Dual Law JD/MS in Sports Administration


Program Description
The dual JD/MS in Sports Administration provides law students with the opportunity to enhance their understanding of management of sports programs, personnel, and facilities.

This 36-credit program capitalizes upon the University’s NCAA Division I status and may have special interest to JD students interested in entertainment law, sports, athletics, or recreation.

In addition, VU law students may apply 6 credits of coursework taken in the Graduate Division toward their JD degree, and 6 credits of specified law coursework may be applied toward the Master of Science in Sports Administration.

Program Requirements
The interdisciplinary curriculum draws from courses offered through the Physical Education Department, the MBA program in the College of Business Administration, and other programs in the Graduate Division such as Psychology, Education, and Communication.

Six competency areas are emphasized in the curriculum:

  1. Leadership, management, and organization of sports.
  2. Research Methods.
  3. Legal Aspects of Sports.
  4. Marketing of Programs and Facilities.
  5. Ethics in Management.
  6. Sports in a Social Context.

In addition, by choosing specific options within the curriculum, students may develop proficiency in managerial economics and financial accounting, and those meeting a statistics course prerequisite may select Financial Management as one of their electives.

Curriculum

MS Sports Administration Curriculum
In addition to meeting all the standard requirements of the JD degree, up to 6 credits from the following Graduate Division courses may be applied toward the 90-credit JD degree
Sports & the Law
3 cr
Business or Professional Ethics
3 cr
Psychology of Sport or Sport & Society
3 cr
Core Requirements
9 credits
Seminar in Social Science or Religion, Culture, Value
3 cr
Business or Professional Ethics
3 cr
Women & Sports
3 cr
Concentration
20-21 credits
Core Support
Research Methods
3 cr
Management & Development of Facilities
3 cr
Sports Marketing & Promotion
3 cr
Sports & the Law
3 cr
Psychology of Sport or Sport & Society
3 cr
Research Project or Internship
3 cr
Leadership/Management
2-3 cr
Electives
6 credits
Law students may fulfill elective credits by taking any approved elective for the Sports Administration program except Business Law. Electives include courses in Liberal Studies, Business, PE, or Communication. Up to 6 credits of electives may be chosen from the following Law courses:
Law 100 Contracts
4 cr
Law 235G Legal Drafting: Intellectual Prop & Entertain Law
2 cr
Law 401 Law & Accounting
2 cr
Law 409 Labor Arbitration
2 cr
Law 433 Land Transfer & Finance
3 cr
Law 437 Intellectual Property
3 cr
Law 438 Entertainment Law
3 cr
Law 445 Labor Law
3 cr
Law 446 Employment Law
3 cr

Criteria for Admission
Applicants must be admitted to both the Graduate Division and the School of Law. Admission to each program is separate. For a graduate application, click here.  For a VU School of Law application, click here.  Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate Division, which include:

  1. Undergraduate degree from an accredited University;
  2. Background in PE, a PE-related area, or Business preferred;
  3. An overall grade point average of 3.0.

As part of the application process, students must provide:

  1. Valparaiso University Graduate Application;
  2. One set of official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies;
  3. Two letters of recommendation (Letters may be forwarded from the VU School of Law);
  4. A reflective essay detailing your purpose for undertaking graduate study in Sports Administration;
  5. Application Fee: $20.

The MS in Sports Administration program features a continuous admission process, so application materials may be submitted at any time. Once received, the admission decision normally takes 2-3 weeks.

Financial Considerations
Full time students enrolled in the VU School of Law may take a maximum of 6 credits in the Graduate Division without paying additional tuition, as long as these credits are taken during the fall and spring semesters. The savings afforded by combining degrees enables a law student to add on a master's degree for about $13,500.

Students are strongly encouraged to begin their study during either the summer or fall semesters. Students may be surprised to discover the affordable tuition rate at Valparaiso University. Tuition for the 2008-2009 academic year is $450 per credit hour, highly competitive for a private institution of recognized national quality. Students enrolled in graduate courses pay a $80 general fee each semester. Financial aid is available through direct and indirect student loans for students taking 6 credits or more during fall and spring semesters. Students may transfer up to 6 credits of approved graduate coursework into the program.

For more information about the Master of Science in Sports Administration program
To learn more about the School of Law, visit their website at http://www.valpo.edu/law/.

Interested students should request an application packet from the Office of Graduate Studies through our website or by e-mailing graduate.studies@valpo.edu.