The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management THE BUSINESS SCHOOL FOR SPORT BUSINESSâ„¢
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT OUR PROGRAM
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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
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EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
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STUDENT CLUBS
11 STUDENT EVENTS 13 CAREER-ENHANCING RESOURCES 14 ALUMNI NETWORK 15 EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE 17 OUR LOCATION 19
OUR FACULTY
20 ADMISSIONS
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ABOUT OUR PROGRAM FOUR DECADES OF SPORT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS The field of sport management is thriving, creating a driving demand for sport-business-trained executives. For more than 40 years, the Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management has educated and trained leaders in this field through our cutting-edge mix of theory and practice. A rare example of a sport management department housed within a nationally ranked business school, our program is recognized as one of the finest in the world.
WHAT GOT US TO THE TOP: WORLD-CLASS FACULTY
We have the country’s largest full-time, tenure-track faculty, devoted to preparing you for a career in a broad range of sport industry segments. You will acquire real-world experience from our classes in areas that include sport marketing, market research, sales promotion, and sport analytics. Our diverse faculty create a veritable sports think-tank, introducing you to tomorrow’s opportunities today.
DRIVEN AND DIVERSE STUDENTS
We are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for our students. Towards this goal, we create a setting that supports the exchange of varying perspectives and inclusion of different experiences, which prepares our students to lead in an increasingly diverse and global sport industry.
AN INSTANT NETWORK
Our online directory of more than 3,000 alumni provides you with access to a vast network of connections throughout the sport industry. We host sport-industry leaders as guest speakers, through our Executive-in-Residence program, and an annual sport career fair, providing you with an unparalleled opportunity to network with the key players in the sport industry.
FLEXIBLE CAREER PATHS
McCormack students enter and leave our program with a wide array of experiences and career interests. We encourage students to explore different segments of the sport industry to fit a track they are excited about. The four main areas our alumni work in are sport marketing, sport leadership, sport analytics, and sport sales. 3
VOTED BEST SPORT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Based on peer review by Sport Business International, 2015
1 ISENBERG - UMASS 2
OHIO UNIVERSITY
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DEAKIN UNIVERSITY
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BROCK UNIVERSITY
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
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LA TROBE UNIVERSITY
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OTHER
COURSE OFFERINGS SPORT MANAGEMENT CORE COURSES Sociology of Sport & Physical Activity Intro. to Sport Management Sport Leadership Sport Marketing Intro. to Sport Law Sport Finance & Business Sports Policy
BS CORE COURSES Intro. to Microeconomics Intro. to Macroeconomics Intro. to Business Information Systems Intro. to Statistics Linear Methods & Probability for Business Intro. to Accounting I Intro. to Law Fundamentals of Marketing Corporate Finance Principles of Management Management Communications
EMPHASIS AREAS
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Sport Marketing Sales & Promotions Sport Sponsorship Sport Management SoccerFest Facility Management Sport Analytics Sport Economics Sport Analytics Internship Track 100% of students secure an internship
*Courses may vary
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OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
The McCormack Department of Sport Management promotes and values diversity in all its forms. 50% of our students hail from outside of Massachusetts, and 10% come from outside of the United States. Our students, faculty, and alumni are committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive environment. The Association for Diversity in Sport and Women in Sport Management clubs run meaningful career/professional development programming, alumni serve as mentors for underrepresented students to provide guidance throughout their collegiate and professional careers, and faculty strive to incorporate lessons of diversity and inclusion into their curriculum. Additionally, we embrace diversity in educational and sport backgrounds, as well as in career interests and aspirations.
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I was able gain hands-on experience in the sport industry by applying the skills I learned in the classroom directly to real events and projects through experiential learning classes. When it came time to find summer internships and a post-grad job, our alumni network was so extensive and engaging that I was able to identify my dream job and the path to get there with the constant guidance and support from our alumni every step of the way.
— Abby Rice, BS ’17 Account Executive
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New York Mets
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING LEARN FROM THE REAL WORLD Experiential learning lies at the core of our educational philosophy. In most of our courses (typically limited to fewer than 25 students), the theory taught in the classroom is supplemented by real-world projects that give you a chance to work with peers to solve actual business challenges. You’ll gain expertise in sport-related fields ranging from law and finance to applied market research and analytics. The diversity of our curriculum and alumni network results in our students moving into leadership positions in a broad range of industry segments, including professional leagues and teams, college athletics, sponsorship and marketing agency consulting, Olympic and related amateur athletics, talent representation, facility management, event management and sport market research.
GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE
90% of our students hold internships prior to graduation which help to secure jobs after UMass. Our students have interned across the country and the world, just a few examples are the Boston Red Sox, NBA, NCAA, Ohio State Athletics, Australia Baseball League, and Japanese Soccer League.
INTERNSHIP TRACK
In addition to the standard curriculum, students can opt to pursue the Internship Track which includes an additional upper level course and a semester or summer-long internship in their field. Students can complete internships in any corner of the sport industry depending on their interests. 100% of students on the Internship Track receive internships.
STUDY ABROAD
Each year, over 700 UMass Amherst students participate in the more than 70 campus-sponsored programs on every continent but Antarctica. Through study abroad, you can pursue your academic interests, learn a foreign language, and experience life in a different culture. You may choose from such countries as Australia, China, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, India, Ireland, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, or the United Kingdom. Most students who study abroad are still able to graduate on time. 88
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STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES GET INVOLVED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
Our experiential learning philosophy extends beyond the classroom. We believe students learn best when they are doing, and our studentrun clubs offer a great opportunity for students of all interests to gain experience in hosting events, volunteer opportunities, leadership, networking, and most importantly learning from each other. The Association of Diversity in Sport (ADS) embraces students of diverse backgrounds seeking to further their professional and personal development within a sport-oriented environment. Our focus is to create innovative, communitybuilding events and initiatives, foster selfconfidence, and produce long-lasting personal networks. The Women in Sport Management (WISM) organization is focused on connecting McCormack women and students with other professionals in the sport industry. The club hosts guest speakers, networking events, and other opportunities for professional development among McCormack women. McCormack Student Leaders Club is a sport management organization that runs four main events: Pioneer Valley Tip Off, McCormack Slap Shot Invitational, Western MA Junior Golf Classic, and the Future Leaders Conference. In addition to gaining real-world sport management experience, the club also hosts networking events and volunteering opportunities. The UMass Sport Analytics Statistics club is a place for students with a common interest in the use of advanced metrics and their applications in the world of sports. The club strives to reinvent how students look at the sport analytics industry.
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STUDENT RUN EVENTS: MCCORMACK SPORT MANAGEMENT CAREER FAIR Every year the student club ADS (Association for Diversity in Sport) hosts a career fair which brings top sport organizations from around the country right to the UMass campus. Last year 35 organizations spent the day at McCormack networking, interviewing, and building relationships with our students. The event also features a case study and keynote speaker. A few of last years attendees include Octagon, NY Mets, WEEI, LeadDog Marketing, and MA Special Olympics.
FUTURE LEADERS CONFERENCE The Future Leaders Conference is a premier career development event that bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience. The FLC’s segment-specific case studies allow for students to network and collaborate with industry professionals in a close-room setting. Choose from one of six industry segments for the opportunity to build a framework of relevant experience by working on case studies modeled after real-world projects. This event is entirely student run and is managed by the Student Leaders Club.
SUPERCUTS SOCCERFEST EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING COURSE This credit bearing course allows students to organize and run one of the largest grassroots soccer tournaments in Western Massachusetts. In this credit bearing course, students solicit sponsorships from local businesses, create marketing strategies, and manage a large volunteer staff in order to run a full day soccer tournament located on campus. 12
CAREER-ENHANCING RESOURCES LAUNCHING YOUR CAREER Our experiential-based curriculum, engaging faculty, and expansive alumni network will prepare you to become a leader in a broad range of sport industry segments. But our program doesn’t stop there. Through mentoring and careerdevelopment resources, we help you showcase your knowledge and skills to build your career. Every faculty member in the McCormack Department of Sport Management takes a vested interest in the job placement and career development of our graduate students. The quality of our department is reflected in our exceptional record of success.
COMPREHENSIVE CAREER SUPPORT The Chase Career Center provides personalized job search strategies and one-on-one counseling to help students secure a career that fits their goals. Additionally, the center maintains a subscription to TeamworkOnline.com, the country’s leading job posting site, and provides complimentary access for all students. Our Department also provides undergraduate students with an inhouse Director of Internships, who provides students with guidance in reaching out to companies for internship opportunities. Over the past four years, no other sport management program has placed more undergraduate and graduate students in full-time jobs via TeamworkOnline.
McCORMACK ALUMNI: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
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CHELSEA ISAACSON ‘09, NHL
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VAUGHN WILLIAMS
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GLORIA NEVAREZ ‘93, PAC-12 CONFERENCE
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LIZ LOCKETT ‘15, 47
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PREETAM SEN ‘10, CITY FOOTBALL GROUP
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ANNEMARIE LEAHY
ALUMNI NETWORK OUR GRADUATES ARE EVERYWHERE Thanks to our more than four decades in the sport management business, no program has a more extensive and distinguished alumni network than the McCormack Department of Sport Management. Why is this important? Because sport management is an industry premised on alumni networks, connections, and “who you know.” Our online database of more than 3,500 influential alumni gives our graduate students immediate access to the key decision makers in the sport industry. More importantly, our alumni are employed across a broad range of sport industry segments representing a wide variety of job opportunities. Our program counts 11 alumni who have been honored with the prestigious Forty Under 40 Awards from SportsBusiness Journal—more than any other sport management program in the world.
‘92, BOSTON COLLEGE
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CAROLANNE MCAULIFFE ‘90, NBA
BRAND
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CARLY WARREN ‘08, NEW YORK GIANTS
‘06, NEW BALANCE
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JAKE CRUZ ‘12, BOSTON CELTICS 14
MCCORMACK EXECUTIVE-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM LEARN FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS Each fall, our Executive-in-Residence (EiR) program brings a high-profile sport industry executive to campus, providing students with an insider’s perspective into the challenges and rewards of the sport management business. In addition to delivering the McCormack Sport Innovators lecture, the EiR visits classrooms, attends round-tables with students, and participates in the McCormack Collection Oral History Project. Beyond being an extraordinary opportunity to see and hear from industry icons, the Executive-in-Residence program is designed to foster uniquely meaningful relationships, the kind that make a lasting impact on your future career and life. 15
FORMER EIR’S INCLUDE: •
JON SPOELSTRA, FORMER NBA MARKETER/BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
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HARRY EDWARDS, SPORT SOCIOLOGIST
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SONNY VACARO, EXECUTIVE: NIKE, ADIDAS, & REEBOK
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STACEY ALLASTER, CHEIF EXECUTIVE, USTA
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VAL ACKERMAN, COMMISSIONER BIG EAST CONFERENCE
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GEORGE BODENHEIMER, FORMER ESPN PRESIDENT
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PETER CARLISLE, OCTAGON MANAGING DIRECTOR OF OLYMPIC & ACTION SPORTS 16
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OUR LOCATION
LIFE IN THE PIONEER VALLEY—AND BEYOND The University of Massachusetts Amherst campus is nestled among a thriving, multicultural community in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. The area is renowned for its natural beauty, outstanding quality of life, and topflight recreational options—mountain and road biking, alpine and Nordic skiing, and trail running and hiking, among them—all within easy access to Boston, Springfield, Hartford, and New York.
LOCAL FOOD
YEAR-ROUND RECREATION
The sidewalks of Amherst and nearby Northampton are lined with limitless options for grabbing a quick bite or lingering over a four-course dinner. Whether your choice is a small cafe, artisan bakery, ethnic eatery, casual microbrewery, or upscale restaurant, the area chefs are clearly inspired by living in one of the country’s preeminent agricultural regions.
The Amherst area enjoys the benefits of all four New England seasons: snowy winters, colorful springs, hot summers, and, most famously, incredibly vibrant autumns. Hikers, bikers, skiers, and snowboarders are never more than a half-hour from their next adrenaline rush. On campus, the newly built 120,000-square-foot UMass Recreation Center is equipped with weights, and offers fitness classes, an indoor jogging track, and a wellness center. Our graduate students regularly compete in a variety of intramural sports.
CONVENIENT NETWORKING One of the chief benefits of attending the McCormack sport management program is our proximity to the hub of the sport industry. We reside within a three-hour drive of all the major professional sport headquarters, as well as major sport marketing and sponsorship consulting agencies, sport broadcasting companies, sporting goods companies, a host of college conference headquarters, and hundreds of professional sports teams and university athletic programs. This provides our students with convenient access to networking opportunities with industry executives.
INSPIRING CULTURE Long a home to poets, artists, musicians, and academics, the Amherst area continues to attract a citizenry of forwardthinkers and free spirits, fueling a unique entrepreneurial culture and strong support for local businesses.
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OUR FACULTY MEET THE SPORT MANAGEMENT TEAM They are top research scholars, industry experts, and outstanding professors, and together the members of the McCormack team comprise the largest fulltime tenure-track faculty for sport management in the country. Our faculty take a vested interest in the professional development and career advancement of each and every student.
Todd Crossett
Mark McDonald
Sport Sociology Sport History
Sport Leadership Event Management
Elizabeth Delia Sport Marketing
Janet Fink
Steve McKelvey Sport Sales & Promotion
Nicole Melton Sport Policy
Intro to Sport Management Sport Marketing
Emily Must Matthew Katz Sport Marketing Sport Analytics
Sport Finance Sport Policy Sport Law
Will Norton Neil Longley Sport Economics Sport Finance
Sport Finance Sport Analytics Sport Media
Nefertiti Walker Lisa Masteralexis Labor Relations
Sport Leadership
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McCORMACK STUDENTS HAIL FROM OVER 23 STATES AND 4 COUNTRIES
85% GRADUATES FIND JOBS W/IN 3 MONTHS
ADMISSIONS ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?
Admission to our Sport Management program is highly competitive. Your academic history, SAT or ACT performance, motivation, and extra-curricular involvement are all taken into consideration.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
• Completed Common Application - including the UMass Questions You must list Sport Management as your first choice intended major on your application.
• Official high school transcript - grades 9-11 • SAT I and/or ACT scores sent electronically by the testing agency • Letter of Recommendation • Application Fee of $80 APPLICATION DEADLINES
Early Action applications are due by November 1st, Regular Decision applications are due January 15th. For more information please visit the UMass Admissions website.
CONTACT US Tel: 413.545.0471 Email: nmelton@isenberg.umass.edu Apply: isenberg.umass.edu/programs/undergraduate/on-campus/admissions 20
Isenberg School of Management www.isenberg.umass.edu
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