Philosophy of Accreditation
The COSMA utilizes a distinctly different approach to specialized accreditation in sport management. It uses both characteristics of excellence in sport management education and assessment of education outcomes as a basis for making accreditation decisions, rather than the prescriptive input standards approach.
Because of the essential role that educational processes play in determining educational outcomes, the COSMA has developed accreditation principles based on best practices in sport management education. These principles promote excellence in sport management education through a benchmarking process, which is helpful in determining whether the sport management program is, or is not, achieving its mission and broad-based goals, and is interpreting the results of the outcomes assessment process.
Educational institutions are unique, with differing missions, goals, processes, and intended learning outcomes. COSMA principles assess progress toward excellence, allow for a continuum of accomplishment, and encourage continuous improvement. There is no standard of learning that fits all institutions, but there are principles that can apply to all institutions.
The COSMA is committed to a developmental approach to excellence in sport management education. The COSMA and its members function in a collaborative and cooperative manner, encouraging each other toward higher levels of quality in sport management education.
The COSMA is both flexible and innovative in applying its philosophy of accreditation. It recognizes that sport management education exists within a dynamic, complex environment that requires innovative approaches to achieving quality educational outcomes.
Membership in COSMA entitles an institution to pursue accreditation of their sport management programs. Accredited status is achieved through an intensive process that includes completion of a candidacy program, completion and review of an institutional self-study, site visit by accreditation team, final approval by the COSMA Board of Commissioners and submission of annual reports. Once approved accredited status is valid for 7 years.
COSMA is the only organization offering discipline specific accreditation in sport management.