Within the sports sector are growing occupational fields with many work opportunities ranging from professional sports teams to recreational facilities. A degree in Sport Management can lead to a diversity of careers including sports marketing, event planning, team/league operation and managing athletes or sports programs.

Sport Management degree programs are developed to prepare students for professions inside the sport sector or academic athletic institutions.

The curriculum involves aspects of business, finance, marketing, recreation & leisure, public relations and psychology. Employment opportunities for those graduating with a Sport Management degree include sports facility manager, sports program coordinator, sports program director, athlete counselor and intercollegiate athletics administrator.

Types of Sports Management Degrees

Degree programs in Sport Management are most commonly offered in both the undergraduate (Bachelor’s) and graduate (Master’s) level. Those with a BS degree in this major can find work in various areas of Sport Management after graduation, however, an MS degree may be required for more administrative or managerial roles.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Sport Management

This degree is considered as entry-level in the field of Sport Management. A bachelor’s level education in Sport Management typically includes 2 years worth of core liberal arts and sciences classes and 2 years of courses related to the subject. Most programs usually culminate in an internship where the student obtains real work experience in his or her particular area of interest. Professional sports teams, intercollegiate athletic departments and recreational organizations are common internship sites.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Sport Management

This degree is based on a curriculum geared specifically towards Sport Management, and goes deeper into the subject’s specific areas, including general subjects with an applied Sport Management emphasis. Classes range from sports business to athlete counseling and depending on the school, the program may offer multiple specializations or types of MS in Sport Management degrees ranging from administration to therapeutic counseling. These Master’s program usually are offered part-time or full-time, taking between 1-2 years to complete.

Online Sports Management Degrees

Online degree options for both a BS an MS in Sport Management are available as well. Some of these distance learning programs allow completion of all courses 100% online, with internships being the only non-online component.

Opportunities in Sport Management

Sport Management can encompass many converging areas of expertise that are required for an organization or department whose primary focus is on a specific sport or physical activity. A leader in this profession must have a skills set of abilities that include organizing, planning, directing, controlling, leading, budgeting and evaluating multiple and varying areas within the organization.

The role of Sports Manager can be found in college sports, professional sports, Olympic or amateur sports, sport management companies who employ agents on behalf of the athletes, communication experts , media outlets, corporate sponsors, advertising executives, sporting equipment firms, managers of arenas, stadiums, civic centers and other recreational locations of events, community sporting programs, social services recreational agencies, such as the YMCA,YWCA, and the JCC, private golf, tennis and aquatic clubs and military sporting programs.

Currently, employment opportunities are readily available in the sport and recreation management industries. As a multi-billion dollar sector, new positions for those holding a degree in sports management are opening up much more frequently than average compared to other lines of work. For example, public and private recreational programs, especially those dealing with special population (i.e., children with disabilities, geriatric communities) are in need of highly competent program coordinators, managers and directors.

People having graduate level degrees in sports management will have the biggest prospect for securing the administrative and “high up” job spots.

Preparing for a career in Sports Management

For those who want to pursue a career in Sport Management, an advantage for advanced employment would include the completion of an academic degree that combines business management with a thorough understanding of the sport, with some meaningful work experience as a supplement to this education, usually in the area involving the management of sporting events, teams, or organizations.

A preference is given to graduates who have acquired a degree majoring in Sport Management, with course work in areas of human relations, business administration, physical education, communications and organizational management. Because the industry is now so vast and varied, some colleges and universities now offer specialized degree programs with specific concentrations on individual segments of the sports industry, such as golf course management, sports tourism, or sports communications and media.

In preparation for college academics, the high school student can enhance his future course load by taking classes in economics, business, management, sociology, psychology, history, mathematics and statistics. Playing varsity sports, involvement in school sports clubs and intramural activities, and assisting in school sports workshops and clinics will also prove extremely advantageous to the new prospective college student by providing an abundance of leadership opportunities.

Getting work experience related to Sports Management

The opportunities to acquire work related experience prior to and after enrollment in college are various and plentiful. Experiences with lifeguarding, officiating or coaching intramural sporting events, attendance and counseling in youth sports camps or clinics, serving as a volunteer for professional sports teams, or as a volunteer worker for college sporting events can all assist the candidate to enhance their background in leadership for preparation in the study of Sport Management.

Sports Management Career Skills

Students establish their skills, both in general and as applied to Sport Management, in the following areas:

  • Business
  • Administration
  • Public relations
  • Marketing
  • Law
  • Management
  • Finance

Sport Management students learn the proper and most effective methods of managing a vast array of athletic and recreational facilities - from fields and stadiums to community golf courses and community water parks - and gain working knowledge of the numerous facets of managing sporting events including organizing, budgeting, and advertising. They also learn about various ethical and political issues involved with the sports and recreation industries.

Some degree programs specialize in certain areas such as recreation or sports therapy and include coursework focused on those topics.

Related Resources

The following organizations are considered to be the most representative authorities in the field of sports management.