New graduate certificate program examines leadership in college athletics

As Frank Harris III looks across the landscape of college athletics, he sees far more than just fun and games. 

He sees legal battles related to student-athlete compensation that have reached the U.S. Supreme Court. He sees the proliferation of NIL (name, image and likeness) and the transfer portal that have roiled team rosters and roused Congress. He sees the debate over the participation of transgender athletes that has become a culture war flashpoint.

"Athletics is very dynamic — it always has been, but the last four years or so especially,” said Harris, a professor of postsecondary educational leadership at San Diego State University. “I think it is an interesting time. To me, it's kind of like teaching political science during an election year."

A new graduate program at SDSU created by Harris will soon allow students to take a deep dive into what happens outside the lines. In February, the University Senate approved the Educational Leadership in Intercollegiate Athletics Advanced Certificate, which is set to launch in spring semester 2026.

The certificate program will consist of four courses designed to be completed over two semesters. The curriculum will first provide a foundational understanding of leadership in the context of higher education before delving into topics such as the holistic development of student athletes, organizational governance, gender equity and diversity and the impact of sports as an enterprise on education and society.

Harris, who has served as Faculty Athletics Representative for the Aztecs since 2021, will be the program’s the core faculty member and advisor to start. He said he intends to bring in experienced intercollegiate athletics administrators to teach courses as lecturers.

“I really want to have folks who are working in the field of athletics teaching students," Harris said.

The program is designed for any prospective student interested in studying intercollegiate athletics and is considering a career in the field. It may also be attractive to current student-athletes who have completed their bachelor’s degree and are pursuing graduate studies while finishing out their athletics eligibility. 

Admissions will take place on a rolling basis, allowing students to apply in either spring or fall. Classes will take place both in-person and in hybrid modalities. Recruitment is already underway.

“We're interested in anybody who's interested in studying athletics through the lens of educational leadership,” Harris said. “You could be a current athlete. You could be a former athlete. You could be someone who's had no participation in athletics at all but maybe want to choose it as a career. We want to have a diverse group of folks."