Interscholastic athletic administrators now have a master's degree program specifically geared for them. This summer, the Ohio University School of Recreation and Sport Sciences, in conjunction with Ohio University Without Boundaries (OUWB), launched the master's program in Athletic Administration, attracting 14 participants from nearly a dozen states and two international locations.
The master's program in Athletic Administration was developed to meet the needs of high school and middle school athletic directors, administrators and coaches who often lead hectic schedules. Participants meet face-to-face only three times during a 27-month period and complete all remaining coursework online. The program leads to a Master of Science in Recreation and Sport Sciences with a concentration in athletic administration.
Program development was spurred by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA), whose members desired an advanced degree program. The NIAAA is a partner in the program with two of its members serving as adjunct faculty.
The program's first residential meeting was held during the last week of June on the Athens campus. The students, who came from as far away as Hawaii, China and the Philippines, met each day at the OUWB facilities in Bromley Hall to work on their first course, taught by Andrew Kreutzer, an associate professor in sports administration and facilities management. Kreutzer's course was driven by a team project that required the students to develop a presentation on evaluating a high school athletic program and its administration.
Kreuzter was pleased with the team presentations, and overall, with the group of students -- especially their geographic diversity (there are no participants residing in Ohio).
"Geographically, we're talking about from Shanghai to Honolulu to Seattle to Memphis to Delaware. Just that alone creates such energy in bringing together all of these different perspectives that come from regional views of athletics and athletic administration," Kreutzer said.
Program participants also cited the opportunity to collaborate with other athletic administrators, both nationally and internationally, as a key program benefit.
Cody Inglis, an athletic director at Suttons Bay High School in Suttons Bay, Michigan, said, "Just the diversity of students that we have in this program has been amazing to me -- in learning from them, from their experiences, what they do in their own hometown. I want to become the best athletic director that I can be -- for my school, for my community -- and this is the program I feel is going to allow me to do that."
The program now continues in an online format. Students will complete learning modules, team up on projects and participate in group discussions from their home or office computer before meeting at their second residency in December, which will take place at this year's NIAAA conference in Indianapolis.
Jeanette Bruno, a coach and teacher for the Freehold Regional High School District in Freehold, N.J., is ready for the demands of online coursework.
"I'm probably going to go through some culture shock," Bruno said. "It's really going to be a true test of time management. But this residency has inspired me to want to face that challenge. I'm looking forward to it."
