Step 1: Program Membership

Eligibility for program membership

In order for an academic unit/sport management program to be considered for program membership in COSMA, the following criteria must be satisfied:

1. The academic unit/sport management program’s parent institution must have institutional accreditation from an appropriate recognized national institutional accrediting organization. Institutions located outside of the United States must have equivalent recognized institutional accreditation from an appropriate organization in the relevant country or region, or approvals or authorizations to award degrees from an appropriate governing, legal, or similar body.
2. The academic unit/sport management program must have offered at least one associate's, bachelor-, master’s or doctoral-level degree program in a sport management field, with enrolled students, for at least two years.
3. The institution must have a publicly stated mission appropriate to a college or university. This mission must have been approved by the institution’s governing body (e.g., regents, trustees, directors, etc.).

PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP

​In order to become a program member of COSMA, an academic unit/sport management program must:

1. Submit an application for program membership. Applications for COSMA program membership must be approved and signed by the institution’s chief executive officer (i.e., president, chancellor, director general), affirming its commitment to abide by the accreditation policies and procedures of COSMA.
2. Pay membership dues to COSMA (U.S. $1,980 per year, see below). 
3. Provide evidence that the institution has institutional accreditation from an appropriate, recognized national institutional accrediting organization. Institutions located outside of the United States must provide evidence of equivalent recognized institutional accreditation from an appropriate organization in the relevant country or region, or approvals or authorizations to award degrees from an appropriate governing, legal, or similar body. This evidence should take the form of a copy of the letter from an appropriate recognized national accrediting organization affirming or reaffirming institutional accreditation. For institutions located outside of the United States, this evidence would be an equivalent letter, certificate, charter, or license from an appropriate accrediting, governing, legal, or similar body in the relevant country or region granting institutional accreditation, recognition, approval, or authorization to award degrees.
4. Provide evidence that the institution grants sport management degrees at the associate's, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral level.
5. Provide evidence that the institution has a publicly-stated mission appropriate to a college or university. This mission must have been approved by the institution’s governing body (i.e., trustees, regents, directors).
6. Provide the URL for the most recent catalog for the institution’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs. You may also provide an electronic version.
7. Scope of Accreditation Checklist - Complete and submit to determine which programs are to be included in the accreditation process, upon request by the Board of Commissioners or COSMA Headquarters.​

COSMA is instituting a process to allow “limited resource institutions*” a reduced fee for membership. COSMA wants to enable all sport management programs to afford the accreditation process and to ensure a more equitable financial process for member institutions. Other adjustments to membership fees will be determined on a case-by-case basis annually.
* Be among the bottom 15 percent of active Division I schools from a resource standpoint, as determined by per capita school expenditures, per capita athletics department funding and per capita Pell Grant aid for the student body. OR Be a member of a conference in which 60 percent of the schools are among the bottom 15 percent of active Division I members from a resource standpoint. (AASP Grants for Schools - NCAA.org)

1. If your program is budgeted for and can afford to pay the $1,980 annually, do nothing differently.
2. Programs joining and starting the accreditation process in FY 2024-25. Gradual payment schedule:

​Year 1: $495 (25% of $1,980)
Year 2: $990 (50% of $1,980)
Year 3: $1,485 (75% of $1,980)
Year 4: $1,980 (100%)

COSMA's Scope of Accreditation (as recognized by CHEA):
COSMA accredits sport management programs in institutions of higher education worldwide that grant degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
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COSMA will review submitted materials and, upon acceptance as a program member, will contact the academic unit/sport management program’s primary representative regarding the candidacy status process.
 
Non-U.S.-based programs: COSMA will make a reasonable effort to communicate with and consult with appropriate governmental and nongovernmental accreditation or quality assurance entities in other countries.

Additional Links

• Accreditation Principles and Self-Study Preparation Manual (2024)
• Link to Self-Study Manual Appendices​
• ​Accreditation Process Manual
• Site Visit Preparation Manual
• Program Membership Application
• Site Reviewer Resource Guide​

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