North American Society for Sport Management

The Board of Commissioners (BOC) of the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) made its first accreditation decisions at its June 2-3, 2010, meeting. Two member institutions, Slippery Rock University and Saint Leo University, conducted site visits in the Fall of 2009 and Spring 2010 as a final step toward accreditation. Each institution submitted a comprehensive Self-Study that addressed the eight (8) Principles outlined in COSMA’s accreditation manual.

The Slippery Rock University (SRU) Sport Management Department, located in Slippery Rock, PA, is chaired by Dr. Robin Ammon. The accreditation effort was coordinated by Dr. Robertha Abney, a newly-elected member of the COSMA BOC. The Department of Sport Management is an academic unit within the College of Education, and SRU’s Sport Management B.S. degree provides practical undergraduate education with a focus on student development in the field of sport business. The faculty encourages students’ intellectual, personal, and professional growth through a challenging academic program augmented by relevant experiential requirements. As one of the oldest academic Sport Management programs in the country, they are committed to maintaining their reputation as one of the sport industry’s premier partners in sport management education. For more information, visit the Sport Management Department’s website: http://academics.sru.edu/spmt/index.html.

Saint Leo University (www.saintleo.edu) is located in Saint Leo, FL, approximately 30 miles north of Tampa. The Sport Business program is chaired by Phil Hatlem, and the accreditation effort was coordinated by Dr. Eric Schwarz. Both Saint Leo’s Sport Business B.A. degree and online MBA in Sport Business are accredited. Saint Leo University, chartered in 1889, is a Catholic, liberal arts-based university that currently enrolls 15,000 students at its main campus, at 17 regional education centers, and online. The Sport Business B.A. provides a foundation of study in business applied to the sport industry, its products, and its services. The primary goals of the program are: (1) to develop an in- depth knowledge of planning, organizing, leading, and evaluating within the context of a sport business organization; (2) to develop competent leaders for the various professions that focus on sport; and (3) to provide the foundation for students who desire to continue their study in graduate or law school.

The online MBA Sport Business degree is designed to prepare working professionals for a successful career with professional sport franchises, facilities, sporting goods retailers, athletic departments, and industry segments constantly calling for sport business specialists.

COSMA accreditation replaced program approval granted by the former Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC). All SMPRC-approved programs will be recognized through their date of expiration until and unless they submit for COSMA approval. COSMA’s fiscal year begins on July 1 and membership applications are accepted year-round. COSMA is in the process of seeking 501(c)3 status and, once independent, will seek accreditation through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

For more information and application materials, please visit www.cosmaweb.org. Heather Alderman, Program Manager, can be contacted at cosma@cosmaweb.org.

About COSMA

COSMA (www.cosmaweb.org) is a specialized accrediting body that promotes and recognizes excellence in sport management education in colleges and universities at the baccalaureate and graduate levels. Institutions, students, employers, and the general public all benefit from the external verification of quality provided through COSMA’s accreditation process. They also benefit from the process of continuous quality improvement that is encouraged by COSMA’s developmental approach to promoting excellence in sport management education.