Program information

Springfield College’s philosophy of humanics has been the impetus behind the development of the philosophy, art, and skill in the recreative use of leisure and management of sport for over a century. At the turn of the century, a pioneer in the American sport and recreation movement named Luther Gulick envisioned a world in which sport and recreational activities are available to everyone.

Today, career opportunities abound in the fields of sport management and recreation.  Opportunities for college graduates with sport management education and experience abound. Likewise, the recreation industry recognizes the need for well-prepared, knowledgeable individuals to create and manage high quality youth and community agencies, resorts, health clubs, private recreation businesses, armed forces, school, college and government recreation and fitness programs. One of the twenty faster-growing occupations in the United States is recreation management.

The graduate programs in the Department of Sport Management and Recreation provides preparation for sport management and recreation professionals in leadership, supervisory, and management positions.

All applications must include the following:

• Undergraduate transcripts;
• Three references;
• A writing sample describing the state of the industry and the purpose of a Springfield College graduate program;
• Any and all other materials required by the graduate admissions office must be included.

Springfield College offers graduate programs in: 

• Sport Management
• Therapeutic Recreation Management

The Sport Management Program focuses on preparing students for career opportunities within the sport industry and/or collegiate athletic settings. Course work is selected from business, recreation, psychology, and, physical education. Occupational paths for Sport Management graduates include sport facility and arena management; professional sport organizations; managerial positions at sporting goods companies; management of resorts, private clubs, and camps; as well as managerial jobs in sport marketing organizations.

The Sport Management curriculum includes course work in organizational theory, programming, business management, personnel management, sport marketing, legal issues, budgeting, and event management. The program is designed to meet the interests and needs of students coming from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Individual course work and electives are determined on the basis of the candidate’s educational experience, vocational training, needs, and interests.

The basic program requires a minimum of 33-36 credits of graduate coursework.

Degree Information

Candidates are eligible for the M.Ed. or M.S. Degree in accordance with Plans A or B as described below:

I. The Master of Education degree

Plan A requires successful completion of a minimum of all graduate work and successful completion of a program-specific comprehensive culminating experience.

The research requirement under this plan are embedded throughout the curriculum. Each class includes research topics specific to the discipline which will then be presented as part of a comprehensive portfolio to the department at the completion of the required courses.

II. The Master of Science degree

This degree requires students to engage in a research process, as determined by their academic program, which includes a clearly defined problem statement and hypothesis or research question, and specific and systemic procedures for data collection and analysis, resulting in a verifiable conclusion. The MS may be earned under one of the three plans:

Plan B requires successful completion of all graduate work required by the student’s specific program, and a master’s research thesis which culminates in an oral defense. The program requirements include a statistics course and six semester hours of credit for RSCH 612: Proposal Design (2 credits) and RSCH 635: Thesis (4 credits). The student is eligible to receive the Master of Science degree, or may choose to receive the Master of Education.

Any exception to this program must be documented on a program change form and signed by the Sport Management and Recreation Department Chair.

Contact Information

Dr. Kevin McAllister
Department Chair
kmcallis@springfieldcollege.edu
Sport Management and Recreation Department
Tel. (413) 748-3693, (413) 748-3476
Fax: (413) 748-3685

I. Sport Management

Graduate Internship Experience

The graduate internship is a major part of the graduate program in Sport Management and Recreation. All graduate internships in Recreation follow the guidelines of the National Recreation and Parks Association. Graduate internships in all of the concentrations are required for a minimum of twelve weeks full-time for a minimum of 400 hours. A wide range of opportunities is available throughout the United States, and internships have been done in other countries as well.

Graduate internships in Therapeutic Recreation Management will be supervised by an agency supervisor certified as CTRS by the NCTRC. All internships for Therapeutic Recreation Management students must meet the requirements of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. (Minimum of 14 weeks full-time for a minimum of 560 hours)  The Sport Management and Recreation Office (Fieldhouse/Wellness Center. Rm 213) maintains an A-Z schedule of placements for internships throughout the world. Graduate students have the opportunity to peruse this file throughout their tenure at Springfield College.

Some of the internship sites include:

American Hockey League
Baltimore Ravens
Bald Head Island Resort
Boston Celtics
Buffalo Bills
Charlotte Rehabilitation Hospital
Children’s Hospital in Otange County
Comcast - SpectaCor
Disney World
ESPN
Gaylord Hospital
Fox Sports
Jacksonville Country Club
NASCAR
National Football League Headquarters
New England Patriots
New York Knicks
New York Mets
Reebok
Reed’s Landing
Seattle Parks and Recreation
Smuggler’s Notch Resort
St. Louis Rams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Crowne Plaza on Hilton Head Island
The National Abilities Center, Utah
The New York University Rusk Institute
The Roads Less Traveled, Colorado
The U.S. Olympic Committee