Best Sports Management Programs

Sports management is a field of study that deals with the overall organization of sports and recreation. Students who take up this field will be able to learn about skills that allow them to plan, direct, budget, lead and even evaluate events within the sports field. This field offers a wide variety of career opportunities and a projected career growth that exceeds most professions in the sports industry.

Being a sports manager is one of the perfect professions for sports enthusiasts and taking up a program in sports management can be in the form of an MS, an MA, or even an MBA. Students who take up this field will be able to work as athletic department supervisors, team managers, coaches, team marketing directors, etc. all of which are highly rewarding. Those who wish to take up this field of study will require prior knowledge of fields like information technology, computer science, economics, finance, office administration, etc. or they will also be able to learn these programs in the first year of their study.

Benefits of Studying Sports Management

The obvious benefits of taking up a degree in sports management lie in the satisfaction that the career options in this industry provide. Sports enthusiasts who wish to stay within the industry but do not want to be part of the limelight will be able to take up professions like sports marketing manager, sponsorship manager, coaches, supervisors, etc. A few other benefits of studying sports management include-

• Candidates who take up sports management will be able to get enough career opportunities with the entertainment and sports occupations having a projected growth of 22 percent from 2020 to 2030.
• Studying this program will allow candidates with job flexibility that most other professions do not offer. Students will be able to choose from professions that allow them to become agents for players to recreational managers at theme parks depending on the area they wish to work in.
• Since the program deals with general business and management courses, students will be receiving an education that pertains to the current market trends. The only exception to this study would be that their study will be limited to the sports and recreational industry.
• Professions in this field of study will allow students to travel extensively. Depending on their choice of career, they will be able to travel within the country and around the world.

Subjects Covered in Sports Management

The courses offered under sports management mostly overlap with those offered for business and management programs. But these programs will have an emphasis on the sports and recreational industry allowing students to learn about the nuances of the industry in detail. A few of the courses that are offered for a sports management program include-

• Principles of Sports Management
• Sports Accounting and Finance
• Sports Law
• Sports History
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Sports

Difference Between Sports Management and Sports Administration

Sports management and sports administration are terms that are interchangeably used for programs that are offered in this field of study. While the programs offered might have similar course structures and curricula, the essential difference lies in the approach both these programs have. Students who take up sports management programs will be dealing with the organization and planning of sports events along with aspects like budgeting and directing the event. This program will have a primary focus on the business aspects of the field.

On the other hand, students who take up sports administration will be dealing with overseeing the management of sports events. Candidates will be able to take up professions that deal with the personal and professional development of athletes. This can also include finding and signing new talents or even representing athletes.

Top Universities for Sports Management

A few of the top universities offering sports management programs include-

• Rice University
• Ohio State University
• Syracuse University
• University of Miami
• Southern Methodist University
• University of Texas, Austin
• University of Michigan
• Indiana University

Best Programs for Sports Management

Program	University	Location
BA in Sports Management	Rice University	Houston, TX
Sports Management, MS in Kinesiology	Ohio State University	Columbus, OH
BS in Sport Management	Syracuse University	Syracuse, NY
MSEd in Sport Administration	University of Miami	Coral Gables, FL
MS in Sport Management	Southern Methodist University	Dallas, TX
MS in Sport Management-	University of Texas	Austin, TX
MS in Sport Management-	University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI
BS in Sports Marketing and Management	Indiana University	Bloomington, IN

BA in Sports Management-Rice University

This university offers a BA in Sports Management through its Department of Sports Management. Students will be able to take this program with a concentration in areas like sports analytics, sports law, and sports leadership. The courses that are included in this program are finance, marketing, leadership, management, law, etc. This program has a duration of 4 years and students are also required to complete 300 working hours as part of an internship for course completion.

The cost of attendance per year at an undergraduate level in this university is $54,000.

Sports Management, MS in Kinesiology- Ohio State University

Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in any subject will be able to take this MS program. The program provides 32 credits for candidates and includes an internship opportunity or a thesis project they have to complete as part of the program. Students who take up this program will also have direct access to Ohio State’s athletic department. The courses included in the program are sports marketing principles, legal issues in sports, theory & techniques of sports management, etc.

BS in Sport Management-Syracuse University

This degree is offered by Falk College’s Department of Sport Management. The program has a duration of 4 years and it involves areas like sports business, sports marketing, facility & arena management, sports communication, etc. Students will also be taken to places like Los Angeles, Australia, Europe, etc. as part of their experiential learning trips. They are required to complete a 12-credit capstone in their final two semesters for course completion. The courses that are taught as part of the program include technology in sport, sports finance, sponsorship & promotion, sports law, etc.

M.S.Ed. in Sports Administration-University of Miami

This program has a duration of 12 to 18 months and provides 30 credits upon course completion. The core courses for the program are 27 credits in all whereas the 3 additional credits are offered for the internships and elective courses one takes as part of the course. Students will also be able to choose a thesis option instead of the internship if their wish to. Students who have enrolled in the program will be able to get placed for a 12-month internship upon course completion. They will also get tuition assistance of $10,000 and a monthly $1,000 stipend. The courses that are taught include administration, law, event management, sports analytics, ethical decision making, crisis management, etc.

The tuition for the program is calculated per credit with the cost for credit being around $2,000.

MS in Sport Management-Southern Methodist University

This program has a duration of 12 months and involves 17 courses that are taught as 4 7-week modules. Students will also have to take up one summer internship as part of the program. The courses that are taught include sports organizational design, sports facility management, advanced sports communication, ethics in sports, sports sponsorship, sports law, etc. The summer internship that students will be taking will be worth 4 credits.

MS in Sport Management-University of Texas

This program is known for its small class size, research opportunities, and internship opportunities that are part of the entire package. It has a duration of 2 years in all with students being able to choose from a thesis option, a non-thesis option, or a report option upon completion of core courses. The core courses offered include sports marketing, legal issues in sport, ethics in sport, strategic management for sport, etc.

The fee for the program is around $675 per semester credit hour. Since the program has 30 credits in all, the fee is estimated to be around $20,300.

MS in Sport Management-University of Michigan

This program is offered by the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan and it provides 30 credits in all. Students will be required to complete 15 hours of core curriculum and another 15+ hours meeting other requirements. These requirements include research, completing electives, and graduate-level statistics. The core curriculum includes legal aspects of the sport, organizational behavior & human resources, marketing management for the sports industry, etc.

BS in Sports Marketing and Management- Indiana University

This undergraduate program has a duration of 4 years and students are required to complete the core courses along with more than 120 credit hours for course completion. The program contains courses like law, marketing, communication, management, finance, psychology, etc. It also has core courses like sports communication, kinesiology & public health, sport in American society, etc.

Career Opportunities in Sports Management

Sports management is one of the most popular fields in the entertainment and sports sector with a promising career outlook. Students who have taken up a program in this field will be able to find different kinds of career opportunities which will also provide them with job flexibility. A few of the career opportunities one can choose include-

• Sports Manager- This profession includes overseeing all the aspects of managing athletic events. This can include budgeting, planning, organizing, etc. for the successful completion of the event. The salary for this profession is charged based on the athlete’s playing contract.
• Sports Marketing Manager- This profession involves the management of only the marketing aspects of athletic events. This will include holding campaigns and finding business sponsors for similar events. The salary range for this profession ranges between $33,000 to $180,000 based on the academic qualification and experience of the candidate.
• Athletic Trainer- This job involves providing exercise and nutrition plans to athletes. They will have to engage in conversations with coaches and other family members of the athlete. The salary range for this profession is between $47,000 to $57,000.