The Online Student Experience at KU
Once you enroll in the online master’s in sport management* program at the University of Kansas, you become a valuable and appreciated member of something far greater—the Jayhawk network and community.
As a member of this well-connected and involved community of game-changers, you can focus on your academic studies and professional development knowing you have the support you need to keep your head in the game.
From our seamlessly integrated online learning management system (LMS) and the Canvas Student mobile app to our caring and committed Student Success Coordinators, we strive to streamline your academic experience as much as possible, so you can focus on what matters most—your personal and professional progress in the program.
*This program is a Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in health, sport management, and exercise science with an emphasis in sport management.
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Mobile App
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The Digital Classroom
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Module Zero
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Jayhawkville
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The Mentorship Program
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Collaborate on Assignments
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The Study Away Program
Canvas Student: Our Mobile App
The Canvas Student mobile app is a multi-touch online learning platform that allows you to complete your coursework, interact with faculty and fellow students, and stay connected with the KU community—all in a way that seamlessly integrates with your life and keeps you fully immersed in the online experience.
The Canvas Student mobile app also allows instructors to see the content available to students and helps them keep track of assignments and additional information relating to the class.
Within the Canvas Student mobile app, you can:
- Access the digital classroom and course content on the go
- Participate in engaging case-study-based discussions with your classmates
- Receive feedback and announcements from your instructors
- Track upcoming due dates across multiple courses, keeping your schedule organized
For a better sense of the distinct advantages Canvas Student brings to you, check out the digital classroom at KU.
iOS users can download the Canvas Student mobile app on the Apple App Store.
Android users can download the Canvas Student mobile app on the Google Play Store.
The Online Learning Environment and Module System
Whether you access our online classroom on your computer or cellphone, each course’s online classroom becomes your go-to space for class participation and the day-to-day activities of your courses.
Through intuitive navigation, robust tools for collaboration and integrated multimedia course materials, the online learning environment at KU was designed specifically to keep our online students engaged in their course work and connected to the greater KU community—all seamlessly from afar and on the go.
In the same effort to streamline your educational experience, we’ve designed our online classroom into modules. These modules thematically build upon one another, helping to split your studies into more easily digestible parts, and are built for each class.
Although each class has its own course work, every class starts with what’s called “Module Zero,” to help you plan your schedule ahead of time and maintain your work/life balance while in school.
Module Zero: Plan Ahead to Maintain a Work/Life Balance
What proves particularly helpful to our online students is the foresight and planning our module system provides.
Right before your courses are scheduled to begin, Module Zero opens in the online classroom and gives you access to your upcoming class, including important due dates, vital readings and key topics that will be covered throughout the course, so you can introduce yourself to your classmates and prepare for your classes and your work schedule as much as possible before the term begins.
Not only is the online classroom convenient, it’s full of useful ways to stay on top of your studies and maximize your ability to take away key insights, connections and skills—and we haven’t even introduced you to Jayhawkville yet.
Direct Experience in a Virtual Environment
As a defining element of experiential learning in our online master’s in sport management program, Jayhawkville represents a virtual, gamified community that brings your education to life.
Take a tour of Jayhawkville and learn how students can apply what they learn in a fun, unique and risk-free environment.
All the Greats Had a Guiding Hand
As a sporting powerhouse, some of the most competitive and driven individuals in athletics have walked our halls. But this tenacity doesn’t apply only to athletes, as many of our sport management alumni have climbed the ranks of some of the biggest brands in the sports. Our new mentorship program is designed to give you connections and a friendly helping hand nearly anywhere you go.
Our alumni work for organizations such as the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Astros, Nashville Predators, the University of Notre Dame, UCLA and U.S. Soccer, just to name a few, and our goal is to connect you with them early and often. From the beginning of the master’s program, each student will be paired with an alumni mentor who will help review resumes, provide networking tips, make introductions to potential employers, and support and guide the student throughout their time at KU.
Collaborate on Assignments
From the beginning of the master’s program, each student will be paired with an alumni mentor who will collaborate on assignments, help review resumes, provide networking tips, make introductions to potential employers, and support and guide the student throughout their time at KU.
I think the mentorship program has impacted my career by pushing me to go for opportunities I may have looked over before and to look at every single opportunity in the sport industry as a chance to learn, grow, and network.
Collaborate on Assignments
From the beginning of the master’s program, each student will be paired with an alumni mentor who will collaborate on assignments, help review resumes, provide networking tips, make introductions to potential employers, and support and guide the student throughout their time at KU.
I have helped several students with in-class projects and assignments. I have played the role of an employee while the student pitched me business ideas. Recently, I was able to help a student connect with someone at a company they had applied to. I put in a reference for this student and they were selected for an interview.
Each class will have an assignment that requires students to interact with their mentors. Some sample assignments that mentors will assist with include:
- Acting as a potential donor for a fundraising pitch
- Giving feedback on an ethical decision-making framework
- Functioning as a client for a potential sponsorship deal
Learn about the mentors who are participating in the Sport Mentorship Program.
Gain a Broader Perspective
As tournaments like the Olympics and the World Cup have shown us, sports bridge cultural gaps and bring the world closer together. And what better way to see how other countries and cultures embrace sports than to travel and see for yourself?
Our Study Away opportunity* allows students to travel, volunteer at premier tournaments, and perform roles ranging from player hospitality to sponsor area setup and more. You will help run key aspects of game day setup operations with a local professional sports team and spend time with the general manager and executive staff before the game.
Our January Study Away experience will be back in 2022, when we change venues and travel to Hawaii! As the centerpiece of our trip, we will partner with the PGA Tour to assist in all aspects of golf’s prestigious Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua. We’ll also immerse ourselves in the unique Hawaiian sporting culture and spend time on the islands of Maui and Oahu.
The tentative dates for the trip are December 31, 2021 through January 14, 2022.**
The course associated with the trip will be three credit hours and can replace HSES 897 or HSES 880. Exceptions may be made to replace other courses for students who have already completed 897 and 880.
Financial aid can be used to cover portions of the cost. For more information, or to apply, please visit our global sport management page.
* Program availability and location are subject to change each year.
**Dates may shift as plans are finalized. Please connect with an admissions advisor for more information. Program availability and location are subject to change each year.
In an industry like sport, it is almost crucial to be well-rounded and well-versed in all aspects of sport. Getting to travel internationally to experience international sport has greatly enhanced my knowledge base. Additionally, the process for planning and booking through KU was easy and smooth.
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