Sports Administration

Admission Criteria:

1. Earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university
2. 3.0 undergraduate GPA or foreign equivalency. In cases where undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, student must take the GRE and score a 297 or higher
3. Proof of English proficiency if English in not the applicant’s native language.

In addition to these minimum requirements, applicants will need to submit:

1. Two letters of recommendation (one professional, one academic) submitted through the online system
2. Unofficial transcripts for all undergraduate coursework for admissions review. Official transcripts are required when admitted into the program.
3. Personal statement of goals for graduate study
4. Resume including sport-related experience
5. A minimum combined score of 297 on the verbal and quantitative parts of the GRE revised general test (if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0).

           GRE Waiver:

• Applicants with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 may be considered for a GRE waiver if the prospective student has three or more years of post-undergraduate sport industry work experience.

• To be considered for a GRE waiver, students must submit the following via email to Dr. Jason Simmons (jason.simmons@uc.edu):

  • Proof of employment status

    • Names, job titles, and contact info (email and phone number) of direct supervisor for all positions held in the last three years.

  • Additional letter of reference from a direct supervisor in the last three years that speaks to:

    1. The quality of the sport industry experience you have obtained (i.e. what have been your main tasks/areas of responsibility?

    2. Your professional preparedness for graduate school and a continued career in the sport industry. 

**Please submit GRE Waiver materials at the same time you submit your application materials for graduate school**

Application Procedures

Prospective students will complete the on-line application for their requested program by the posted application deadline. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required materials and support documents are successfully submitted. Incomplete applications will not be processed or reviewed.  

A limited and competitive number of graduate assistantships are available to students through the Sport Administration Program (typically four assistantships). Full-time Master’s students whom have strong academic standing, can articulate what they can bring to the program, and fit the needs of the program will be considered. An assistantship is awarded for an academic year and is ordinarily not renewable. Students receiving an assistantship are expected to participate in assigned activities which typically include research, teaching, grading, and program-related service. GAs will be assigned to faculty, and are required to work twenty hours per week. Of the twenty hours per week, at least 10 of the hours must be spent physically in the GA offices in the Teachers/Dyer complex. A graduate assistantship includes a stipend plus a tuition scholarship.

In addition to school funded graduate assistantships, the program works very closely with the University of Cincinnati Athletic department whom typically offer several graduate assistantships to students in the Sport Administration Masters’ Program. Further, the program has connections and possible graduate assistantship opportunities with local high school and community partners. These graduate assistantships are competitive and limited based upon availability.

Transcripts:

Providing academic records during the application process. All applicants are required to upload their unofficial transcripts during the application process. The university defines “unofficial” transcripts as transcripts that have been in the hands of students, are typically printed on plain paper, and do not have a college seal or registrar's signature. Applicants should NOT send official transcripts as part of the application process.

Providing academic records after admission. Once an applicant has been extended an offer of admission to the University of Cincinnati and has accepted the offer, s/he must submit an official transcript showing conferral of a baccalaureate degree or higher as soon as possible to the address below. The university defines “official” transcripts as transcripts that have been received from a secure, authenticated issuing institution and bears validation (e.g., a seal, logo, or watermark), including a date, and an appropriate signature. Official transcripts MUST be sent forward in their original, sealed envelope. The absolute final deadline for submission of official transcripts is one week before the start of the student’s first semester. Students will NOT be allowed to complete a full semester without providing verification of an earned baccalaureate degree or higher. Any discrepancy later found between student-provided unofficial transcripts and official transcripts will be grounds for dismissal. Official Transcripts should be sent to one of the following addresses:

 
UC Alumni

Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.

Students with degrees received in China

Applicants who have received degrees in China will upload their unofficial transcripts during the application process. The university defines “unofficial” transcripts as transcripts that have been in the hands of students, are typically printed on plain paper, and do not have a college seal or registrar's signature. Unofficial transcripts do NOT need to be verified at this stage of the application process.

After being accepted to join a graduate program

Applicants who have earned a degree in China must submit an English-version verification report from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) of their final transcripts and degree certificates. All verification reports must be sent to the University of Cincinnati directly by the CDGDC to be considered official. No other verification will be accepted. Applicants with Chinese transcripts must contact the CDGDC after their degree is completed and request that their degree verification report be submitted directly to the University of Cincinnati. Students who request a verification report prior to degree conferral will be required to submit a second report after conferral.

Verification reports can be ordered at the following websites:

• Chinese: http://cqv.chinadegrees.cn/cn/
• English:  http://www.chinadegrees.cn/en/

Verification reports are due to the Graduate School one week prior to the start of the student’s first semester. Failure to submit verification reports on time will result in a student being placed in non-matriculated status and loss of his/her student visa status. Verification reports should be sent to one of the following addresses: