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Sport Business Degree: Sports Management Schools, Sports Management College Degree and Master Degree

From community sports marketing to sports merchandising, a sports business degree can open up many opportunities within this fast-paced industry. The field of sport management is growing in diversity, especially with the influences of the media, internet, and news industries. Professionals are needed to develop promotions and sponsorship programs, serve as facilities managers, and work with media relations; a sports business degree offers students a chance the key skills needed for a rewarding and lucrative career. Athletic business management and sponsorship offers graduates of sports management schools to apply key principles of marketing, economics, and business management towards a particular organization. Students interested in administration of sports organizations also have a higher chance of success after completing a formal sports management college degree program.

What is a Sports Business Degree?

A sports business degree affords students the chance to learn within a specialized business discipline, especially in the areas of sport marketing, facilities management, and sport organization administration. While a standard business management or business administration degree offers many benefits for a career in management, a sports management degree offers a more specialized curriculum and format. Graduates of sports management schools can apply fundamental lessons learned in sports psychology, professional sales and marketing, and even sport ethics in a variety of organizations.

What do Sports Management Schools offer?

Attending a sports management business school prepares students within a specialized business program and course of study, helping them work with mentors and prospective employers during the process. Many sports management business schools require students to complete an internship or other formal apprenticeship program as part of their requirements; this helps them gain hands-on experience in their chosen field, and can enhance both their educational and professional resume.

Sports management schools also make it easier to network with other students and professors in the industry. This can be beneficial both in the long- and short-term, offering students a chance to study, collaborate, and learn from a variety of different projects of relevance in the modern field. After completing a standard sports management college degree program, students may also choose to pursue a sports management master degree.

Classes and Curriculum with a Sport Business Degree Program

A sports management college degree program offers a diverse range of study with classes designed for direct application in their field. Common courses available with a sports management degree program include:

  • Sport Law
  • Psychology of Sport
  • Sport Governance & Ethics
  • Facilities Management
  • Sport Marketing
  • Philosophy and Principles of Human Movement
  • Professional Sales and Marketing
  • Field experience in Sport Management
  • Current Issues in Sport
  • Sport History

Benefits of a Sports Management College Degree

Job duties after graduating from sports management schools vary widely, depending on the type of organization and focus of study. Students who have completed a sports management college degree program may choose to work with corporations in developing promotions, sponsorships, and other marketing activities. They can focus on sports law and administration, entering the field of sports and facilities management for an organization that hosts sports events and conferences. They may also choose to working the sales and marketing industry of sporting goods and products, working as sales representatives or regional managers. Sports broadcasting and media relations are other growing industries that require skilled professionals in a variety of positions.

Sport Business Degree: Training and Qualifications

Sports business degree programs can be very competitive, and the industry itself employs well-trained and highly skilled professionals who advance throughout their careers. Sport business degree requirements include standard educational requirements of any degree program, along with electives and sport-specific management classes.

A typical sport business degree program is completed on a 4-year plan, and advancing into a master's program offers another opportunity for students to obtain sports management positions with ease. Students who are especially strong in classes such as communications, business, consumer relations, and public speaking have a strong chance of success in the industry.

Options and Opportunities with a Sports Management Master Degree

A sports management master degree program offers students a chance to concentrate on fields in administration, sports law, sport history research, or coaching and teaching. Sports management master degree programs typically take between 2-3 years to complete, and can be pursued after a standard sports business degree program. Common roles and positions for graduates with a sports management master degree program include:

  • Sports agent

  • Vice president or manager of a professional sports organization

  • Operations manager

  • TV rights professional

  • Merchandising or licensing executive

  • Marketing and events planner

Common courses of study in a sports management master degree program include:

  • Franchise and licensing agreements

  • Facility ownership

  • Labor, employment contracts, and human resources in sports business

  • Organizational behavior

  • Role of sports in society

Employment and Career Prospects After Completing a Sports Business Degree

Employment of sports business professionals looks promising, especially with the growth of the media, advertising, and public relations fields. Organizational and facilities management is also growing in scope, and requires experienced professionals to oversee and direct operations. Rewarding career opportunities exist for those interested in sales, marketing, advertising, and sports organization management; while most sporting goods jobs are paid on a base salary plus commission basis, directors, managers, and other professional positions offer lucrative salaries. Salaries vary widely depending on the organization, professional experience, and level of expertise; for example, the vice president of marketing of a major league organization may earn an average of $115,000 per year, while an assistant general manager at a minor league can earn approximately $60,000.

 

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