Erskine launches M.S. in Athletic Administration, fall 2027

The sports world is exploding in size, and with it, the demand for trained professionals who can keep pace with the industry’s personnel needs. Estimates vary widely on the size of the global sports industry depending on sectors encompassed, but the World Economic Forum recently estimated it as exceeding $2.3 trillion in 2025 globally.

Erskine College is helping to meet that demand by offering a Master of Science in Athletic Administration (MSAA), housed within the School of Business. The master’s program is designed to prepare current and aspiring leaders for careers across interscholastic, intercollegiate, professional, and recreational sport. The program expects to welcome its first cohort of students and launch in Fall 2027.

“We are excited about the opportunity this program creates to extend Erskine’s reach, serve working professionals, and strengthen our ties to the athletics community in our region and beyond,” says Dr. Jeff Briggs, chair of Erskine’s business department.

The 30-hour program will be offered online, with some hands-on learning through capstone and internship opportunities. Though it is a non-thesis program, research will be incorporated throughout the curriculum. The MSAA will feature an open enrollment admission format and will be comprised of eight-week semesters. Students can expect to complete their degree in one year, depending on the pace at which they take classes. When describing the coursework, Briggs emphasizes the program’s rigor.

“The careful attention to curriculum, admissions, and student support has produced a graduate program that reflects Erskine’s commitment to academic excellence, character, and service,” he says.

Erskine has a substantial student-athlete population, and they will be prime candidates for the MSAA. The program will also give student-athletes with a fifth year of playing eligibility an opportunity to simultaneously earn a master’s degree that aligns with their on-field interests.

“While here, they’ve learned to balance academics and athletics. The ones that matriculate through and graduate with good GPAs—they’ve shown they’re sharp, smart, communicative, and problem solvers,” Briggs says.

He believes that student-athletes who may not have attended Erskine will also be a natural fit. Given the heavy workload and time demands they’ve already handled as student-athletes, they are in-demand workers for prospective employers. The M.S. in Athletic Administration will strengthen their skills, credentials, and prospects in the marketplace.

“It’s very much a practitioner-oriented degree. It’s [designed for] students who want to get a leg up, go into the industry, and want that upward mobility,” Briggs says.

The next steps for the launch are underway in earnest: curriculum finalization, admissions logistics, and building a lineup of classes befitting the standards of Erskine. As the university gears up to receive its first cohort of MSAA students, both faculty and administration are enthusiastic about the new degree.

“Athletic programs need leaders who combine sound management with a biblically based commitment to the students they serve,” says Erskine President Dr. Steve Adamson. “This new master’s degree will prepare graduates to lead with integrity, manage resources wisely, and advance the educational purpose of athletics.”

For more information about this exciting new program, contact admissions@erskine.edu!