Sports Management Degree Programs: What to Expect

Professional sports teams are flush with money. Salary caps are bloating, broadcasting rights fees are escalating, and franchise values are growing at record paces. New technologies coupled with “internet everywhere” is creating scores of new revenue streams for fans who can now consume games, analysis, and statistics from practically anywhere. Young, business-minded sports fans now see sports as something more than entertainment to enjoy with friends.

There’s a place for supreme marketers, high-intellect accountants, experienced lawyers, skilled engineers, analytical front office staffers, and super sales folks with sports organizations. Suppliers of media content, data, equipment, merchandise, and more are also looking for talent across the sports business spectrum. As you likely know, winning a prime job in the sports industry is tough—experience makes a difference but often isn’t enough. A degree in sports management will help you stand out from the crowd. There’s just one problem. Not many people know precisely what’s to be learned in this sort of program. Let’s skip the generalities and focus on the details. Take a peek inside the sports management curriculum of Ohio University, one of the oldest and most respected of such programs in the country.

At Ohio University, sports management “students have an education grounded in business skills and acumen with applied instruction and work in sports settings.” Faculty in the Department of Sports Administration combine practical academic learning with hands-on training to graduate students that are ready to pursue a career in sports. The coursework focuses on planning, evaluating, and leading organizations and departments that develop products and services for the sports industry. These classes lay the foundation for a long, successful career in sports.

To value the coursework, you should first understand the broad strokes of what department leaders want you to learn. Faculty and staff want students to demonstrate the following:

1. A strong knowledge base in sports management core areas.

2. Effective communication through written means.

3. Effective communication through public presentation.

4. Career management skills.

5. Critical thinking skills appropriate for the sports industry.

6. Effective information literacy related to the sports industry.

7. Skills necessary to live in a diverse, global society.

8. Effective team participation.

9. Ethical reasoning skills.

A Bachelor of Science in Sports Science at Ohio University brings together classes from business administration, finance, management, information systems, marketing, business law, sociology, and sports administration/sports management offering up a well-designed, cohesive educational experience. The curriculum couples useful business knowledge with a sports bent and real field experience.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll study, minus the fluff.

What’s in a Sports Management degree program?

Areas of Study

Law and Society

Constitutional, administrative, criminal, tort, contractual, international, and environmental law, as well as business organizations.

Foundations of Financial Management

The basic principles of short-term and long-term corporate financial management.

Principles of Operations

How operations management provides a product or service with higher quality and at a lower cost than the competition.

Human Resource Management

Areas of human resource planning, recruitment, selection, training and development, compensation, and discipline.

Business Information Systems

An introduction to the field of management information systems, including computer technologies, information development as well as utilizing information systems to achieve a competitive advantage.

Law of Sports

Regulations of amateur athletics, public regulation of sports activities, legal relationships in professional sports, enforcement of professional sports contracts, liability for injuries, and antitrust aspects.

Sports Marketing

Introduces sport marketing concepts with application to amateur and professional sports organizations.

Sports Governance and Ethics

Governance structures in sports (e.g., professional, collegiate, youth, and Olympic), policy issues, as well as sportsmanship and ethical decision-making.

Financial Issues in Sport:

Forms of ownership, taxation, financial analysis, feasibility studies, revenue generation, economic impact studies, and current issues in sports finance.

Sports Promotion and Sales Management

Review the elements of sports promotion and sales. Content includes rationale and benefits of promotion and sales, sponsorship proposals, licensing programs, and solicitation of sponsors, along with an introduction to the ticket sales process.

Sports Facility and Event Management

Inspect the development, operations, and financing of sports facilities. Public and private arenas, stadiums, ballparks, and multi-use venues are all covered.

Sociology of Sports

A sociological examination of sport in the United States. Learn about the nature of the sport, its social functions, and the historical context of our society.

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