Sport and Movement Studies

Sport and Athletic Administration (M.S.)

Central Washington University (CWU) is excited to offer a one-year or two-year fully online Master of Science degree in Sport and Athletic Administration. The degree prepares aspiring and practicing sport and athletic administrators for successful careers by providing knowledge, understanding, and application of successful leadership and management strategies, processes, and skills. 

As a member of an SAA cohort, you will work with your fellow graduate students on coursework over a two-year period (including two summers). You will come to rely on one another to add substance and experiences in each course you take. The total number of credits for the program is 47. Keep in mind we are not a running start program. 

Our students have graduate assistant opportunities with athletics and within the SAMS department. Positions are limited. Contact CWU athletics if you are interested in a GA position with them (we suggest voice contact instead of email). The SAMS GA positions are for teaching activity classes in our Activities Program. You can apply through the application process via the School of Graduate Studies and Research. 

Careers & Opportunities

Past graduates have gone on to hold positions across the county in a variety of athletic and sport-related opportunities:

• interscholastic athletics
• intercollegiate athletics
• professional athletics
• coaching (all levels up to professional sports)
• sport management professions (including facilities management)
• university faculty positions
• private business (personal trainers, health clubs)
• non-profit business
• college recreation
• municipal recreation
• athletic training 

CWU Alumni

• Hailey Bator, Athletic Director, Cle Elum-Roslyn School District
• Sean Bessette, Director of Communications, WIAA
• David Blakney, Principal, Wapato High School
• AJ Cooper, Inside Linebackers Coach, Oregon State University Football
• Erik Hoium, Director of Strength & Conditioning, Central Washington University Athletics
• Megan Thompson Nuti, Director of Donor Engagement, Cal Athletics Fund
• Alexa Olague, Manager of Sales Development, Seattle Mariners
• Abe Silvestri, Sr. Director of Team Operations, San Francisco Giants

Program Application & Requirements

To apply for the Master of Science in Sport and Athletic Administration, please reach out to the Program Coordinator Dr. Sean Dahlin.

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Sean Dahlin Associate Professor Sean.Dahlin@cwu.edu	Dr. Brian McGladrey Department Chair, Associate Professor Brian.McGladrey@cwu.edu	Dr. Rory A. Weishaar Associate Professor Rory.Weishaar@cwu.edu
Dr. David Rolfe Associate Professor David.Rolfe@cwu.edu	Dr. Paul Ballard Professor Paul.Ballard@cwu.edu

Sport & Athletic Administration Course Maps (47 credits total)

Two-Year Course Map

First Summer
HPE 557 Research Methods and Design in HPE (4 cr)
SAA 510 Contemporary Issues in Athletic Administration (3 cr)

First Fall
SAA 546 Advanced Administration of Athletics (3 cr)
SAA 586 Athletic Budgeting, Finance, and Fundraising (3 cr)

First Winter
SAA 570 Legal Liability and Risk Management (3 cr)
SAA 574 Marketing and Communications in Sport (3 cr)

First Spring
SAA 540 Sport in Society (3 cr)
SAA 583 Leadership and Decision Making in Athletics (3 cr)

Second Summer
SAA 560 Statistical Applications in Health and Physical Education (4 cr)
SAA 584 Mentoring of Coaches and Athletes (3 cr)

Second Fall
SAA 590 Cooperative Education (internship) (3 cr)
SAA 585 Management of Sports Events and Facilities (3 cr)

Second Winter
SAA 587 Governing Organizations in Sports and Athletics (3 cr)
SAA 595 Graduate Research (3 cr)

Second Spring
SAA 589 Capstone Project (3 cr) 

One-Year Course Map

First Summer Quarter
HPE 557 Research Methods and Design in HPE (4 cr)
SAA 510 Contemporary Issues in Athletic Administration (3 cr)

Fall Quarter
SAA 546 Advanced Administration of Athletics (3 cr)
SAA 586 Athletic Budgeting, Finance, and Fundraising (3 cr)

SAA 590 Cooperative Education (internship) (3 cr) **(can be done during any quarter)
SAA 585 Management of Sports Events and Facilities (3 cr)

Winter Quarter
SAA 570 Legal Liability and Risk Management (3 cr)
SAA 574 Marketing and Communications in Sport (3 cr)

SAA 587 Governing Organizations in Sports and Athletics (3 cr)
SAA 595 Graduate Research (3 cr)

Spring Quarter
SAA 540 Sport in Society (3 cr)
SAA 583 Leadership and Decision Making in Athletics (3 cr)

SAA 589 Capstone Project (3 cr)

Second Summer Quarter
SAA 560 Statistical Applications in Health and Physical Education (4 cr)
SAA 584 Mentoring of Coaches and Athletes (3 cr)