or the required 120 credits for the undergraduate degree.

Graduate Sports Leadership Requirements

Sports Leadership M.A. Required Courses (30 credit hours)