This program appears in our ranking of 50 Most Affordable Selective Colleges for Sports Management.
The staff and educators at Graceland University readily admit that the Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management is one of the most popular degree programs at the school. This should come as no surprise since the sports industry is thought to be valued at over $300 billion and continues to provide hundreds of thousands of individuals with very lucrative jobs. Many also opt to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Movement Science, which includes an emphasis on health, coaching, physical education or health education. Both programs offer the student a very well rounded degree since the associated courses cover a wide range of relevant topics and trains them to become both ethical and successful sports practitioners.
The journey to completing the sports management program is exciting and challenging. The program seeks to combine both the theory and practice of the various opportunities within the sporting industry. But it also goes a step further by providing the knowledge and the skills needed to operate a successful business and even how to interact with the media. The sport management program, which can be pursued as a major or a minor, requires the successful matriculation of courses such as:
- Sport Marketing
- Sport Psychology
- Legal & Ethical Issues in Sport
- Event Management
- Financial Accounting
- Principles of Management
- Sport Facility Management
All students are given the opportunity to demonstrate and hone the skills acquired during these and other courses when they complete their internship closer to the end of the program. And what better way to hone your skills than to work alongside current leaders in the industry? Imagine being able to network with likeminded individuals from major league organizations like Sporting KC and the Kansas City Chiefs. Who would not want to spent time with the great minds at minor league organizations like the Missouri Mavericks and Iowa Cubs? The internship program also includes the opportunity to participate in popular events like the Principal Charity Classic and visit sporting venues like the Newton Iowa Speedway, which is one of the best motor racing tracks in the entire state of Iowa.
About Graceland University
Graceland University, fondly known as GU to current students, faculty, and alumni, has been diligently assisting scholars to excel in the liberal arts since 1895. The University was founded by the RLDS Church, which has since been renamed the Community of Christ. Although the land for the University was donated by members of the church, the University was named by Col. George Barrett. Col. Barrett was contracted to survey the land and conceptualized the name as he took note of the landscape.
In addition to facilitating academic excellence by means of its numerous online programs, Graceland University oversees the education of their students at the main campus in Lamoni, Iowa and at the Independence Campus in Independence, Missouri. The main campus in Iowa covers over 170 acres and features all the usual amenities of a traditional college. These amenities include comfortable classrooms, the 500 seat Shaw Center auditorium, an Olympic quality track and even a few comfortable student apartments. The 55,000-square-foot Independence Facility is also the talk of the town, since it provides students access to the very latest tools to allow them to excel in the fields of Nursing and Business. Whatever campus a student chooses, they know that they can receive a top-notch education.
Graceland University Accreditation Details
This prestigious university was the first junior college in the state of Iowa to be fully accredited. Graceland University, which was then called Graceland College, was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 1917 by the states of Missouri and Iowa. The integrity of the degree programs being offered is also enhanced as the University has sought the expertise and oversight of organizations such the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and the Missouri State Boards of Nursing. This is an assurance to students and future applicants that the education received at Graceland is recognized by professional bodies in their selected industry and that the pursuit of their degree will be well worth the effort.
Graceland University Application Requirements
Applying to any college or university can seem like a daunting task, but Graceland has gone the extra mile to make the process as simple as possible. All applicants are required to complete the online application, which requests details about age, previous schools, and academic interests. Traditional applicants must meet two of the following criteria:
- Applicant should have been ranked among the top 50th percentile of their high school class
- Applicant should have a minimum SAT score of 1060 or ACT score of 21
- Applicant should have achieved a GPA of 2.50 or above
Applicants who do not meet these criteria may be considered for admission, but if their application is approved, these students are required to complete developmental courses. Students applying on the basis of athletic ability are required to provide test results which are authenticated by official test centers. Graceland also welcomes transfer students for admission but a GPA of 2.0 or above is required.
Graceland University Tuition and Financial Aid
It is no secret that getting a degree is not an easy task. Many also shy away because it can be quite costly. The faculty and administrative body at Graceland are well aware of this fact. That is why they have made various facilities available to lessen the financial burden on both students and their parents. Over 98 percent of students attending Graceland University have received financial assistance in one form or another. The University provides assistance to students who perform exceptionally well in order to reward them for their efforts. Students who qualify can also benefit from federal grants, work and study programs or loans. Overall, Graceland University offers applicants the opportunity to enjoy the complete college experience, attain the skills needed to excel in the field of their choice and to enjoy all this at a reasonable price.
Learn more about Graceland University at the the sports management program website.
