Sports Management Degrees Offered at Delaware State University
Delaware State University appears in our ranking of the 50 Best Bachelor’s in Sports Science Degree Programs (Campus).
There are two colleges at Delaware State University (DSU) that provide a sport-related education. First, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences offers the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology through the Public Health and Allied Sciences Department. This program brings many disciplines together, and the curriculum combines medical science, physics, and psychology. All students take biology-related courses including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Exercise Physiology, and Biomechanics along with Medical Terminology and Exercise Testing and Prescription. Other required classes are Psychology of Physical Activity, Motor Development, and Adapted Physical Activity. Before graduation, there is a required capstone project which consists of an internship or research project that provides students with real-world experience in the field. Graduates are well prepared to pursue medical or graduate school or begin careers as rehab specialists, fitness instructors, and coaches among other professions.
The College of Business offers a related B.S. degree in Sport Management. This program focuses less on the biology of sports and athletics and more on aspects like social organization, motivation, and community relationships. There are sixteen required courses in this major including Governance and International Aspects of Sport, Leadership and Ethics in Sport, Areas and Facilities, Organizational Theory and Behavior, and Socio-Cultural Aspects of Sport. At the end of the program, students complete an off-campus semester-long full-time internship that is worth 12 credit hours. This experience allows students to better understand how their theoretical classes apply directly to their future careers. The curriculum also includes business classes in the areas of economics, marketing, accounting, and project management. In addition, there are two undergraduate minors that are designed both for students in the Sport Management program or for those with a different major. The Coaching Management option consists of 21 credit hours which includes a Coaching Practicum. The Recreation Management minor is 20 total hours featuring courses like Foundation of Golf/Recreational Aerobics, Foundation of Aquatics/Racquet Activities/Horsemanship, and Financial and Economic Aspects of Sport and Recreation.
At the graduate level, the Master of Science in Sport Administration (M.S.A.) is also offered by the College of Business, and students can choose between the campus or online versions of the program. The coursework consists of 30 credit hours which can be completed in 12 months with full-time study. The on-campus option is designed for working professionals as all classes are held only on Monday nights. The nine courses include Sport Management, Sport in Society, Financial Aspects of Sport, Sport Facilities Design and Management, and Legal Issues. All students also complete a 6-credit-hour internship working in an area of their choice.
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About Delaware State University
DSU is known as a historically black university because it was founded in 1891, before the Civil Rights Act, and primarily served African American students. The first campus was located in Dover, a small city in central Delaware, and today, there are satellite locations in Wilmington and Georgetown. Current enrollment exceeds 4800 students, and while initially focusing on agriculture and engineering studies as a land-grant school, there now four colleges offering 58 different degrees.
Recently, the school has built out its research facilities to include the Center for Applied Optics for Space Science and the Delaware Center for Scientific and Applied Computation. One of the main campus cornerstones is student health and wellness, and as such, the university is one of a few to have implemented a no-smoking policy on campus. The U.S. News and World Report has ranked DSU #12 on their list of best historically black colleges and universities, and their business programs including sports management are also highly ranked.
Delaware State University Accreditation Details
DSU has maintained continuous regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) which is the organization that evaluates colleges and universities in the six mid-Atlantic states including Delaware. This process ensures that each institution maintains designated standards in categories including Ethics and Integrity, Educational Effectiveness, Support of the Student Experience, and Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement.
In addition, there are industry-specific associations that evaluate specific programs within a school to ensure that they provide adequate preparation for careers in the field. At Delaware State University, the B.S. in Sport Management and the M.S.A. are certified by the Commission of Accreditation for Sport Management. The coaching and recreation management minors are also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education and the National Recreation and Park Association, respectively.
Delaware State University Application Requirements
Prospective undergraduate students applying to Delaware State University need to complete the DSU online application and send the $35 fee along with high school transcripts and SAT or ACT scores. The ideal candidate will have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and at least an 800 combined SAT score or 17 composite ACT score. Transfer students with at least 30 hours of transferable college credit do not need to send high school transcripts or test scores. For the graduate program, applicants must submit GRE or GMAT scores and three letters of recommendation along with the graduate application and transcripts showing completion of an undergraduate degree. In some cases, professional experience, especially managerial and supervisory positions, can take the place of standardized test scores. The online and on-campus programs have the same admission requirements and application process.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For full-time students, undergraduate tuition and fees at DSU total almost $4000 per semester for Delaware residents and about $8500 for out-of-state students. At the graduate level, in-state tuition is $430 per credit hour with an additional $175 due for various fees. Out-of-state graduate students enrolled in the online M.S.A. program pay tuition at the same rate as in-state students.
The university offers a variety of merit and need-based scholarships and grants for incoming freshmen, some covering the entire cost of enrollment. Other awards are geared toward certain groups of students like the Osher and Crankstart Scholarships that are provided to students who have been out of school for at least 5 years and are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. At the graduate level, many students continue to work full-time jobs while attending Delaware State University, and these students are encouraged to take advantage of employer-provided tuition assistance programs that cover all or part of total costs.
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