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 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. $1,800 per year). 
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 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'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 (2022)
• ​Accreditation Process Manual
• Site Visit Preparation Manual
• Program Membership Application
• Site Reviewer Resource Guide​