Institute for Research in Sport

The Canisius Master of Sport Administration program is one of only a few master's programs in the U.S. approved by the North American Society of Sport Management (NASSM).

The Institute for Research in Sport at Canisius College (IRIS) was founded in the fall of 2010, and serves as a forum for our students and faculty to conduct independent research pertinent to their academic and scholarly interests in the sports industry. The IRIS provides an opportunity for our students to build their professional and scholarly network, and to gain practical real-world experience by conducting research pertinent to their academic and professional interests.

The mission of the IRIS is to foster opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, through working with our faculty and other professionals/alumni in the sport industry, to pursue innovative academic and professional research specific to the industry of sport. The IRIS affords our Canisius community the opportunity to be involved in research on topics that fall hand-in-hand with their career goals and academic interests in sport. This will be accomplished through three primary means:

Afford students independent research opportunities through grants, affiliations, strategic partnerships and alliances with sport organizations, and internship opportunities.

Offer workshops, guest speakers, scholarly lectures, and networking opportunities with professionals in the sport industry (including Canisius alumni), to build and share expertise on important issues and trends within the field.

Provide access to peer-reviewed scholarly journals, industry publications, and academic studies pertaining to the growing field of sport and sport business, with a goal of having published Canisius student and faculty research.

Through this three-fold approach, Canisius MSA students, as well as undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in sport, will have a place to gain first-hand experience solving the problems and confronting the issues pertinent to leaders in the sport industry. Through practical application and collaboration, the IRIS at Canisius College will provide students with a forum to actively pursue independent research, career opportunities, and gain practical experience in the sport industry.

To find out more about the IRIS, please contact Dr. Shawn O’Rourke at orourke1@canisius.edu.