Master of Sports Leadership at Northeastern University

Northeastern University

United States of America, Boston

University Rank:#384

The Sports Leadership is a Master degree offered by Northeastern University across its Boston, Online, and Charlotte campuses in United States of America. The program is delivered online as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 1 year 6 months to complete. Students study across its Boston, Online, and Charlotte campuses while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from January 1, 2027.

About Master of Sports Leadership

The practice-oriented Master of Sports Leadership is structured to accommodate mid-career athletic administrators and coaches, as well as individuals seeking to prepare for careers in the sports industry. Developed in collaboration with Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society, the Master of Sports Leadership prepares you for a variety of sport-related occupations—whether it’s working with a professional or intercollegiate sports team, with a fitness club or wellness organization, or in marketing, communication, or sports management. Courses within this unique graduate degree examine the social and business issues that are critical to sports leadership.

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Unique Features

Practice-oriented degree offering hands-on experience, internship, and capstone project
Option to take part in integrated experiential learning
Choose from concentrations for a specialized focus on professional or collegiate athletics, analytics, or eSports
Boston Location on flagship campus, a hub for business, healthcare, education, finance, biotechnology, and the life sciences
Visa-eligible program for the fall term—Professional Sports Administration concentration only

Program Objectives

Identify your leadership styles and strengths and take steps to improve your leadership capacity
Understand what it takes to build highly effective teams
Obtain approaches and techniques for effectively tackling ethical dilemmas
Explore the legal issues related to equipment use, facility management, and accommodation for special populations
Learn how to leverage sports for greater social and economic good
Examine the planning, scheduling, and financial issues associated with running a successful athletics program
Discover how to use sports to foster diversity, prevent violence, and improve the health of local and global communities

Accreditation Description

The following sport management degree program has been accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA), located in Fort Collins, CO, USA:

Master of Sports Leadership

Northeastern's Master of Sports Leadership was recently inducted into the COSMA Hall of Fame as a Biz Connector for excelling in creating partnerships with professionals in sports.

Summary of Accreditation Status

Student Achievement Data

Career Outlook

Already a multi-billion-dollar field, the sports industry is projected to experience faster-than-average growth over the next several years. Located all over the country, sports-related organizations and businesses require a variety of educated and skilled employees to manage day-to-day operations. While knowledge is crucial, success is often contingent upon your willingness to work beyond 9-5—with many sporting events and related activities taking place on nights, weekends, and holidays. The sports industry is exciting—filled with people who are driven by a passion for what they do and who are extremely satisfied with their career choice.

Designed to enhance the skills of students at all levels of experience in the industry, the Master of Sports Leadership program prepares you to excel in diverse fields of sports-related occupations.

Practice-oriented degree offering hands-on experience, internship, and capstone project
Option to take part in integrated experiential learning
Choose from concentrations for a specialized focus on professional or collegiate athletics, analytics, or eSports
Boston Location on flagship campus, a hub for business, healthcare, education, finance, biotechnology, and the life sciences
Visa-eligible program for the fall term—Professional Sports Administration concentration only

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Sports Leadership at Northeastern University

Entry Requirements

Online application
Statement of purpose (500–1000 words): Identify your educational goals and expectations of the program. Please be aware that Northeastern University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to your statement of purpose.
Professional resumé
Unofficial undergraduate transcripts; official transcripts required at the time of admission
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have either academic or professional knowledge of your capabilities such as a faculty member, colleague, or mentor, preferably one from your current employer
English language proficiency proof. Students for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the following:
- Official associate or bachelor's degree transcript from an accredited college or university in the U.S., stating degree conferral and date
- TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo, or NU Global Exam scores

English Requirements

PTEMin 76
IELTSMin 8
TOEFLMin 108

English Program Requirements

Northeastern students will be exposed to not only a rigorous academic environment but also a fast-paced experiential one. In order to be successful in both, all first-year and transfer applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English to be considered for admission to Northeastern.

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
- Duolingo English Test (DET)
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Sports Leadership

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Sports Leadership at Northeastern University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Master of Sports Leadership at Northeastern University

1.Create your application
Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.
2.Submit all required materials
Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.
3.Check your application status
Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.

Master of Sports Leadership at Northeastern University

Northeastern University

United States of America, Boston