PhD in Kinesiology
Sport Management
The Sport Management PhD concentration at the Louisiana State University is offered by the School of Kinesiology as a degree program which focuses on developing a variety of academic skills to help students become successful in academic and/or scholarly endeavors. Students accepted into the PhD program will receive training toward careers in academia or professional positions of similar or related career fields. Specifically, students will be provided the opportunity to receive and demonstrate critical thinking and research skills through an interdisciplinary approach which centers on the student’s research interests and career ambitions. Building on a foundation of sport management courses, independent studies, and mentoring opportunities with the program’s faculty members, students will, through elective coursework (i.e., cognate area) explore a wide variety of management issues related to the field of sport. Such interests may include areas related to Organizational Behavior and Theory, Facility Management, Law and Legal Applications, Finance and Accounting, Economics, History, and Social Issues to name a few. Finally, unique among graduate programs, LSU offers real opportunities to teach lecture courses in our undergraduate Sport Administration program to help prepare PhD students and candidates for careers in academia. Courses available for doctoral students and candidates at LSU include the basic core of most undergraduate and graduate curriculums (e.g., marketing and promotions, law and ethics, finance, introduction to sport industry, social issues, etc.). Overall, the PhD opportunity at LSU allows students the flexibility to carve their niche within the sport industry to better serve the interest of the academy and their own natural curiosity.
Accreditation
The PhD in Kinesiology with a specialization in Sport Management graduate program is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA). The program is designed to help students become successful in academic and/or scholarly endeavors. Of the 34 sport management doctoral programs in the United States, only three have achieved accreditation at this point from COSMA.
Admissions
Students must submit an application to the Graduate School. Students will be evaluated on these six areas regarding their application package:
- Cumulative Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA);
- GRE and/or GMAT score;
- 3 Letters of Recommendation;
- Letter of Intent/Interest;
- Research Statement;
- Resume.
PhD applicants should contact the faculty members before applying to understand the current research interests of the faculty and to communicate their own potential area of interest.
Course Requirements
Minimum Total* 77 Credit Hours
Research and Statistics 26 Credit Hours
| Professional Core Courses (Choose 15 Hours) | 15 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| KIN 7511 Administrative Problems in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 7516 Organizational Behavior and Development in Sport | 3 |
| KIN 7518 Social Issues in Sport | 3 |
| KIN 7519 Financial Issues in Sport | 3 |
| KIN 7524 Legal Issues in Sport | 3 |
| KIN 7545 Economic Issues in Sport | 3 |
Cognate Area** 15 Credit Hours
| Sport Management Elective Courses (Choose 12 Hours) | 12 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| KIN 4501 Special Topics in Sport Management | 3 |
| KIN 4513 Facilities Management | 3 |
| KIN 4518 Governance and Policy Development in Sport | 3 |
| KIN 4900 Independent Study | 3 |
| KIN 7505 Problems in Kinesiology | 3 |
| KIN 7544 Current Topics in Sport Management | 3 |
| Dissertation | 9 Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| KIN 9000 Dissertation Research | 9 |
**Electives and Cognate: Electives and the selection of the Cognate specialization will be chosen on the basis of agreement between the student and the student’s advisor. Courses required for the Cognate specialization will be based on agreement between the student and the student’s Cognate professor. Each of these agreements is subject to approval by the student’s PhD committee. *At least 27 credit hours at the 7000 level or above, exclusive of any type of independent study, is required.
***Students should consult with faculty advisor(s) as to the coursework plan will prepare them to meet their goals.
Graduates of Sport Management PhD Program
Dr. Adam Pfleegor (Original Placement: Mississippi State University)
Dr. Dylan Williams (Original Placement: University of Alabama)
Dr. Patrick Tutka (Original Placement: Niagara University)
Dr. Khirey Walker (Original Placement: Ball State University)
Dr. Jeremy Foreman (Original Placement: University of Louisiana- Lafayette)
Dr. Benjamin Downs (Original Placement: Ball University)
Dr. Yoseph Mamo (Original Placement: Tennessee State University)
Dr. Seungmin Kang (Original Placement: North Dakota State University)
Dr. Marcella Otto (Original Placement: Northern Illinois University)
Dr. Tiffany Demiris (Original Placement: St. Bonaventure University)
Dr. Nathan Baer (Original Placement: Southeastern Louisiana University)
Dr. Jeff White (Original Placement: Briar Cliff University)
Current PhD Students
Mandy Barefoot (4th Year)
2019 MS; Louisiana State University, Kinesiology/Sport Management
2018 BS; Post University, Sport Management (minor in Marketing)
Interest: Mandy's professional focus in ticket sales leadership and general management influences her research interest in organizational behavior and culture, factors that influence employee retention, and current issues in sport business offices.
Olga Khokhryakova (3rd Year)
2021 MS; University of Arkansas, Community Health Promotion
2014 MS; Higher School of Economics University, Moscow, History
2012 BS; Higher School of Economics University, Moscow, Journalism
Interest: Olga’s primary research interest is focused on the role of social entrepreneurship and innovation in the field of sport for development. She is particularly interested in studying entrepreneurship during the formative stages of sport for development organizations. Olga is also interested in studying organizational capacity building in underrepresented regions.
King Saah (3rd Year)
2017 MS; Temple University, Globalization and Development Communication
2012 BA; Cabrini College, Graphic Design
Interest: King’s primary research interest is focused on leadership in the field of sport for development. He is interested in the role of different leadership styles as well as leadership development. Additionally, King’s secondary research interest involves studying funding models and fundraising in sport for development.
Weizhe “Willie” Li (2nd Year)
2023 MS; University of Georgia, Sport Management and Policy
2020 BE; Guangdong University of Technology, Transportation
Interest: Willie’s primary research interests focus on sport marketing, social media strategies, and athlete branding, with a particular emphasis on how sport entities strategically leverage social media to enhance fan engagement. Methodologically, Willie specializes in advanced analytical techniques such as sentiment analysis and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA).
Joelle Ferguson (1st Year)
2022 MS; Eastern Kentucky University, Sport Administration
2021 BBA; Business Administration
Interest: Joelle's primary research interest centers on funding relationships within the sport for development sector, with a particular emphasis on the perspectives and motivations of funders. Her interest aims to examine the decision-making processes of funding agencies and how these influence the allocation and availability of sport for development funding opportunities.