Scoring Sport Management Goals at GMU
George Mason University appears in our ranking of the 50 Best Bachelor’s in Sports Science Degree Programs (Campus).
In Bull Run Hall or online, the College of Education & Human Development confers an NASSM-aligned Sport Management Concentration to the 120-credit BS in Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources led by Dr. Craig Esherick for George Mason University undergrads to ethically lead the $470 billion industry. Directed by Dr. Brenda Wiggins, the Parks and Outdoor Recreation BS utilizes the EDGE Center to train Rho Phi Lambda members within a 120-credit Recreation Management Concentration for CPRP certification. The Kinesiology BS follows a 120-credit, NSCA-recognized sequence outlined by Dr. Debra Stroiney with courses like Exercise Testing and 700 athletic internship hours.
Available in a 4+1 Accelerated Track, the Sport and Recreation Studies MS chaired by Dr. Pierre Rodgers tailors three 30-credit specializations for Sport Management, Recreation Administration, or Sport & Leisure Studies at Fairfax. Known for its SMART Lab, the hybrid 36-credit Exercise, Fitness and Health Promotion MS headed by Dr. Joel Martin produces sports medicine researchers with thesis topics like Sport Injury Prevention. There’s also a 15-credit Sport Management Graduate Certificate with Coaching and International Sport Management options.
About George Mason University
George Mason University originated on October 1, 1949, when the University of Virginia opened a Northern Virginia Center under John Norville Gibson Finley at Washington-Lee High School. In 1956, the General Assembly renamed it University College and added a Bailey’s Crossroads location for 17 freshmen. Two years later, another name change to George Mason College was adopted to honor the Bill of Rights author. By Fall 1964, construction concluded on its 150-acre DC Metro campus just 17 miles west of the White House. On April 7, 1972, Governor A. Linwood Holton signed Bill H210 to give the new George Mason University independence. In 1985, the 10,000-seat EagleBank Arena ranked 12th globally by Venues Today opened. Rising to the NCAA Final Four in 2006, George Mason moved its 22 Division I teams to the Atlantic-10 Conference in 2013. The next June, GMU hired Redskins Super Bowl champion and runner-up MVP Brad Edwards for athletic director. Budgeting $1.06 billion, George Mason University now serves 36,297 Patriots from 130 nations online and at five campuses with 350+ clubs like Sport Management Society.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked George Mason the 136th best national college, 28th most innovative university, 92nd best for vets school, and 116th top education department. On Niche, GMU boasts America’s 56th most diversity, 80th best big campus, 290th top athletics, and 331st most liberal academics. Times Higher Education placed George Mason University 231st overall. Forbes picked GMU for the 169th best institution and 54th best mid-size employer with the 87th biggest research impact. The Center for World University Rankings noticed GMU for the 85th best faculty and 109th top education quality. College Factual named George Mason 286th for recreation studies with the 61st highest-paid grads. Money magazine proclaimed GMU the country’s 97th top value for $545,000 PayScale ROI. WalletHub also deemed George Mason University 84th for career outcomes and 199th for campus safety.
George Mason University Accreditation Details
On January 10, 2012, George Mason University received notice that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board approved its Quality Enhancement Plan and reaffirmed Level VI accreditation under its fifth president, Dr. Alan Merten, who earned the 2012 NVTC Lifetime Achievement Award. Located 625 miles southwest via Interstate 85 in Decatur, this lauded 11-state Lower Atlantic accreditor is authorized by the U.S. Education Department to evaluate standards in GMU’s 132 baccalaureate, 88 master’s, 38 doctoral, and 90 certificate offerings. Specifically, the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism is a chartered member of the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). In October 2014, the Kinesiology BS was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Recreation Management BS was also reviewed by the Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Related Professions (COAPRT) in Fall 2015.
George Mason University Application Requirements
Getting into George Mason University is labeled “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 15,446 of the 18,993 Fall 2017 hopefuls were victorious for 81 percent acceptance. First-year Patriots pursuing the Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources BS are judged by academic difficulty during grades 9-12. Freshmen achieve a median 3.66 GPA with four years of English and Math required. On average, undergrads present a 27 ACT or 1210 SAT composite mark. International F-1 visa students need a 450 SAT Reading, 59 PTE, 80 TOEFL iBT, or 6.5 IELTS score though. The College of Education & Human Development considers transfers with 30+ accredited credits, including ENG 101, at GPAs above 2.85. Guaranteed admission agreements exist with the Virginia Community College System and Richard Bland College. The Sport and Recreation Studies MS stipulates four-year bachelor’s major GPAs of 3.0 or better. Provisional admission is offered for lower grades if the first 12 master’s credits are graded at least “B.” Post-grads usually take the GRE for an average 152 Verbal, 151 Quantitative, and 4.0 Writing mark.
George Mason University enforces freshman deadlines of November 1st for Early Action and Honors College or January 15th for Regular Decision. Division of Sport, Recreation and Tourism transfers have until March 1st for Fall or October 1st for Spring. The Sport and Recreation Studies MS considers Fall cohorts on a space-available basis through August 15th. Sport Management Graduate Certificate students abide November 1st and April 1st cutoffs. Interested students complete the Mason Exclusive Online or Common Application for $70 ($80 if international). Official transcripts are postmarked to 4400 University Avenue in Fairfax, VA 22030. Supplemental documents include the two recommendation letters, résumé, goals statement, test score, activity sheet, and secondary school report. Pose further questions to (703) 993-2400 or admissions@gmu.edu.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, George Mason University is charging full-time Virginia undergrads $4,530 per term. Non-resident Health, Fitness, and Recreation Resources BS majors pay $16,260. The auxiliary student fee is $1,701. Studying part-time incurs $377 to $1,355 per credit. Living at the Fairfax campus’ dorms like Northern Neck Hall adds $12,630 for room and board. GMU budgets $1,866 for transport, $1,200 for books, and $2,330 for personal expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals around $29,226 in-state and $51,672 out-of-state. The Sport and Recreation Studies MS currently bills Virginians $489 and non-residents $1,346 per credit. Mandatory on-campus graduate fees are $141 per credit. Conversely, there’s flat-rate online tuition of $775 per credit for all Exercise, Fitness and Health Promotion MS majors.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in Student Union supports 49 percent of GMU Patriots with mean offers of $6,902 each for $80.69 million combined. College of Education & Human Development funds include the Cathy Belter Scholarship, Dr. Marjory Brown-Azarowicz Scholarship, Carnival Cruise Scholarship, GeMStones Scholarship, Annette Gorn Memorial Scholarship, Joan Packer Isenberg Scholarship. Dr. Said Khadiri Scholarship, Hattie M. Strong Scholarship, Kyle Wilson Memorial Scholarship, Wen Pei Wu Scholarship, and Jacqueline Jean Brozna Memorial Scholarship. The CEHD Tuition Discount deducts 40 percent off out-of-state costs for the Sport and Recreation Studies MS. Graduate assistantships of 10-20 hours weekly are available via the University Life Office. The Global Perspectives Grant gifts $750 for study abroad students with minimum 2.25 GPAs. Submitting FAFSA applications coded 003749 qualifies for Federal Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, Work-Study, and Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loan money. State-based assistance like the Virginia Tuition Grant, Commonwealth Award, Two-Year Transfer Grant, and Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship also count.
Find more about George Mason University at the Division of Sport, Recreation and Tourism website.
