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Sport Management Graduate Program Expanding to WIU-Quad Cities Campus in Fall 2022 to Kick off 50th Anniversary Celebration

April 20, 2022

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University's Sport Management graduate program is gearing up for a festive 2022-23 academic year. WIU's program is one of the oldest and most established sport management graduate programs in the nation, and the M.S. degree will mark its 50th anniversary this fall.

WIU will begin offering the master's degree program in Sport Management at the WIU-Quad Cities campus, beginning Fall 2022. Courses will be offered via livestream, in-person and online formats.

WIU Kinesiology Chair Renee Polubinsky said the degree will offer graduate students the opportunity to tap into the rich and diverse sporting landscape of the tri-state area and help meet the needs of area employers.

"This exciting news will give students in the Quad Cities region the chance to stay local, as largely indicated in the survey that we disseminated among students in the region as part of the program's needs assessment," said Polubinsky.

In addition, Sport Management Professor Katja Sonkeng hopes that the program, with its long tradition, history and strong reputation, will bring vibrant community engagement to the Quad Cities campus and mutually beneficial partnerships with regional sport giants, such as TBK Bank Sports Complex and the Two Rivers YMCA.

"There are endless career opportunities for future sport professionals. Students may pursue employment at all levels of sport, recreation and fitness. Most often, however, students aspire to become athletic directors on the interscholastic or collegiate levels," said Sonkeng.

Many graduates of the program now hold prestigious leadership roles across the sport industry and in academia, including general manager of a professional sport franchise, public relations coordinator, athletic directors, athletic communications directors and vice president of communications.

WIU Vice President of Quad Cities Campus Operations Kristi Mindrup said expanding the Sport Management program to the Quad Cities campus as the program celebrates its 50th anniversary comes at an exciting time.

"Programs offered at the Quad Cities campus are intended to align with both student interest and community needs," said Mindrup. "The announcement of TBK Sports Complex expansion, along with a rich tradition of sports-focused venues, programs, teams and events opens the door for WIU and our current and future partners to create new learning experiences and career pathways for students who will contribute to the future of sports in the Quad Cities region and beyond."

Students can now apply to be a part of the degree program. For more information about the program, visit wiu.edu/coehs/kinesiology/graduate_programs/sm/ or email grad-office@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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