Business Administration, Master of (M.B.A.)/Sport Leadership, Master of Education (M.Ed.) [dual degree]

Program accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

Program goal

The dual-degree M.B.A./M.Ed. in Sport Leadership program will prepare students for leadership positions by combining the business teaching of an M.B.A. program with sport industry-specific knowledge gained in the M.Ed. program. This degree combination recognizes the growing complexity of the sport industry and reinforces the Center for Sport Leadership’s commitment to preparing students for the leadership challenges of the future. The dual degree offers students course work and knowledge they will need to be successful in a business setting combined with the application and networking skills required in today’s sport industry.

The M.B.A. phase of the program will encompass a problem-based learning style, immersing students in collaborative projects and working situations that are commonplace in the business world. Students will learn business concepts in a real-life context and develop skills in communication, collaboration and teamwork that are essential for success, while developing their abilities to be creative, take initiative and accept personal responsibility for their actions.

The M.Ed. program will combine classroom and practical experience to prepare individuals for leadership positions in the sport industry. An interdisciplinary approach gives students the freedom to choose courses of personal interest and build a foundation of knowledge in their desired career fields.

Student learning outcomes

1. Students should be able to demonstrate the capacity to apply business knowledge in new and unfamiliar circumstances.
2. Students should be able to demonstrate the ability to work in teams and other groups.
3. Students should understand and be able to develop the ethical and social responsibilities of organizations.
4. Students should be able to describe the factors involved in key operation decisions and to appropriately apply techniques that provide insight and structure for management decision-making. 
5. Students should be able to identify and understand major issues faced by organizations with evolving information technology and investigate issues and challenges faced by managers with changes in information technology.
6. Graduates of the program should be able to critically evaluate and use accounting and other information for managerial decision-making. 
7. Graduates should be able to evaluate marketing programs.
8. Students should be able to think critically and systematically about financial issues in businesses and to develop techniques to analyze these issues numerically.
9. Graduates of the program should be able to develop an analytical framework for identifying the objectives of the firm and to provide some tools for evaluating the firm’s performance. 

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.

Other information

School of Business policies and procedures for graduate master’s degree students are available on the school’s website at business.vcu.edu/graduate-studies/current-graduate-students.

Apply online at graduate.admissions.vcu.edu.

Admission requirements

Applicants must meet all general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.

Degree requirements

In addition to the VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students can complete both degrees with two years of study and will receive both degrees at the conclusion of the entire program. Students may enter the program only in the fall semester.

Curriculum requirements

Note: MGMT 641, MKTG 671, SPTL 695 and one elective (three credit hours) from either program may be counted toward both the M.B.A. and the M.Ed. degrees.

Sample plan of study

Concentrations

M.B.A./M.Ed. students who wish to have a concentration would need to complete an additional three courses.

Graduate program director
Austen Gouldman
Director, graduate programs
Email: gouldmana@vcu.edu
Phone: (804) 828-4622

Additional contact
Carrie LeCrom, Ph.D.
Executive director, Center for Sport Leadership
Email: cwlecrom@vcu.edu
Phone: (804) 828-6443

Program website: business.vcu.edu/graduate-studies/combined-med-in-sport-leadershipmba