Online Legal Studies Certificate in Sports Law
UC’s online Certificate in Sports Law gives professionals the legal and regulatory insight to navigate the rapidly evolving world of sports, athletics, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights.
Legal Studies Certificate in Sports Law Highlights
High Quality Education
Designed for non-lawyers, this program offers an in-depth understanding of how contracts, compliance, and labor laws shape the business of sports. Developed through a collaboration between the University of Cincinnati College of Law and the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH), this certificate combines foundational legal training with specialized courses in athletic governance and risk management. Students will explore how laws and policies impact everything from professional sports franchises to college athletic programs, player contracts, and NIL agreements.
Graduates of the Certificate in Sports Law will be able to:
- Understand how labor, contract, and risk management laws apply within sports organizations.
- Analyze key legal cases and policies affecting collegiate and professional athletics.
- Evaluate and manage compliance risks within athletic programs.
- Apply negotiation and contract principles to real-world sports scenarios.
- Communicate complex legal concepts to coaches, administrators, and athletes.
Flexibility
- 100% Online: Complete coursework on your own schedule with asynchronous classes designed for busy healthcare professionals.
- Interdisciplinary Expertise: Learn from faculty in UC’s College of Law and College of Allied Health Sciences, combining real-world healthcare and legal perspectives
- Pathway to a Master’s Degree: Apply your certificate credits toward UC’s Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program to continue your professional growth
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your partner through the application process, getting enrolled, and starting your program
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| LAW6007 | Contracts: Negotiation, Formation and Interpretation This course introduces students to the law that governs agreements for the future exchange of performances. Topics include conditions for contract formations, interpretations, resolution of ambiguities, and remedies for breach. This course will also take students through a hypothetical contractual process from negotiating the term sheets, to drafting the contract, to closing the transaction, and ending with post-closing obligations. Through this exercise, students will acquire a detailed understanding of the practical aspects of deal negotiations and execution, the timelines, and the major components of a negotiated contract. Students will . |
3 |
| SPAD7014 | Risk Management in Sport This course is designed to focus on applying knowledge and skills needed to mitigate risks in athletics. Emphasis will be placed on administering civil law concepts to common scenarios within interscholastic and intercollegiate athletics. Additionally, students will learn how to develop, implement and evaluate policies and procedures addressing areas of liability within sport organizations. Students will be able to identify proper safety guidelines and standards within a diverse set of sport contexts based on relevant case law, statutes, federal law, and industry standards. |
3 |
| SPAD7023 | Athletic Governance and Compliance This course focuses on the structure and operations of interscholastic and intercollegiate athletic governing bodies. The class will discuss the role compliance serves in the management of athletic administration and how rules and regulations impact practices and procedures of athletic administration. Emphasis will be placed on discerning regulations, eligibility, practice, procedures, and bylaws by proactive oversight. |
3 |
| LAW6010 | Labor Law This course will introduce students to the principles of labor law, including union organizing, collective bargaining, contract enforcement, strikes, and relations between management and unions as well as unions and their members. Students will focus on key regulations that employers, including professional sports franchises, must follow in a unionized work environment. |
3 |
| LAW6012 | Sports Law This will introduce students to the substantive and practical aspects of the law as applied to professional sports. Students will be exposed to a review of current and selected past case law, discussion of current events in the business and law of sports, a review and interpretation of the legislation governing sports, and analysis of the various contractual relationships and structures that govern the operation of professional athletics. |
1 |
Prerequisites
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale
- At least two years of professional work experience in a related field
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees are waived for Summer 2026 applications submitted by March 1st, 2026
- Application fees are waived for Fall 2026 applications submitted by July 1st, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
One letter of recommendation required from an academic or professional source. Reference forms are submitted via the application system.
Current resume or CV.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
April 15, 2026 August 8, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
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