Sport Management (Ph.D)

Ph.D. Program Coordinator, Dr. Win Koo at wkoo@troy.edu

For All U.S. Applicants
All applicants from the United States who intend on taking all classes online and have no plans of attending classes on the Troy campus may start his or her application online at http://www.troy.edu/graduateschool/admission.html and Click on Learn More>> Create myTroy profile located at the top right side of the webpage to begin the application process. Additionally, there is a $50 nonrefundable admission fee required. Once the admission fee has been completed the applicant should mail or drop off (if in the area) all transcripts and entrance exam score to:
                        Troy University
                        RE: Transcripts
                        100 University Park
                        Troy, AL 36082

The applicant should also mail, email or drop off letters of reference, statement of intent, writing sample, and resume to:
                        Director of Graduate Admissions
                        111 Adams Administration, Troy University Troy, Alabama 36082
                        (334) 670-3178
                       admit@troy.edu

For All International Applicants
All international applicants, who intend on taking classes on the Troy campus, should visit the Office of Admissions website Click on Learn More>> Create myTroy profile located at the top right side of the webpage to begin the application process. Presently, international students interested in applying to the Sport Management doctoral program should use the MS-SFM application in the Admission Tool and notify Dr. Koo. This is done to ensure that the application process is conducted efficiently.

Once the admission fee has been completed the applicant:
On F1 or J1 visa, must fill the international application online: http://admissions.troy.edu/international/index.html

Complete set of documents are required for this program such as entrance exam scores (see below), letters of reference, statement of intent, writing sample, and resume as well as a current financial (not more than 6 months old) bank statement in the amount of $23,000 USD or an equivalent in nation currency. Also if the financial documents are not on the applicant's name, the Sponsor Letter required as well. All international applicants must send copies of all required documents such as entrance exam scores (see below), letters of reference, statement of intent, writing sample, and resume as well as a current financial to intladm@troy.edu. If any documents are missing, a representative from the International Affairs office will send an e-mail with the request to submit missing document(s) to the applicants.

TOEFL scores are required for all international students; this requirement is waived if the student has earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. Students scoring 70 or higher on the Internet-based TOEFL Test, 193 or higher on the Computer-based Test, and a 523 or higher on the Paper-based TOEFL Test will be given full consideration for admission into the Doctoral Program.

Official scores from nationally standardized aptitude examinations, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT), General Management Admissions Test (GMAT), or Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) must be submitted at the time of application. All entrance exams must have taken place within 5 years of submission to the program. Minimum scores are presented below.
Miller’s Analogy Test MAT = 399 total score
GMAT = 540 total score (verbal and quantitative)
LSAT = 157-158 total score
GRE = 304 on the Revised GRE (verbal and quantitative only) or 1000 or higher on the Non-Revised GRE (verbal and quantitative score totals only)

The applicant must submit the following materials to the Troy University Graduate School:Troy University Graduate School Application Form
One official transcript per each institution of higher education ever attended
Three (3) Letters of Reference or completion of a reference form.
Each individual must address the applicant’s readiness to enroll in a doctoral program. It is recommended that such individuals be previous undergraduate or graduate professors, advisors or others who can substantiate the applicant’s academic preparation for admittance to a doctoral program.

Statement of Intent. The statement of intent should:
Include details of your rationale for pursuing a Ph.D. in Sport Management.
Include details regarding your career and research interests.
Identify 1-2 TROY Sport Management doctoral faculty members that you are interested in working with. A list of doctoral directive faculty members and their curriculum vitae indicating their research areas may be viewed at the HSTM website.

Writing Sample
The goal of the writing sample is to measure the applicant’s ability to write clearly and succinctly in an academic fashion. The writing sample may include a thesis completed by the student, a significant research or case study class project, preferably written at the graduate level. It is expected that the applicant be either the first or second author if the submission was a group project. The paper must be double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins on all sides. Since the American Psychological Association (APA) style is followed in all written assignments in the Ph.D. program, it is recommended that the sample also be written in APA format. However, other writing styles, including but not limited to Chicago, Modern Language Association (MLA), Turbian, AMA Manual or other accepted research writing styles, will be considered. Note: The writing sample could also include an accepted or published research that the applicant was either the sole or co-author of a research project. The applicant must submit a pdf of the paper or a link as proof of publication.

These amounts may vary in the future. For more information please visit
http://trojan.troy.edu/etroy/tuition for online class information.

Applications to the Ph.D. program may be submitted twice per academic year, once in fall and once is spring. The applicant must submit an application to the Troy University Graduate School. After all required documentation has been submitted, the applicant’s entire application packet will be reviewed for admission into the Doctoral Program. No pre-requisites will be required for admission other than the applicant must have attained a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. In order to be given full consideration, all requested materials must be received by the deadlines listed below:

Application Deadlines:
Fall Admission for U.S. citizens: February 1
Fall Admission for non U.S. citizens: December 1
Spring Admission for U.S. citizens: September 1
Spring Admission for non U.S. citizens: July 1

The Doctoral Admissions Committee will be composed of all Sport Management faculty members with doctoral directive status. Once all of the application information has been received from the Graduate School, the Sport Management Doctoral Admissions Committee will review all eligible applicants. After the committee considers all aspects of the admission process, it will make a recommendation regarding an applicant’s admission into the Ph.D. in Sport Management Program. After a decision has been made, applicants will be notified of their status.

From a research review, collectively, the current Sport Management faculty at Troy University have published 15 textbooks, more than 80 textbook chapters, over 360 peer-reviewed manuscripts and given more than 650 national and international peer-reviewed presentations. Currently, TROY Sport Management faculty members serve as Editor or Associate Editor of 8 peer-reviewed journals in the sport management field and over 20 Editorial Boards. Finally, TROY Sport Management faculty members have served on nearly 160 doctoral dissertation committees.

In regards to service and reputation of doctoral directive faculty, two of the present faculty members have previously served as the President of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), considered the flagship organization in academic sport management. Additionally, another faculty member has served as the President of the Sport and Recreation Law Association, the foremost organization for the study of legal aspects of sport in the sport management academy. Finally, and importantly, a faculty member has served on the Board of Commissioners for the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) which is the only accrediting body of academic sport management programs in the world.

Students come from a variety of educational backgrounds. As a result, there are no standards that typify a successful doctoral student. While many applicants may possess an undergraduate or graduate degree in Sport Management, it is not a necessity. What the applicant needs to show is an unmistakable research focus in sport Management that mirrors the research agenda of a doctoral directive faculty member.

A Ph.D. program is by nature a research-oriented degree where students will be expected to be actively engaged in research teams with faculty members and other doctoral students. As mentioned previously, the applicant must exhibit a research focus in Sport Management. It is strongly recommended, although not required, that the applicant’s written sample show this focused area. It is also strongly recommended that the applicant peruse the School of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management faculty website to discover the research agenda of the doctoral directive faculty members. Further, it is strongly suggested that the applicants reach out and contact the faculty member with whom they would like to research and study.

The Sport Management doctoral directive faculty at Troy University possess established research agendas through scholarly publications and presentations over a period of time. These faculty are generally tenured or at the Associate Professor level. Generally, these faculty will serve as the student’s major advisor and dissertation chair. Importantly, the student will have the same or similar research interests as the doctoral directive faculty member. As such, the faculty member and student will most likely work on the submission of scholarly publications and presentations. A list of doctoral directive faculty members may be found on the School of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism website.

Credits from a completed graduate degree will not be counted as transfer/substitute credits. Traditionally, a doctoral degree constitutes a minimum of 90 credit hours past a person’s baccalaureate degree. As such, the Ph.D. degree in Sport Management at Troy University requires a minimum of 90 credits beyond a baccalaureate degree. In order to satisfy the 90 credits past a baccalaureate degree, no more than 30 credits of a completed Master’s or juris doctorate (J.D.) degree from another regionally accredited institution of higher education will be accepted. The student must take and pass a minimum of 60 credit hours in the Sport Management doctoral program at Troy University. Thus, to achieve a Ph.D. in Sport Management at Troy University, a maximum of 30 graduate credits, in addition to the minimum 60 credits in the Sport Management doctoral program, to equal at least 90 credits

Students must complete the admissions application packet as described previously. A maximum of 16 credits from another Sport Management doctoral program will be allowed to transfer to the Troy University Sport Management Sport doctoral program. All transfer courses must be comparable to Troy University’s graduate courses and must be approved by the doctoral admissions committee.

No. All of the doctoral core, research, and statistic classes will be offered at the doctoral (8800) level, while the elective classes will generally be at the Master’s (6600) level. Duplication of classes the student took in their Master’s in Sport and Fitness Management at Troy University will not be permitted. Students are encouraged to communicate with their major advisor to determine proper elective classes.

According to a leading figure in Sport Management, Dr. Bob Baker, Troy University’s proposed Ph.D. in Sport Management has the potential to fill a large, documented void in Sport Management education by providing a heretofore unavailable reputable online/blended Ph.D. program that meets the needs of working professionals in the sport industry. In addition to preparing aspiring university faculty, executives and leaders in the sport industry who wish to advance their knowledge and understanding of Sport Management would have their needs met through this Troy University Ph.D. program.

Service members may want to pursue a doctorate in Sport Management. However, due to military obligations, current members as well as veterans are often challenged in finding a program that can satisfy their desire for an advanced education. The proposed doctoral program in Sport Management, offers a format which will allow current members of the armed forces to fulfill their military obligations while providing them with an advanced educational opportunity to prepare them for life after the military. Specifically, a doctorate in Sport Management from Troy University will allow military personnel to take their love of sport along with their previous experiences in leadership, management, organization, and operations and combine them with a curriculum that is designed to further enhance understanding and knowledge of areas including advanced leadership theories, organizational behavior, marketing, management and ethical and legal issues of sport management.

The opportunity to take all of the classes, including all doctoral core, elective, research, and statistic classes online exists. In some cases, the student may take a traditional class if they live in close proximity to the Troy campus. Generally, the traditional classes will be elective while the doctoral core, elective, research, and statistic classes will be offered online. The students must work with their major advisor in scheduling all classes.

All of the online classes will be offered through TROY. In regards to scheduling, the classes will be offered in terms of nine weeks. Presently, Troy University offers five, nine-week terms in which students may take a maximum of 6 credit hours (2 classes) per term. The student may take more than the maximum with administrative approval.

Yes. However, only those applicants who have been accepted into the program and will be located in Troy may apply for a teaching assistantship through the Troy University job website. Previous experience in teaching sport management is highly beneficial for students applying for these positions. Generally, the teaching assistantships will be for two years with competitive salary and benefits.

Students, in collaboration with their major advisor, will be expected to assist in submitting proposals for presentations at national and international conferences. Moreover, it will be expected that students will work with their major advisor to assist in writing and submitting for publications prior to embarking on the dissertation process. Exposure to writing and submitting research projects prepares doctoral students to understand and perform basic and applied research in their specialty area. It is expected that students who take advantage of the research opportunities available to them, while enrolled in the program, will assist them when applying for positions. The student may assist their major advisor in writing grant proposals to fund potential research. The student may also write their own grant proposal to fund their own research.

Consistent with other terminal degree programs at TROY, the Sport Management doctoral student will have a maximum time for degree completion of eight years, inclusive of completing dissertation requirements. However, it is important to note that a full-time student (i.e., taking 6 credits per term) may be able to complete coursework in two (2) years. Additionally, dissertation may require 1-2 years to fully complete.

As a result, students can finish the program in as little as three (3 years). To do so, the students must communicate with their major advisor on a regular basis.

The Ph.D. Sport Management program at Troy University not only provides the flexibility of taking classes online but also allows the student flexibility to determine their specific area of concentration. To do so, the students will be required to work closely and receive approval from their major advisor for the classes. Generally, the cognate/concentration area will reflect the classes taken outside of the doctoral core and the topic of the dissertation. A doctoral program completion requirements and suggested class guidelines are presented in the following information.

The student must maintain a cumulative minimum of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Sport Management doctoral students are required to successfully complete a written and oral comprehensive examination prior to generating a dissertation proposal and subsequent research study. Students must inform their major advisor of their intent to take the comprehensive examination in ample time to permit the development of the examination questions and for the preparation of the student for those questions. The comprehensive exam will consist of written and oral components, questions. Once a student has completed the written portion of the comprehensive examination, an oral examination with the student’s comprehensive examination committee will be scheduled. The oral examination must be conducted in such a manner (i.e. WebEx, Skype, Canvas Collaborations or other acceptable technological means) that there is visualization between all involved parties. Performance on both the written and oral components of the exam must be acceptable to the comprehensive examination committee for the student to receive a passing grade.

Your coursework advisor will be assigned to you upon admittance to the program and any questions in regards to registration or coursework should be answered by your faculty advisor. He or she will guide you in your coursework only. It is your responsibility to select a major advisor (i.e., Dissertation Chair) within 5 terms of starting the program. In other words, your current advisor will not necessarily be your major advisor, which will chair your comprehensive exam and dissertation. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you work closely with the doctoral directive faculty members during the first year of the program and choose a major advisor with his/her agreement.

Dissertation credit hours may exceed but may not be less than the minimum of 18 term hours. The number of hours the student takes per term should be in agreement with the major faculty advisor. Students must be continuously enrolled for a minimum of 1 credit hour in Dissertation (HSTM 8860) per term, after being admitted to candidacy, during and including the term in which they successfully defend their dissertation.