Sport and Recreation Management Certificate Graduate Program

Nancy Van Hoozier, Ph.D. Chair, Health and Human Performance Department

The Sport and Recreation Management certificate at The University of Olivet allows students to pursue advanced studies in sport and recreation management without committing to a graduate degree program.

This graduate program utilizes distance learning technology (asynchronous) that allows students to complete much of their coursework at their own pace and on their own schedule via the university’s Canvas software program. The program takes advantage of experts in the appropriate fields as adjunct instructors located throughout the United States as well as faculty at the University of Olivet.

Courses are scheduled in five eight-week terms each academic year (Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2, and Summer). An annual course schedule including all required courses in regular rotation is developed and provided to students prior to each academic year. Students work with academic staff to develop an academic plan that accommodates their work and family demands and to schedule courses to facilitate progression through the academic program.

Although no on-campus course attendance is required, graduates are invited to participate in the spring commencement ceremony held on campus each May.

Admission Requirements

The Sport and Recreation Management certificate at the University of Olivet is a rigorous program of graduate level study. To be eligible for admission consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements.

Undergraduate Degree Requirement

Students seeking to enroll in the sport and recreation management certificate program at the University of Olivet must meet one of the following degree requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an approved college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization, in an appropriate academic field; or
2. A bachelor’s degree from an approved college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization in a related field and significant related professional experience.

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement

Students seeking to enroll in graduate studies must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA), including all prior college level coursework, of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale). Students with a grade point average between 2.0 and 2.74, may be considered for acceptance to the certificate program based on the following additional requirement, as determined by the Health and Human Performance (HHP) Admissions Committee:

• A minimum of two years professional work experience in a related field.

Application Requirements

Prospective graduate students are required to submit the following documents as part of their application package:

• A formal application through the university’s online application system.
• An official transcript indicating completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate institution with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• A personal essay discussing the applicant’s commitment to professional growth and development through the graduate program and discussing the applicant’s ability, talent, and aptitude for graduate study in sport and recreation management.

Graduate Provisional Admission Status

Provisional admission status may be granted to applicants who have strong potential for academic success in sport and recreation management but will not complete their undergraduate degrees by the certificate program start date, may require remedial coursework before beginning program coursework, or have not met one of the admissions criteria. Permission is required from the Health and Human Performance (HHP) Admissions Committee and the Chair of the HHP Department to grant this status to applicants. The three types of applicants who may be eligible for provisional admission include:

Incomplete Bachelor’s Degrees - Students who are near to completing their undergraduate degree but will not graduate with a bachelor’s degree prior to the certificate program start date, have met all other admissions requirements, and have undergone the evaluation process for admission to the certificate program.

Remedial Coursework - Students who have met all admissions requirements and have undergone the evaluation process for admission to the certificate program but lack content knowledge required for graduate study in sport and recreation management. If granted, students must complete designated coursework within two academic terms and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in these courses before official admission into the certificate program may occur.

Missing Admissions Criteria - Students who do not meet one of the admissions criteria but are nominated for admission on a provisional basis by a University of Olivet faculty member. Students are admitted under this status for one academic term. If they earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher, students will be officially admitted into the certificate program.

The Health and Human Performance (HHP) Admissions Committee has final approval on the acceptance of all candidates into the University of Olivet Sport and Recreation Management Certificate program.

Technology Requirements

The University of Olivet Sport and Recreation Management Certificate program is offered online. In order to enroll in the program, students must have:

• Access to adequate internet connectivity to participate in the program.
• Computer equipped sufficiently for technology and software used within the program.
• Video teleconference technology (e.g., webcam) for synchronous components of classroom courses.

Certificate Completion Requirements

The following are requirements for Sport and Recreation Management Certification at the University of Olivet:

• The completion of twelve semester hours from the required Sport and Recreation Management courses at the University of Olivet.
• The completion of all required courses for the certification program.
• Maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
• All requirements for certification must be completed within seven years of matriculation into the program.

Courses within the certificate program allow students to explore the sport and recreation industries in a microscopic fashion specifically through the lens of governance, leadership, administration, facility design, legal and risk management issues. The Sport and Recreation Management graduate certificate further develops and enhances your sport and recreation industry related knowledge and skills for careers in athletic administration, recreational services, event and facility management, and health and fitness organizations.

Sport and Recreation Management Certificate Program Learning Outcomes

The following sport and recreation management specific program learning outcomes are expected:

• Graduate students will demonstrate enhanced expertise related to the financial, ethical, legal, and global issues within the sport and recreation industry.
• Graduate students will apply current organizational and design theories, concepts, and techniques to formulate strategies to investigate and strategize solutions for optimal organizational performance.
• Graduate students will demonstrate a knowledge of operations management and administration as it pertains to facility planning and construction design.
• Graduate students will employ an understanding of socio-cultural issues in leadership, governance, policy and procedures as applied to the sport and recreation industry.

Any prerequisite requirements for the program (e.g., admissions expectations such as high school diploma, skills expectations such as Microsoft Excel, or college-level coursework not included in the CBC program).

Admission Requirements

The Sport and Recreation Management certificate at the University of Olivet is a rigorous program of graduate level study. To be eligible for admission consideration, applicants must meet the following requirements.

Undergraduate Degree Requirement

Students seeking to enroll in the sport and recreation management certificate program at the University of Olivet must meet one of the following degree requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an approved college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization, in an appropriate academic field; or
2. A bachelor’s degree from an approved college or university accredited by a regional accrediting organization in a related field and significant related professional experience.

GPA Requirement

Students seeking to enroll in graduate studies must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA), including all prior college level coursework, of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

Students with a grade point average between 2.0 and 2.74, may be considered for acceptance to the certificate program based on the following additional requirement, as determined by the Health and Human Performance (HHP) Admissions Committee:

1. A minimum of two years professional work experience in a related field; or
2. Approval of the HHP Admissions Committee.

Application Requirements

Prospective graduate students are required to submit the following documents as part of their application package:

• A formal application through the university’s online application system.
• An official transcript indicating completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited undergraduate institution with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• A personal essay discussing the applicant’s commitment to professional growth and development through the graduate program and discussing the applicant’s ability, talent, and aptitude for graduate study in sport and recreation management.

Sport and Recreation Management Certificate Program Learning Outcomes

The following sport and recreation management specific program learning outcomes are expected:

• Graduate students will demonstrate enhanced expertise related to the financial, ethical, legal, and global issues within the sport and recreation industry.
• Graduate students will apply current organizational and design theories, concepts, and techniques to formulate strategies to investigate and strategize solutions for optimal organizational performance.
• Graduate students will demonstrate a knowledge of operations management and administration as it pertains to facility planning and construction design.
• Graduate students will employ an understanding of socio-cultural issues in leadership, governance, policy and procedures as applied to the sport and recreation industry.

Curriculum Map

Courses are scheduled in five eight-week terms each academic year (Fall 1, Fall 2, Spring 1, Spring 2, and Summer). An annual course schedule including all required courses in regular rotation is developed and provided to students prior to each academic year. Students work with academic staff to develop an academic plan that accommodates their work and family demands and to schedule courses to facilitate progression through the academic program.

Although no on-campus course attendance is required, graduates are invited to participate in the spring commencement ceremony held on campus each May.

Sport and Recreation Management Certification Program Learning Outcomes

In addition to the MBA program learning outcomes, the following sport and recreation management specific program learning outcomes are expected:

• Graduate students will demonstrate enhanced expertise related to the financial, ethical, legal and global issues within the sport and recreation industry.
• Graduate students will apply current organizational and design theories, concepts and techniques to formulate strategies to investigate and strategize solutions for optimal organizational performance.
• Graduate students will demonstrate a knowledge of operations management and administration as it pertains to facility planning and construction design.
• Graduate students will employ an understanding of socio-cultural issues in leadership, governance, policy and procedures as applied to the sport and recreation industry.