University College Dublin

MSc Sports Management (Sport)
Graduate Taught (level 9 nfq, credits 90)
This MSc programme is targeted at graduates aiming to develop a career in the Sport industry and also experienced professionals who wish to enhance their career opportunities within this field. The programme provides graduates with the theoretical knowledge and practical tools and techniques required to solve real life management challenges within the Sport industry.

The programme is informed by the exciting research carried out by our faculty and by Sport industry experts who contribute to both the design and delivery of the programme curriculum. Throughout the programme, students are provided with the opportunity to engage and network with leading figures from the Sport industry.

The programme also offers the unique opportunity to study how high performance sport is managed from government policy to the views of key stakeholders within a sport organisation, such as the CEO, the high performance director, the coach, support staff and athlete.

In 2017 & 2019, SportBusiness International magazine ranked the UCD MSc in Sport Management in its list of the top 40 Sport Business postgraduate programmes in the world.

https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2019/july/25/sportsmanagementmscg...

A part-time format (over two years) is available in order to help professionals pursue studies without having to interrupt their career.

Course Description
How I will learn?
The underlying ethos of the programme is to support students in becoming critical and reflective professionals who use current evidence to guide their management practice. We aim to provide a learning environment which is student-centred and encourages the evaluation of current policies and the resultant implications for sport related organisations. Students learn how to practically apply management strategies to a range of complex organisational contexts and issues within the Sport industry. Students are also supported to develop key transferable skills in leadership, communication, team working and project management.

The programme's teaching and learning approach is both theory-based and industry focused. To facilitate this approach, students work with experts in the Sport industry to enhance their learning experience and these experts also have significant input into programme design and delivery.

Mode of delivery
Programme modules will be delivered one day a week (i.e., Friday morning and afternoon) across both academic semesters. In addition, there are two weeks of intensive block lectures (i.e. Monday - Friday) in each semester. Delivery is carried out by faculty members and external industry experts. These external contributors come from across the Sport industry continuum for example, national governing bodies, international federations, professional sports clubs , player associations and commercial sports organisations.

In delivering the programme the faculty and external lecturers facilitate a vibrant teaching and learning environment. Students have the opportunity to actively engage and learn through a variety of teaching and learning methods such as, problem-based learning with an emphasis on reflection and peer-to-peer learning, research seminars, site visits, and group work. Assessment strategies include essays, critical analyses, case studies, oral presentations, reports and project work.

Vision and Values Statement
This programme is targeted at graduates aiming to develop a career in management within the sport industry and also experienced professionals who wish to enhance their career opportunities within this field. (Purpose)

The programme's underlying ethos is to support students in becoming critical and reflective professionals who can use current evidence to guide their management practice across a range of sport settings. We value and encourage our students to be autonomous learners and encourage students to share their own experiences with faculty and peers. (Values / Beliefs)

We aim to provide a learning environment which is student-centred and encourages the evaluation of current policies and the resultant implications for sport related organisations. In doing so, students are facilitated in developing transferable skills in leadership, communication, team working, decision making and project management. (Nature of learning environment)

The programme utilises an overarching teaching, learning and assessment approach which is both theory based and industry focused. Leading subject matter experts with extensive sport industry experience contribute to both the design and delivery of the programme curriculum. Students have the opportunity to actively engage and learn during the programme through a variety of teaching and learning methods, such as experiential learning, industry seminars, site visits, reflective learning, group project work.

Programme Outcomes
1.Critically apply knowledge and understanding of management theory and techniques to a range of complex organisational contexts / issues within the wider sports industry. (Knowledge)
2.Identify and critically analyse current trends or policy changes and their implications for sport related organisations. (Knowledge)
3.Understand the processes which influence group behaviour and be able to apply leadership skills and function effectively as part of a team utilising skills in listening, negotiating and resolving conflict ; (Knowledge and Skills)
4.Communicate effectively through a range of mediums (e.g., oral, written) (Skills and attribute)
5.Self-direct and act autonomously in planning and implementing projects. (Skills and attribute)
6.Plan, conduct and report a programme of original research relevant to the management of sport organisations and/or events. (Skills and attribute)
7.Recognise career opportunities in the sports industry and utilise transferable management skills to develop a career path within the industry. (Skills and attribute)