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SPORT MANAGEMENT DEGREE

Make Your Mark With a Successful Career in the Booming Sports Industry

Open doors to a world of exciting opportunities in the dynamic sports industry with Manchester University’s Bachelor of Science in Sport Management.

In the multibillion-dollar business of sports, the demand for professionals who can navigate, lead and staff various opportunities in sports and recreation is ever-growing. Our sport management degree equips you to meet this demand by combining comprehensive academics with hands-on experience and practical application.

As a sport management student at Manchester, you’ll explore crucial areas like business, finance, legal matters, and event and facility management while developing valuable leadership skills. We take pride in our reputation as one of the top sport management schools in the United States, and our program ensures you gain the real-world expertise employers seek.

Our sport management students engage in diverse internships, working with major and minor league sports teams, Division I colleges and universities, the NCAA, sport and fitness facilities, sport sales, and sports information and media.

MU SPORT MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE

  • Credits: 51
  • Time to Completion: 4 years
  • Learning Environment: On-Campus
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

*Our MBA 3+1 program enables students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years with 120 credits earned during their undergraduate studies and an additional 30 credits earned within the MBA Management Track Program.

51

Credits

4

Years

Job Outlook

Learn More

Fall Session

August 2025

Learning Environment

On-campus

Accreditation

Higher Learning Commission

*Our MBA 3+1 program enables students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years with 120 credits earned during their undergraduate studies and an additional 30 credits earned within the MBA Management Track Program.

Why Choose Manchester for Your Sport Management Degree?

At Manchester University, we stand out as one of the top sport management schools in Indiana and the country. We’re not just another sport management degree program; we’re a thriving community of passionate individuals dedicated to the sports industry. As a sport management major, you become part of a close-knit community, forming valuable connections with fellow students and industry professionals. Our small class sizes also ensure you’ll receive the personalized attention you deserve from our experienced faculty.

Our Master of Business Administration Management Track

The MBA Program is an integrated 3+1 program. You can enroll simultaneously in both undergraduate and master’s level management coursework, which will allow you to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in four years instead of the traditional five. Highlights include a The management track is open to those with bachelor’s degrees in any major.

Learn beyond the classroom

Engage in hands-on experiences through projects and events, both inside and outside the classroom. Work on projects such as campus intramurals and collaborate with Fort Wayne’s professional baseball team, the TinCaps. Participate in various professional development activities that allow you to network with industry experts.

Gain real-world experience

All sport management students complete internships to gain practical, real-world experience in the field. Expand your horizons with our international course, offering you the chance to gain a global perspective into the sport management industry by studying abroad in countries like Ireland, England, Greece or Italy.

Learn from Industry Experts

Our dedicated faculty members bring years of real-world experience to the classroom. They have worked in event planning, facility management, marketing, sponsorship and HR management in the sports industry. You’ll benefit from their extensive knowledge and industry connections.

Meet your professors.

Real, Relevant Sport Management Education

" The biggest strength in the Sport Management Program is the cohesion of the program. Each course works together to properly prepare students on how to be effective and efficient in the sports industry."
Sydney Sexson '22

What Can You Do With Your Sport Management Degree?

At Manchester, one of the nation’s top sport management schools, you’ll develop a strong foundation in business, finance, legal matters and management, while building essential leadership skills for success in the sports industry.

Career Outlook for Sport Management Majors

In addition to pursuing advanced degrees, our graduates find rewarding careers in a diverse range of roles, including sports management, event planning, marketing and more.

Notably, several of our sport management degree alumni have secured positions with professional sports organizations such as the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. With our sport management degree, jobs you can pursue include:

 

• Athletic coach/director
• Business coordinator
• Contract analyst/administrator
• Corporate partnerships manager
• Director of operations
• Equipment manager
• Facility manager
• Fitness manager
• Game day/event coordinator
• Guest relations manager
• Marketing consultant/coordinator
• Media/public relations manager
• Operations manager
• Sales coordinator/representative
• Sport agent
• Sport analyst
• Sport lawyer
• Sport marketer

Turning Passions into Careers

Image of Peyton from MU Athletics and Sport Management
" The program allowed me to experience the business side of sport beyond my passion for sport."

Peyton Jackson '23

How much do Marketing Graduates Make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, agents and managers for athletes earn a mean annual salary of $143,730, while event promoters earn around $109,880. Salary figures such as these reflect higher than average ranges for other professions in the workforce. MU students are able to increase their earning potential further by pairing their degree with an MBA with an emphasis in management or accounting, making MU graduates highly attractive to hiring managers.

Explore Classes for Sport Management Majors

Our sport management degree curriculum is thoughtfully crafted to offer you a comprehensive education in the business of sports. Our program features a wide range of courses covering essential areas, including business, finance, legal issues, event and facility management, and more.

As a sport management student, you’ll also explore more in-depth topics such as:

  • Social and Ethical Issues in Sport Management
  • Marketing and Sponsorship in Sport
  • Event and Facility Management

You’ll also have the opportunity to pursue additional areas of interest, including:

  • Promotion and Advertising
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
  • Sales Management
  • Advanced Public Relations

In your capstone course, Case Studies in Business, a requirement for all majors in the College of Business, you’ll help organize and operate a business for a semester, donating your earnings to a nonprofit of your team’s choosing. Manchester business students have donated more than $125,510 and over 10,306 hours of service to various nonprofit organizations.

View all required classes for our sport management degree.

Get Started on Your Sport Management Degree

Take the next step joining one of the top sport management schools in the nation. We have the resources to help you get started.

Degree Programs Related to Sport Management

Manchester University’s Non-Discrimination Admission Policy

Manchester University is committed to non-discrimination in campus life. The University does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, ancestry, race, color, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, religion, disability or veteran status in admissions or any area of campus life, including its educational programs, scholarships and loan awards, residence life programs, athletic programs, extracurricular programs, promotion and tenure policies and practice, and alumni affairs.

Manchester University is committed to carry out the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities Act, which provide for accessibility of University programs to the physically disabled.