Comparative Study of Master of Sport Management Curriculum in Iran and Selected Universities of the World

The sport management curriculum is considered as one of the most important pillars of sport management in the country. This study examined and compared the curriculum of Master's degree of sport management in Iran and selected universities. The method of this research is descriptive-analytical-comparative with qualitative approach. Sports management’s approved curriculum were received from the Ministry of Science website (Higher Education Planning Office) then adapted and compared with curricula of 16 universities in the world. Examining the curriculum of selected universities showed that, from the six sport management’s academic orientation in Iran, there is more overlap to the topics of the sport marketing orientation and also the slightest similarities with the Strategic Management in Sport and Leisure Management and Recreational Sports. Also there is most variety of course titles and the most diversity of orientation toward other universities. More than 90% of curriculum of selected universities were segregated into 26 subject areas, sport management education has been addressed to 21 subject areas in Iran. The bachelor's degree in Iran is defined in a general and comprehensive manner and sport management is a small part of that with limited titles. On the contrary, at the master level, there are more specialized and differentiated academic orientation for sport management. Based on this, it seems to be lack sufficient cognitive and empirical skills to select and enter tomaster of sports management in Iran.