The MSAL program is truly exciting as the sport management coursework is focused on providing students with a solid theoretical foundation in many content areas and in assisting students to become critical thinkers who can apply theory to practical portfolio-based assignments.

 Most courses include real-world experience and projects that require the student to investigate a problem and attempt to solve it by “thinking outside the box.” For example, students in the sport consumer behavior class identify a problem for a sport organization, research that issue, collect and analyze data, and then provide the sport organization with recommendations on how to increase consumption of the sport product. Students in the event management class have presented the Seattle Sports Commission with ideas on how to add a new competitive event to be hosted in the city. The sport marketing class enables students to design a marketing plan that will increase awareness and ROI for a sport organization; and the sport sponsorship class requires developing a sponsorship proposal for a professional franchise.

We offer two degrees. The first is a Master’s in Sport Administration and Leadership (MSAL), and the second is a joint degree with the Law School (JD/MSAL).

The MSAL curriculum consists of a set of 4 core courses and a capstone project that are required (15 credits). The remaining 30 credits may be taken from the list of electives and/or courses from other programs. At least 15 elective credits must come from the MSAL list.
There are two areas of emphasis (1. Leadership in Sport or 2. Branding in Sport) that can be used as guides for students who wish to emphasize either leadership/management or branding/marketing. However, students may choose any classes as needed, being cognizant of prerequisites.
The 45-credit program may be completed in two years by taking 7-8 classes per year across the four quarters. Internships are elective, but are highly recommended for those who have no experience in the field of sport. Internships may be taken at any time, but the student is typically required to show some educational or professional experience in the content before the internship will be allowed.
A total of 3 credits of capstone (SADL 589 or SADL 590) are required. Registration in SADL 589 or SADL 590 is required during the quarter specified in the timeline for each particular colloquium option (see MSAL website or handbook for colloquium options).
With permission, students may transfer up to 9 credits from another educational institution.
The pedagogy for the 45-credit degree will be learner-centered, with an emphasis on collaborative learning in small groups.

15 credits, including:

SADL 500      Research Methods and Design in Sport - 3 Credits

SADL 502      Social-cultural Basis for Sport - 3 Credits

SADL 504      Legal Issues in Sport - 3 Credits

SADL 512      Developing Leadership in Sport -3 Credits

Choose one:  3 Credits

SADL 589      Project and Colloquium - Applied Inquiry Option

 or

SADL 590      Project and Colloquium - Research Option

Choose 30 credits of electives.  An area of emphasis in Leadership in Sport or Branding in Sport may be chosen by selecting from the specific courses noted below - 30 Credits

NOTE 1.
Leadership in Sport suggested courses include: SADL 505, 508, 510, 511, 515, 595 (Management Internship):

Branding in Sport suggested courses include: SADL 506, 507, 508, 511, 514, 516, 595 (Marketing Internship)

NOTE 2.
A maximum of 15 credits from other graduate programs may apply with advisor approval.

Juris Doctor/Master in Sport
Administration and Leadership
Joint Degree Program (JD/MSAL)

Participants in the JD/MSAL Joint Degree Program must spend their first year in the School of Law. Once the student has completed the required first year courses in the School of Law, he or she may then take courses in both the JD and MSAL programs.
Because the School of Law operates on a semester system and the rest of the university operates on a quarter system, joint program participants must carefully coordinate their schedules with the Associate Dean for Students in the School of Law and the Program Coordinator for MSAL in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The length of time required to complete the joint degree program is between 3 and 4 years for full-time students. Students in the joint program are required to complete 90 semester credits for the JD degree and 45 quarter credits for the MSAL degree.
In the joint degree program, students can satisfy the requirements for each degree by using a specified number of crossover credits to be chosen from a list of approved courses in each school. This allows the student, whether full-time or part-time, to complete the two degrees in a shorter period of time than if the student sought to obtain the JD and MSAL degrees independently.
Of the 90 semester credits required for the JD degree, 10 semester credits can be satisfied by 15 quarter credits chosen from a list of specified courses from the MSAL program (listed below).
Of the 45 quarter credits required for the MSAL degree, a student enrolled in the joint degree program may satisfy up to 12 of the quarter credits with 8 semester credits earned in the law school from a list of approved courses (listed below).
Joint degree students will be required to take Sports Law in the School of Law. One quarter credit is the equivalent of .67 semester credits. So, for example, a 3 quarter credit crossover MSAL course could be used to satisfy 2 semester credits for the JD degree.

The following courses can be used to satisfy credit towards the Juris Doctorate and Master of Sports Administration and Leadership degrees. Not all courses are offered each quarter, semester, or year, and some courses may require particular sequencing or have prerequisites. Crossover credit will not be granted for courses that are substantially similar to courses already taken in the other school.

School of Law

Administrative Law (ADMN-300)

Antitrust Law (ANTI-300)

Business Entities (BUSN-300)

Copyright Law (INTP-320)

Dispute Resolution (ALDR-300)

Drafting Legal Documents (WRIT-325)

Employment Discrimination (EMPL-315)

Employment Law (EMPL-300)

Intellectual Property (INTP-300)

Intellectual Property Licensing Lab (INTP-301)

Intellectual Property Licensing Law (INTP-310)

Labor Law Private Section (EMPL-305)

Products Liability (TORT-300)

Sports Law (SPRT-310) (required in lieu of SADL 504)

Trademark Administration Lab (INTP-316)

Trademark Law (INTP-315)

Center for the Study of Sport and Exercise

Financing Sport Organizations (SADL-505)

Strategic Marketing for Sport Organizations (SADL 506)

Sports Media, Social Networking, Brand Communication (SADL-507)

Sport Operations and Event Management (SADL-508)

Managing Human Resources in Sport Organizations (SADL-510)

Developing Leadership in Sport (SADL 512)

Sport Consumer Behavior (SADL 514)

Sport Organizations - A Systems Perspective (SADL 515)

Sport Promotions and Sponsorship (SADL 516)