Best online master’s in sports management 2021: Top picks | ZDNet

Sports management focuses on the business side of sports and recreation. Careers in sports management include roles as interscholastic or intercollegiate athletic administrators, health and fitness club managers, and sports marketers. 

Sports and recreation are everywhere. Youth sports accompany intercollegiate and professional athletics as some of the most popular activities worldwide. Fitness facilities, vacations, and athletic events offer job opportunities for professionals in health, entertainment, and event management alike. 

A sports management master’s program opens the door to professional opportunities and personal fulfillment. To find out more about our top picks for sports management master’s degrees, check out the rankings below. 

The best online master’s in sports management degrees

ZDNet’s ranking methodology collects data from federal agencies with input from industry experts to provide a holistic assessment of academic programs. Our criteria emphasize programmatic and professional outcomes through a five-layer review process. 

Unless otherwise indicated, data is drawn from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Scorecard.

What to expect in an online master’s in sports management degree program

A sports management master’s degree consists of two years of business coursework with an emphasis in the sports and recreation industry. Students learn about business operations while building analytical and leadership skills through lecture coursework. Learners also participate in group projects and internships. 

Courses cover global sport, the social and political implications of sport, and diversity in sports and recreation settings. Learners may complete an internship, a comprehensive project, or a thesis as part of a sports management master’s degree.

Online sports management degrees require dedication and determination. Sports enthusiasts thrive in sports management programs as they explore the behind-the-scenes world of sport and recreation. 

Master’s in sports management courses

Master’s degrees in sports management vary in specific coursework, but curricula generally include similar core classes. Students study business as it relates to sports and recreation while learning practical skills applicable to leadership roles in the field. 

Sport marketing

Coursework in sport marketing builds knowledge of marketing theories, strategies, and trends as they relate to sports. Learners gain insight into how to apply class content to sport scenarios and environments. Topics include ticket pricing, sport promotions, and branding.

Diversity in sport

Diversity in sport courses emphasize racial, ethnic, and gender issues in the world of sport. Students learn how differences and similarities between individuals influence managerial approaches in sport organizations. They also gain insight into larger implications of how race, sport, and culture relate to social norms and values. 

Facility management

A class in facility management teaches students how to manage buildings, outdoor spaces, and the daily operations of sports and recreation facilities. Topics include budgeting, human resources, risk management, and facility sight, design, and construction. 

Sport law

Sport law coursework provides a comprehensive look at the legal issues related to amateur and professional sport. Students look at sport law from the perspectives of athletes, teams, leagues, and media organizations. 

Sports management degree levels

Sports management degrees offer unique opportunities to students with different educational and professional backgrounds. Undergraduate programs in sports management prepare learners for entry-level roles in the sports and recreation industry. Graduate programs build the knowledge and skills to allow for advancement to leadership roles in the world of sport.

Associate in sports management

• Length: Two years
• Cost: $6,000-$18,000
• Post-grad careers: Sports event planner, stadium operations assistant, sports marketing associate 

A sports management associate degree introduces students to accounting, management, and marketing. As learners explore business practices and how they relate to sport, they may have an opportunity to complete an internship or comparable practical requirement.

During a sports management associate degree, individuals develop the communication and technical skills to work in entry-level positions within sports and recreation organizations. The curriculum also sets the foundation to earning a bachelor’s degree in sports management or a related discipline. 

Bachelor’s in sports management

• Length: Four years
• Cost: $12,000-$90,000
• Post-grad careers: Facility operations manager, assistant athletic director, sports marketer

Through four years of coursework in management, marketing, and other business topics, sports management students build foundational understanding of business and how it relates to the sports and recreation industry. Coursework in sport sociology, sport economics, and sport law accompany classes in ethics, organizational behavior, and strategic planning to prepare learners for an internship requirement.

Sports management degrees weave in multiple experiential learning components, group activities, and communication exercises as part of a comprehensive curriculum. At the end of a sports management bachelor’s program, learners complete a capstone requirement.

Master’s in sports management

• Length: Two years
• Cost: $$18,000-$80,000
• Post-grad careers: Athletic director, sports promotions manager, sports marketing director 

Master’s degrees in sports management build leadership, analytical, and communication skills for current sports and recreation professionals. Coursework in the business of sport, sports psychology and sociology, and research methods allow students to work independently and with their classmates on assignments and projects. Sports management master’s degrees often include an internship requirement.

Depending on the program, a sports management master’s degree may result in a comprehensive project or thesis. Individuals who seek to continue onto a doctorate in the discipline benefit from the thesis option by honing their research and writing skills. 

Doctorate in sports management

• Length: Three to five years
• Cost: $$27,000-$120,000
• Post-grad careers: University professor, senior sport researcher, athletic administrator

Options for a doctorate in sportz management include a Ph.D. in sports management, a doctorate of business with a sports management emphasis, and a doctorate of education with a specialization in sport administration. 

Sports management doctorates emphasize research. Coursework in sport sociology, international sport, and sport research methods precedes comprehensive exams and the proposal of a dissertation. 

Students choose an area of emphasis, undertake an in-depth research project, and write a dissertation on an issue or challenge in the field of sports management. Some doctorates may allow for an internship or project alternative to a dissertation. 

In conclusion

A sports management degree combines two exciting fields, business and sport. By learning about the administrative and managerial side of sport and recreation, learners emerge from a sports management master’s degree prepared to lead in the sports and recreation industry. The information on this page can help you take the first step down that path.