This study used occupational socialization as an interpretive framework to explore how athletic administration graduate programs prepare students for careers in the field. As intercollegiate athletics programs continue to expand their scope, the need for well-trained, ethical administrators and support professionals to staff these programs becomes increasingly urgent. Data were collected from graduate program websites and interviews with faculty, program leaders, and students from six programs. Findings revealed that the program’s location or academic affiliation shapes faculty and program leaders’ views on its goals and scope. While faculty believed their programs aligned with industry demands, students generally had positive relationships with faculty, but expressed concerns about the lack of depth in curricula, especially regarding race and racism in college athletics. Experiential learning opportunities, such as assistantships and internships, were critical to student development. This study opens new avenues for future research focused on understanding how aspiring athletic administrators are professionally prepared and the role graduate programs play in this process.
Comeaux et al. (Sat,) studied this question.