Program Overview
College of Natural and Health Sciences
Coordinator: Alan Morse, Ph.D.
Email: Alan.Morse@unco.edu
Location: Butler Hancock 261
Telephone: 970-351-1722
Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/sport-exercise-science/
The Ph.D. in Sport Administration at the University of Northern Colorado prepares scholars and leaders to advance the study and practice of sport administration. The curriculum is aligned with the educational standards established by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), ensuring a rigorous and comprehensive academic experience.
This research-intensive program, which requires a doctoral minor in Applied Statistics and Research Methods, is designed primarily to develop the next generation of faculty and scholars in higher education. Students gain the theoretical knowledge, methodological expertise, and practical insight necessary to conduct impactful research and contribute to the academic discipline of sport administration. Graduates are also well-prepared for leadership roles in collegiate athletics, professional and Olympic sport organizations, and the broader sport industry.
Admission
Location: Greeley
Start Term: Fall
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Admission Deadline
- Fall Admissions: Feb. 1 to be given priority screening for fall admission of that year.
- Spring Admission: Aug. 1 to be given priority screening for fall admission of that year.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:
- Letter of Intent
- Written statement of your background, career goals and research interests (if applicable). Please indicate that you are applying to the Sport Administration Ph.D. program in the first paragraph. Failure to do so could mean a rejection of your application.
- It is also important that the name(s) of any faculty member(s) you are interested in working with appear somewhere in your research statement. Our program is mentor-based so faculty members are instrumental in admissions decisions.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International Applicants
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.
Degree Requirements — 64 Credits
Prerequisites — 3 credits
| KIN 602 | Introduction to Research in Kinesiology | 3 |
| or | |
| A graduate research course from Psychology (PSY) or Applied Statistics and Research Methods (SRM). Advisor approval is required for this choice. | |
Students in the Sport Administration Ph.D. are required to successfully complete all requirements for the Applied Statistics and Research Methods minor with a grade of “B” or better in each course.
Required Concentration Credits — 15 credits
| SPAD 704 | Doctoral Seminar in Sport Marketing Research & Experimental Design I | 3 |
| SPAD 705 | Doctoral Seminar for American Professoriate in Sport | 3 |
| | |
| SPAD 706 | Seminar in Sport Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| or | |
| SPAD 724 | Seminar in Theory & Sport Organizations | 3 |
| | |
| SPAD 750 | Seminar in Sport Finance | 3 |
| SPAD 790 | Seminar in Sport Consumer Behavior | 3 |
Elective Credits — 18 credits
Students are allowed 18 credits of electives in the doctoral program (64 credits beyond the Master's is required for graduation). After consulting with their advisor, students should select courses which contribute to their academic and research goals. The following courses are offered as a guide for elective course selection. Students should also review the Catalog for course options in other cognate areas.
| KIN 665 | Advanced Sociological Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 696 | College Teaching | 3 |
| KIN 703 | Research Seminar in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 755 | Supervised Practicum in College Teaching | 1- 6 |
| SPAD 520 | Revenue Generation in Sport Industry | 3 |
| SPAD 560 | Critical Thinking and Ethical Considerations in Sport Administration | 3 |
| SPAD 570 | Administration of Sport Organizations and Employees | 3 |
| SPAD 576 | Sport Promotion and Marketing | 3 |
| SPAD 650 | Financial Management for Sport Organizations | 3 |
| SPAD 670 | Sport and Higher Education | 3 |
| SPAD 671 | Fundraising & Development in Sport | 3 |
| SPAD 675 | Sport Facility and Event Management | 3 |
| SPAD 688 | Legal Aspects of Sport | 3 |
Research Core — 15 credits
| SPAD 702 | Seminar in Sport Administration Research Methods | 3 |
| SRM 602 | Statistical Methods I | 3 |
| SRM 603 | Statistical Methods II | 3 |
| SRM 680 | Introduction to Qualitative Research | 3 |
| | |
| SRM 610 | Statistical Methods III | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 625 | Applied Multiple Regression Analysis | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 626 | Applied Multilevel Modeling | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 629 | Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 686 | Qualitative Case Study Research | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 687 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 688 | Writing Qualitative Research | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 700 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| or | |
| SRM 705 | Advanced Issues in Research Methods | 3 |
Research Proposal/Dissertation — 16 credits
| KIN 797 | Doctoral Proposal Research | 1- 4 |
| KIN 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
Program Note
In addition to Graduate School candidacy and graduation requirements, doctoral students in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Dietetics (KiND) must complete requirements associated with the KiND doctoral matrix.