SMU Simmons And Cox schools to offer master of science in sport management

DALLAS (SMU) – SMU will begin taking applications in December 2012 for North Texas’ first interdisciplinary graduate program in sport management.

Faculty from the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development and the Cox School of Business will direct the program, which combines finance, economics, management strategies, sports marketing, facility and event management, sports law, ethics and sports communication.

The degree is designed to help graduates advance their careers or find new opportunities in the sport industry in fields ranging from promotion to product marketing to management. Classes begin in August 2013 for the full-time 12-month program.

Numerous internship and networking opportunities are available in Dallas and Fort Worth, ranked in 2011 as the tops sports city in the nation by Sporting News. With 12 major professional sports teams, the region also is home to major sporting events such as the AT&T Red River Rivalry, the Cotton Bowl and two major PGA tournaments. Three college athletic conference offices and four Division I universities provide plenty of college opportunities while the Texas Motor speedway hosts two NASCAR races and an IndyCar race each year.

“Our faculty members bring significant sport industry experience as well connections to broad networks in professional sports, sports marketing agencies, sponsorship and sport media,” says Mike Lysko, director of the Sport Management Program at the Simmons School, former commissioner of the Canadian Football League and former sports marketing executive. “We have strong relationships with top sport executives in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, providing our students the opportunity to work directly with major sport organizations as part of the curriculum.”

Cox School of Business faculty members will share their expertise in areas such as accounting, organizational behavior, negotiation and economics.

“The students who enroll in this program will benefit from insight offered by seasoned sport pros like Mike Lysko and Cox School faculty whose depth of knowledge and teaching strength earn Cox its high international ranking among business schools,” says Marci Armstrong, associate dean of graduate studies, Cox School of Business.

Preferred applicants typically have full-time work experience, a strong undergraduate record and competitive scores on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Classes will take place on weeknights and Saturdays throughout the fall and spring semesters. For more information, visit smu.edu/MS-SportManagement. 

About Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development

The Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU reflects the University’s vision of serving the most important educational needs of our city, region and nation, graduating students for successful careers in a variety of fields and providing educational opportunities beyond traditional degree programs. As SMU enters its second century, the Simmons School seeks to advance the University’s vision by aiming to transform the way teaching and leadership enhance the education of young minds and lifelong learners.

About Cox School of Business

SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, including BBA, full-time MBA, Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), Master of Science in Management (MSM) and Executive Education. The school also offers a number of unique resources and activities for students, ranging from its Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship, Maguire Energy Institute and American Airlines Global Leadership Program (AAGLP) to its Associate Board Executive Mentoring Program and an international alumni network with chapters in more than 20 countries. SMU Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications, including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report.

SMU is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago. Today, SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools.

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