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Barney School of Business

Sports Management

At a Glance

Are you passionate about sports? The Barney School will equip you with the skills you need to make a positive impact on the sports industry. Our sports management program prepares graduates for a career in sports marketing, athletic administration, sales, event operations, facility management, community relations, social media and more.

Full Time
Rolling Admission

Degrees Offered

Total Credits

Bachelor of Science

122

Minor

12

About the Program

sports management

The sports management program will prepare students with the analytical and technical skills necessary to succeed in a broad array of career paths in the sports industry. Students will develop managerial skills through specialized classes and hands-on experience. They will learn about sports economic trends and risk mitigation in addition to the legal and financial frameworks necessary for sports managers. Utilizing sports management and sports marketing analytics tools, students will prepare for internships in their field of study. A variety of sports related electives offered by different colleges within the university will allow the students to tailor to their specific sports interests.  

Sports Management is offered as a:

  • Major
  • Minor
  • Post baccalaureate certificate

Degree Requirements

The program combines core courses, electives, and an internship. You will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. This unique program offers a variety of sports-related electives within our other colleges at the University— meaning you can tailor your academic experience to your specific interests through projects and internships. We also leverage existing relationships with the local sports businesses providing our students a deeper understanding of the broad sports career opportunities. See the course catalog for the additional requirements to earn your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Total for the sports management major: 122 credits

Academic Curriculum

Sports Management Core Courses:

  • Sports Management & Analysis
  • Sports Economics & Finance
  • Sports Marketing Analytics
  • Sports Law & Risk Management
  • Digital Innovation & Sports
  • Facility & Event Management
  • Diversity & Inclusion in Sports Organizations
  • Internship course

Electives:

The College of Arts and Sciences

  • Digital Production for News & Sports
  • Sports Broadcasting
  • Sports Journalism
  • History of American Sports
  • Sports Psychology

The College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions

  • Beginning Principles in Sports Med/First Aid
  • Sport, Culture & Society
  • Sport Nutrition
  • Injury Care & Prevention
  • Skills of Officiating

Featured Barney Core Courses:

  • World of Business
  • Technical Skills for Business Success
  • Management and Organizational Behavior
  • Business Finance
  • Introduction to Marketing

Experiential Curriculum

Exploring & Planning Career Options (BAR 211)

Internships (required & course managed and credited) - UHart has connections with alumni at businesses such as:

  • ESPN
  • MLB
  • NCAA
  • NBA
  • Miami Dolphins
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • New England Patriots
  • Hartford Yard Goats
  • NBC Sports
  • FOX Sports

Projects

  • Sports related organizations
  • Collaborated projects with Digital Media & Journalism professors and students 

Skills & Tools

Skills

  • Written Communications
  • Oral Communications
  • Critical Thinking
  • Teamwork
  • Quantitative Literacy

Certifications

  • Excel
  • Tableau
  • Project Management
  • Udemy Learning Platform

Reilly Keegan ‘24, M'25

Reilly Keegan ’24, M'25 has hit a homerun with her summer internship: spending her days at the Hartford Yard Goats stadium. As a Barney student enrolled in the 3+1 program, she will receive both her bachelor's degree and MBA in just four years. She is a marketing major and sports management minor, which led her to her role as a summer associate with the local minor league baseball team.

Read more.

Career Outlook

sports management career

The focused market review suggests “Good Growth, Economic Demand: There is a likely 11% increase in potential jobs that BS Sports Management graduates could choose to apply for between 2018-2028."

Example of positions:

  • College Athletic Administration Staff
  • Operations Manager
  • Facility Manager
  • Team Marketer
  • Event Planner
  • Ticket Sales Specialist
  • Agent/Scout
  • Esports Manager
  • Self-Employed Manager/Coach/Agent
  • Youth Sports Coordinator

"During my time in the sport management program, I can confidently say that each class provided me with so many skills. It allowed me to learn about the history of the sports industry, but also how current news impacts the industry. Lastly, students are able to talk to guest speakers and hear their stories, including day-to-day situations in the industry.”

John Orsini '24, Sports Management and Business Management double major

About the Minor

Sports management is a field of interest for sports enthusiasts as well as individuals seeking careers in an expanding sports industry. A minor will allow students from all University colleges to gain knowledge of the management & analytics, economics & finance, marketing & analytics, and law & risk management related to the field. Visit our course catalog for specific requirements for Barney students and non-Barney students.

Barney Minor Total Number of Credits: 12

Non-Barney Minor Total Number of Credits: 12 (18 with prerequisites)

About the Post Baccalaureate Certificate

Sports management is a field of interest for sports enthusiasts as well as individuals seeking careers in an expanding sports industry. A certificate will allow students from all University colleges to gain knowledge of the management & analytics, economics & finance, marketing & analytics, and law & risk management related to the field. Visit the course catalog. Please contact John Papa, Director of the Sports Management Program, with any questions.

Certificate for post Business Baccalaureate: Total Number of Credits: 12

Certificate for post non-Business Baccalaureate: Total Number of Credits: 12 (18 with prerequisites)

Admissions

Applications for admission are considered on a "rolling basis." We look forward to welcoming you to Barney! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our admission manager Khalia Whyte at kwhyte@au99168.com.

Meet the Sports Management Team

John Papa
Director, Sports Management Program
Dean's Office for Barney

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Hailey Harris
Assistant Professor of Sports Management
Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship

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Ben Brewer
Associate Professor of Economics
Economics, Finance, and Insurance

View Full Profile

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