Sport Management and Sociology

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many students are in the program? How many faculty members?
   
   
   1. The undergraduate program has 20 students, 10 are accepted each spring to begin the program in the fall.
      
      The master's program ranges from 20-25 students and the PhD program 10-12 students.
   2. There are three full-time faculty in the Sport Management undergraduate and the graduate Sport Management and Sociology programs. There are also four adjunct (or part-time) faculty members which includes the Coaching and Administration undergraduate program.
2. When should I apply?
   
   
   1. Undergraduate applications are due on or around February 1 each year. Students apply in February of their sophomore year (4th semester) to begin the program in the fall of their junior year (5th semester).
   2. The master's program has a March 1 deadline for applications. Decisions will be made by April 1 and students who are accepted have until May 1 to make their decisions. The Ph.D. program has rolling admissions. Students who are interested in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to contact the individual professor with whom they would like to study for admissions details.
3. What are the admissions requirements?
   
   
   1. Undergraduate- we are looking for students with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in their first two years at UConn.  We also want them to have completed their general education requirements for Sport Management or Coaching and Administration prior to beginning the program.  Related work or internship experience is a plus.
   2. Graduate- UConn requires that students have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average from their undergraduate institution to be admitted into the graduate school.  The same is expected for the master’s grade point average for students applying for the Ph.D. program.  We do ask that all students take the Graduate Record Exam.  Scores should be in the 50th percentile (1000) range for the master’s program and 1200 for the Ph.D. program.  Related work or internship experience is a plus.  Please see the Graduate School site for more information if you do not meet these criteria or if you are an international student taking the TOEFL. http://www.grad.uconn.edu/requirements.html
4. What materials are needed in application?
   
   
   1. Undergraduate
   2. Graduate
5. Where do I send my application?
   
   
   1. Undergraduate applications are to be delivered to Gentry 225
   2. All materials for the graduate applications are to be sent to the Graduate School
6. Can I apply online?
   
   
   1. Undergraduate - Undergraduate applications to Kinesiology are paper-based. Please see the following page for more information.
   2. Graduate
      
7. Where can I get information about financial aid?
   
   
   1. Office of Financial Aid
   2. Graduate School - Financial Aid
      
8. What are my residential/housing options?
• Office of Residential Life
9. What are possible internship positions/placements? Where do graduates find work after UConn?
   Please see the list of internship sites where UConn students have been placed in past years.
   [[Link them to internship database]]
10. How do I apply for a graduate assistantship and what kind of work can I expect to do as a graduate assistant?
    1. There is no formal application process for graduate assistantships in the Department of Kinesiology.  Indicate your interest in a position when applying.  A limited number of assistantships are available through the department.  Other options include the Division of Athletics or other offices on campus.  It is advisable to contact those offices and work with your prospective advisor to pursue assistantship opportunities.
    2. This entirely depends on the type of graduate assistantship you have.  Many master’s students work in the Division of Athletics as either assistant coaches or administrators.  Their work experience in hands-on NCAA Division I athletics.  Ph.D. students typically work as either teaching or research assistants for individual faculty members.  That experience is outlines and managed by the faculty member.  A full graduate assistantship is 20 hours of work per week.  A half graduate assistantship is 10.  For more information on pay rates please see: Graduate Stipend Information on the Payroll Department site.
       
11. How do I know which courses to take?
    
    
    1. Undergraduate Sport Management
    2. Undergraduate Coaching and Administration
    3. Graduate Sport Management and Sociology
12. How long will it take to get my degree?
    
    
    1. Undergraduate-2 years and a summer for the internship
    2. Graduate-Master's 2 years and a summer for the internship; Ph.D. 3-4 years
13. What are the differences between the master's and doctoral programs in sport management?
    
    The master’s program is geared more toward the practical application of sport management and sociology and meant to give students a broad-based exposure to the theories and topics current in those fields.  Graduates tend to find employment as college coaches, athletic administrators, professional sport managers, sport media producers, etc.  The Ph.D. program prepares students for careers as faculty members in Sport Management with the opportunity to concentrate on the sociological issues in sport.  Students can also choose additional concentrations in areas such a psychology, management, marketing, leadership, finance, etc.
14. What do international students need to know when applying?
• Please see the Office of International Affairs site
15. What is the process for contacting/selecting an advisor?
    • Prospective Ph.D. students interested in studying with a particular faculty member should contact that faculty member directly.  Faculty members will accept Ph.D. students who share similar research interests and background.  Master’s students can request a faculty advisor on their application.  Those who do not indicate a preference will be assigned to one of the faculty advisors.
      
16. Why should I elect to study sport management at UConn, rather than at another institution?
    • From Graduate School site:
      
      As a resource for the future--both for the state of Connecticut and for the students who enroll in its programs--the University of Connecticut can be anything a graduate student wants it to be. With the wealth of opportunities available, graduate students thrive in an environment that encourages them to choose their own path through post-secondary education. The University grows by responding to challenges, opportunities, and needs. What remains constant is UConn's commitment to high quality teaching, research, and public service.
      
      In sport management and sociology, graduate students receive a different education than in most other sport management programs.  The emphasis on the impact of sport on society and the impact of society on sport make the program unique.  Other benefits include the program being small to allow for small class size and considerable faculty-student interaction, being a part of an academic program growing in recognition, and attending a university that is making great strides in improving the education experience of its students.
17. Where can I to find additional information?
    • More information about the UConn and the program can be found through the following links:
      • UConn Homepage
      • Graduate School
      • Neag School of Education
18. Who should I contact with additional questions?

• Please contact the following faculty members:
  • Jennifer Bruening jennifer.bruening@uconn.edu
  • Laura Burton laura.burton@uconn.edu
  • Janet Fink janet.fink@uconn.edu