| The purpose of the study was to determine (a) the preferred qualifications of the sport administration program director, as perceived by sport administration program directors and selected sport management practitioners; and (b) to identify the actual qualifications of individuals who have assumed the role and responsibilities of sport administration program director at the graduate and/or undergraduate levels.;The dependent variables in this study were: (a) educational preparation, (b) athletic administration experience, (c) teaching experience, (d) sport industry experience, and (e) professional academic involvement. The independent variables were: (a) sport administration program directors, and (b) sport management practitioners.;The subjects included the population of sport administration program directors (199) as identified by the North American Society for Sport Management/National Association for Sport and Physical Education Task Force, and a random sample of 300 selected sport management practitioners (75 each from four selected sport industry fields).;A survey instrument was developed as a result of the review of the literature. Independent t-tests were conducted to identify mean differences between sport administration program directors and sport management practitioners on single item questions.;The results of the study indicated that the two groups of subjects were similar in age and years in present position, but differed on level of educational degrees earned. Nine qualifications were perceived by both groups as essential. These included teaching experience, program evaluation, budget management, personnel management, curriculum design, regularly attend national sport management meetings, current membership in one or more professional meetings, facility and event management, and computer application.;Sport management practitioners did not perceive an earned doctorate as important for the sport administration program director to hold. Sport administration program directors viewed an earned doctorate as most important. However, both groups rated educational background as an important qualification. Sport administration program directors and sport management practitioners were statistically significantly different at the.05 alpha level on 22 of 39 specific qualifications. Sport administration program directors placed a higher value than the sport management practitioners on 18 of the 22 items. |
