Advanced study in business administration and sport leadership is available through a dual degree program sponsored by the School of Business.
The dual degree Master of Business Administration and Master of Sport Leadership program allows students to earn two degrees with a minimum of 69 graduate credits rather than the 81 graduate credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.
Prerequisite and/or foundation courses may effectively increase the number of credits needed to earn the degrees.
Program goals
The objectives of this dual degree program are:
- Content knowledge in business concepts and strategy, specifically contextualized in the sport industry: Students will be equipped with sound business acumen (e.g., financial management, fundamentals of accounting and operations management) and will be able to apply it to the unique sport product.
- Development of leadership skills: Students will be able to assess and respond to leadership challenges in the global sport context.
- Development of interpersonal and professional skills: Students will develop and hone skills critical to the business and sport industry, including communication and presentation skills, leadership and management, and situational awareness, among others.
Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program are the following:
- Two-years of experiential learning through a graduate assistantship in the Richmond sports community
- Time and cost-reduction through the 12 shared credits
- Networks developed through participation in both the M.B.A. and M.S.L. cohorts
- Career-development opportunities and job prospects increased by obtaining both degrees
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously. Students are not required to begin both programs in the same semester, but must have at least one semester before graduation in which they are enrolled in both degrees for the dual credits to be applied to both degrees.
Student learning outcomes
See each degree program page for student learning outcomes.
Other information
Advising
A program manager from each program will serve as an adviser and administrative liaison for students. They will assist in developing a plan of study to meet the curriculum requirements of both programs.
Admission requirements
Students must officially apply and be admitted to each degree program separately before the pursuit of the dual degree program may begin. It is not required to begin both programs in the same semester. View the application requirements for each program for additional details.
Degree requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 69 total credits to earn the Master of Business Administration and Master of Sport Leadership.
A total of 12 credits may be counted toward both programs:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPTL 603 | Research and Analytics in Sport (core requirement for M.S.L.; satisfies M.B.A. core requirement SCMA 524) | 3 |
| SPTL 630 | Sociology of Sport (core requirement for M.S.L.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SPTL 632 | Sport Business (core requirement for M.S.L.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SPTL 635 | Leadership Models in Sport (core requirement for M.S.L.; satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded sequentially or simultaneously.
Curriculum requirements for the dual degree
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.B.A. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| SCMA 524 | Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management (satisfied by M.S.L. core requirement SPTL 603) | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| • Electives | ||
| Satisfied by SPTL 630, SPTL 632 and SPTL 635 | 9 | |
| M.S.L. requirements | ||
| • Required courses | ||
| SPTL 603 | Research and Analytics in Sport (satisfies M.B.A. core requirement SCMA 524) | 3 |
| SPTL 625 | Team Dynamics in Sport | 3 |
| SPTL 630 | Sociology of Sport (satisfies M.B.A. requirement) | 3 |
| SPTL 632 | Sport Business (satisfies M.B.A. requirement) | 3 |
| SPTL 633 | Marketing of Sport | 3 |
| SPTL 635 | Leadership Models in Sport (satisfies M.B.A. requirement) | 3 |
| • Electives | 18 | |
| Select 18 credits from the following: | ||
| Topical Seminar | ||
| Sport and Entertainment Event Development I | ||
| Sport and Entertainment Event Development II | ||
| Foundations of Coaching | ||
| Sport Media and Communications | ||
| Sports Psychology | ||
| Sport Ethics | ||
| Sport Law | ||
| NCAA Coaching | ||
| Sales and Development | ||
| European Model of Sport | ||
| Topics in Sport Leadership | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Externship | ||
Any 600-level SPTL course not otherwise required for the major | ||
| Total Hours | 69 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 69.
Sample plan of study
What follows is an example plan that meets the prescribed requirements. Students may work with their adviser to consider an individual enrollment plan that best meets their goals. Part-time enrollment and summer courses may be considered.
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ACCT 507 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | 3 |
| SPTL 632 | Sport Business (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| SPTL 635 | Leadership Models in Sport (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 12 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| ECON 610 | Managerial Economics | 3 |
| MGMT 641 | Leading People and Organizations | 3 |
| SPTL 603 | Research and Analytics in Sport (satisfies M.B.A. core requirement SCMA 524) | 3 |
| M.S.L. electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| SPTL 625 | Team Dynamics in Sport | 3 |
| INFO 661 | Information Systems for Managers | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Year two | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| ACCT 608 | Managerial Accounting Concepts | 3 |
| FIRE 623 | Financial Management | 3 |
| SPTL 608 | Sport and Entertainment Event Development I | 3 |
| SPTL 630 | Sociology of Sport (satisfies M.B.A. elective) | 3 |
| M.S.L. elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| INFO 664 | Information Systems for Business Intelligence | 3 |
| SCMA 675 | Operations Management | 3 |
| SPTL 610 | Sport and Entertainment Event Development II | 3 |
| SPTL 633 | Marketing of Sport | 3 |
| M.S.L. elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Summer semester | ||
| MGMT 642 | Business Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| MKTG 671 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 6 | |
| Total Hours: | 69 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree is 69.
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/academics/mba-options