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College of Business
Copeland Hall
1 Ohio University
Athens OH 45701-2979

Online Athletic Administration Master's Degree Career Outlook

Become a Certified Athletic Administrator

NIAAA Partnership | COSMA Accredited

Ohio University's online Master of Athletic Administration will prepare you to lead interscholastic athletic departments in K–12 institutions of any size.

What Makes Us Unique?

  • With five decades of experience in sports education, OHIO delivers the field-specific coursework and valuable industry connections students need for success.
  • The MAA prepares students to pursue NIAAA certification after program completion.

Launch Your Career as a K–12 Athletic Director

Athletic directors and other interscholastic athletic administrators play an essential role in institutions of all sizes, ensuring student-athletes, coaches and staff have the support and resources they need to achieve at a high level. OHIO's online MAA program is designed specifically for teachers, coaches and athletics professionals who want to take on administrative and leadership roles in middle and high school athletics departments.

When you finish this 20-month program, you can earn credit towards certification through the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) Leadership Training Institute.*

  • Registered Athletic Administrator
  • Certified Athletic Administrator
  • Certified Master Athletic Administrator

Enhancing your MAA degree with these industry-recognized credentials will help you stand out in the job market and signal to employers that you are ready to lead any athletics apartment to success.

  • Over 8.26 million students currently participate in high school athletics in the US.1
  • About 99,700 job openings are expected each year from 2024-2034.2

Program Outcomes and Skills Acquired

What You'll Learn

When you complete OHIO's online MAA degree, you will be able to:

  • Address legal issues and challenges facing interscholastic athletic administrators.
  • Develop a plan to manage risks associated with sport facilities and events.
  • Develop a plan to market and publicize an interscholastic athletic program and a major interscholastic sport event.
  • Analyze an interscholastic sport budget and propose a plan to increase the revenue side of the budget.
  • Construct an appropriate process for hiring and evaluating a diverse interscholastic athletic coaching staff.
  • Identify all appropriate governing bodies associated with interscholastic sport and outline major policies with those organizations.
  • Demonstrate professional skills and abilities relevant to the sports business profession.
  • Articulate your personal leadership style and philosophy and how that style correlates to leading a successful interscholastic athletic program.
  • Develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

Skills You'll Gain

  • Leadership 
  • Communication 
  • Organization 
  • Strategic planning 
  • Budgeting and financial administration 
  • Event management and planning 
  • Marketing 
  • Policy development

Career Services

Ohio University's online students have access to free career support through OHIO Online Career Services. Connect with a personal career coach, access AI-assisted resume and interview tools, explore job search resources, and tap into alumni networking — all designed to support you wherever you are in your career journey.

Learn about Career Services

Personalized Career Coaching

Schedule a one-on-one appointment with the OHIO Online Career Services team for personalized guidance on career goals, job search strategy, and professional development.

Job Search Resources

The OHIO Online Career Hub provides resume templates, interview practice tools, job boards, and professional development webinars.

Professional Development Sessions

OHIO students can also participate in free professional development sessions led by industry experts. These live, virtual sessions cover topics like career self-concept, basic job search skills, and how to qualify for promotions and prepare for leadership opportunities.

Sources

  1. National Federation of State High School Associations. Participation in High School Sports Hits Record High with Sizable Increase in 2024-25. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://www.nfhs.org/stories/participation-in-high-school-sports-hits-record-high-with-sizable-increase-in-2024-25
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook handbook. Entertainment and Sports Occupations. Retrieved April 16, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/home.htm.

*Requirements for NIAAA certification include the completion of Leadership Training Courses and proof of minimum professional experience.

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