PHD Graduate Student

Louisiana State University Sport Management Program is planning to take PhD students to begin Fall 2027 [we anticipate to have 2-4 funded openings].

Role Description This full-time PhD Graduate Assistantship role is an on-site position (50% effort, or 20 hours per week) based in Baton Rouge, LA with a 9-month base pay of $23,000 that also a full tuition waiver and automatic enrollment in the student health insurance plan (SHIP), for which LSU subsidizes 75% of the total premium cost while the student pays the remaining 25%. Additional financial incentives and scholarships are available for candidates with outstanding GRE or GMAT scores, high cumulative GPA, and other qualifications such as notable work experience and/or previous publication achievements. Graduate Assistants may also have the opportunity to earn additional money during the summer teaching in either the on-campus or online undergraduate BS Sport Administration degree programs.

Accepted students will conduct original research under faculty supervision, including designing studies, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating findings through publications and presentations. Daily activities typically include coursework (as applicable), developing literature reviews, preparing research proposals, and participating in group meetings and conferences. The student role involves collaborating with faculty, peers, and research staff, contributing to departmental projects, and maintaining accurate records in accordance with university and funding agency guidelines. Sport Management Graduate Assistants also support teaching activities, such as assisting with undergraduate courses and contributing to the academic community through service and outreach.

For additional information specific about the faculty in LSU Sport Management program and faculty visit this link: 

https://www.lsu.edu/chse/kinesiology/academics/graduate/phd-kinesiology-sport-management.php

The LSU Graduate School website ( http://www.lsu.edu/graduateschool/ ) is also very helpful and provides information that answers most prospective student inquiries related to requirements, scholarships/fellowships, costs, etc. I encourage you to visit that site and explore the links for prospective students. 

LSU uses an online application process. To answer your questions, I direct you to specific links on the graduate school website. For general information concerning LSU graduate programs and the admissions process, including Information concerning due dates, materials needed to complete the application, and university standards for Grade Point Averages and TOEFL scores, please visit this link:

https://www.lsu.edu/graduateschool/admissions/index.php

Regarding some of your potential questions: 1) We can count some credits from a masters degree program but that is something negotiated with an advisor, 2) The average length of study depends on the dissertation topic, cognate area, and is different for each individual. We have some that finish in 3 and others in 4 years, 3) We primarily only recruit students interested in pursuing a career in academia (i.e., being a professor). In essence, we are not designed to help individuals who desire a professional career; that's what master’s (e.g., MS Sport management or MBA) are for and sport industry jobs generally don't value PhDs over MBAs in particularly, 4) We do not accept PhD students unless they have a master’s degree in sport management or a related business-oriented field or will obtain one before starting the program, 5) We produced a 100% placement rate into tenure-track positions with our PhD graduates, and 6) We can provide potentially up to $3,500 in travel with $2,000 guranteed alnnually.

If you are interested in a PhD at LSU you will need to develop a detailed statement about your research interests (3-4 pages with references). To be more specific, you would need to indicate what you would like to study in sport management. In essence, an area of concentration should be identified. Each of our faculty members (Drs. Chad Seifried, Mike Martinez, Brent Oja, Per Svensson, Claire Zvosec, and Junho Kim) will require a research statement if you desire to potentially work with them.

Sport Management Ph.D. programs have grown in number and quality throughout the world and may support a curricula that promotes educational training in many of these various areas: a) Organizational Behavior and Theory; b) Consumer Behavior; c) Marketing and Promotions; d) Event and Facility Management; e) Law/Legal Applications; f) Finance and Accounting; g) Economics; h) History; i) Research Methods and Statistics; j) Management Ethics; and k) Communications. Each of our faculty specialize in different areas, theories, and methodologies as well.

What I'm personally looking For in a PhD Student: Those primarily interested in history as an approach to study management and/or sport facility management topics. Secondarily, I'd like to recruit doctoral students who might be interested in studying the evolution of College Football Stadiums or Formula 1 race circuits as a future dissertation topic through innovation, modernization, or interorganizational relationships.

Your application package will require a 3.0 or higher cumulative undergraduate GPA; there is no flexibility from our graduate school with the minimum undergrad GPA. We accept either the GRE or GMAT. Those scores are negotiable with your potential advisor. Your prospective application will also require you to submit three letters of recommendation, a resume, official transcripts and a letter of intent. The letter of intent should indicate your research interests as explained above. Let me know if this information does not answer your initial questions.