Abstract
Pathways to becoming an Athletic Director (AD) vary considerably across intercollegiate athletics, highlighting the need for sport management programs to better align academic preparation with evolving professional expectations. While prior research has explored AD roles across NCAA divisions, limited attention has been given to how academic curricula and experiential learning opportunities support students pursuing these careers. This study examines differences in sport management curricula and experiential offerings across programs affiliated with Division I FBS, Division I FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA institutions. Two research questions guided the study: (1) What differences exist in required coursework across divisions? and (2) How do campus athletics programs influence experiential learning opportunities? A survey was distributed to 297 sport management department chairs, yielding 57 responses (19.2%) across multiple divisions and institution types. The instrument assessed program characteristics, required coursework, and experiential opportunities. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses were used to identify associations by division.
Results revealed no significant associations in undergraduate coursework across divisions. However, graduate-level variation emerged in Economics and Intercollegiate Athletics coursework, as well as internship requirements. Division I programs were more likely to require comprehensive exams, while no programs required a thesis. Experiential opportunities differed more substantially, particularly in campus recreation, with Division I programs offering more frequent and paid opportunities compared to NAIA programs. Overall, findings indicate curricular consistency but notable disparities in experiential learning. Results suggest sport management programs may benefit from more intentional alignment with division-specific administrative demands and stronger partnerships with athletics departments.
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Recommended Citation
Elliott, K. P., & Rockey, D. (2026). Aligning Sport Management Programs with the Evolving Needs of Hopeful Intercollegiate Athletic Administrators.. The COSMA Journal. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cosma/vol3/iss1/11Revised Manuscript
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