Master of Science in Sport Management

Emphasis in Sports Event Security Management

The University of Southern Mississippi School of Human Performance and Recreation, supported by the Center for Spectator Sports Security Management, offers a Master of Science in Sport Management with a concentration in Sports Event Security Management.

The 36 credit hour master's level program is designed to equip current and future sports and special event managers and operation directors with the specialization skills and knowledge needed to meet the management capabilities and challenges of homeland defense and security in a sports environment.

This program is the first of its kind in the United States.

Admission Requirements

-------A bachelor's or master's degree

-------GPA of 2.75 or higher on the last 60 hours of course work.

-------Acceptable GRE score or TOEFL minimum score of 550 (Internationals)

-------Three (3) letters of recommendation, official transcripts from all institutions of         higher learning attended

-------Current resume.

You must first make application for admission to Graduate Studies and be accepted by Graduate Studies before enrolling for any courses in these programs.

Core Program Courses

HPR 612 Financial Management (3 hrs)

Advanced principles and applications of finance and economics in the sport industry.

HPR 630 Socio-Ethical Issues in Sport (3 hrs)

Advanced study of such social issues as gender, race and ethnicity, aggression, politics, religion, and class and social mobility within the context of the sport industry.

HPR 642 Sport Venue and Event Management (3 hrs)

Provides a practical background in all facets of managing a sports event and facility. The content includes organizational structure and staffing, financial management, risk management, operations and maintenance, crowd control and security, marketing an event, and measuring the economic impact of an event.

HPR 670 Organizational Leadership in Sport Administration (3 hrs)

Special emphasis on problems of the athletic administrator and coach in organizing and directing the athletic programs and sport businesses.

HPR 677 Legal Aspects of Sport (3 hrs)

Legal concepts and ethical issues impacting sport administration and coaching policy formation and practice.

HPR 682 Applied Research Methods and Statistics (3 hrs)

Legal concepts and ethical issues impacting sport administration and coaching policy formation and practice.

HPR 715 Sport Marketing and Public Relations (3 hrs)

This course examines the marketing process in the sport business industry. Through the process, the student will study the theories, research, and development of sport marketing and public relations. The course focus will be on the implementation of a sport marketing plan. The course will also look at the communications and public relations activity as it pertains to sport organizations. Emphasizes athletic promotion, fundraising, finance, economics, and marketing.

Emphasis Area

HPR 620 Introduction to Sport Security Management (3 hrs)

This course will address the nature and scope of terrorism activity and issues involved in securing the homeland from domestic and international threats to sports events. Motives, methods, and impact of terrorism activity in sport will be discussed. This course also includes an examination of the basic legislation and operations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its role in protecting the United States by detecting, deterring, preventing, and responding to potential threats. Table top exercises will be used during this course.

HPR 626 Threat and Risk Assessment for Sport Venues (3 hrs)

This course provides an overview of the Homeland Security/ODP threat and risk assessment methodology as it applies to sports event venues. Students will learn how to identify vulnerabilities, analyze, and mitigate risk, and harden sport facility physical protection systems. Weapons of Mass Destruction (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclearn, and Explose [CBRNE]) will also be discussed.

HPR 628 Sport Event Emergency Response Planning (3 hrs)

This course provides an overview of emergency response and security plans for major sporting events, including crowd management, perimeter and access control, vendor and contractor management, and consequence and crisis management. A virtual stadium software program will be utilized in this course.

Internship

HPR 696 (1 to 6 hrs)

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Designed to provide master's level students opportunities for practical application of relevant theories in professional field settings.

Course Delivery

All core courses are offered online or in traditional classroom settings. The specialization courses will be presented in a traditional semester and/or in intensive executive level format.

Internship

Students will spend on semester interning in a sport and/or entertainment venue. Responsibilities are negotiated with host sport organization. A written contract agreement is completed.

For All Graduate Course Descriptions, please click on Course Descriptions.