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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student-teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.
Do you want to acquire a bachelor’s degree in sports management but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best bachelor’s in sports management programs.
What institution did we omit from this list? Leave your suggestions in the comment section below.
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
There are a lot of reasons to attend UNC’s sports administration program. The bachelor’s degree program incorporates a blend of exercise science classes with business and marketing classes to give the learner premiere access to a sports management position. Studies include finance and economics of sport, legal aspects of sport, fitness management, and sports business venture.
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
The focus is on problem-solving and critical thinking, two concepts that students will learn in the 120-credit-hour bachelor of science (BS) in sport management. The degree program blocks off the 8th semester to allow learners to finish the internship in sport management requirement in which learners get a chance to work in this sector for 13 weeks. In previous semesters, learners take classes such sport and business finance, administration of sport and physical activity, sport facility design and management, and ethical issues in sport.
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The BA in sport management degree program is refined, well-connected, and competitive. Early on in the program, learners select between two tracks: sports marketing and management or sport policy and analytics. The program also includes an internship experience in one of those areas.
- IU Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
At IU, learners take a distinct approach to sport management through the institution’s bachelor of science (BS) in kinesiology with a major in sports marketing and management. This combination gives learners a deep comprehension of the body and movement as well as the tools to run a business. The 120-credit-hour degree program splits its coursework between the School of Public Health and the renowned Kelley School of Business with classes such as these: sport in America, historical perspective; financial principles of sport; strategic management in the sport industry;, and legal issues in sport settings.
- University of Texas Austin, Austin, TX
The bachelor’s program in sport management enables learners to apply their knowledge in an array of settings. Along with the 120 required credit hours, learners will take either take a semester-long internship or do fieldwork, whether that’s in sports business, entertainment sports, administrative work, or agenting. Beyond that, learners will take some of the following classes: sport industry in America, sport law, media and public relations in sport, and sociological aspects of sport and physical activity.
- University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
The BS in sport management degree program has been assembled to deliver an array of tools for learners in the field—from youth sports to sports law, UConn learners are required to fulfill a summer-long internship. Moreover, learners in this degree program stay connected through the UConn Sport Business Association, a great built-in network of learners, faculty, and alumni in the sports sector. Classes in the degree program include financial management in the sport industry, sport-based youth development, sport in society, and sport facility and event management.
- Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
The bachelor’s degree program for sports management is set up for learners to continue onto their master’s and/or doctoral degrees. While the bachelor of science (BS) in sport management lays the foundational knowledge, learners are urged to specialize through the master’s degree program. Some of the unique classes that FSU has include cross-cultural sport, sport and literature, human resource management in sport, and international sport venues.
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
The sport management degree program is unique in its graduation requirements; learners only need to finish eight credits of core classes, and they are left to choose an additional 20 credits of focused electives. In their last semester, learners will also finish a practicum called “The Sports Experience.” Some of the popular elective courses include law of contracts and agency, e-marketing, sports sales and fundraising, and history and philosophy of sport.
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, MA
Offered through the Isenberg School of Management, undergraduate learners in the McCormack Sport Management degree program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst get to experience the best of the best. Along the way, learners take challenging courses such as sociology of sport, sports promotion and sales, sport economics, and sports labor relations.
- University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
The 128-credit-hour degree program begins with foundational classes followed by upper-level focus classes. Graduates go on to land jobs at some of the most successful sports franchises and organizations.
- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
The university prepares learners to succeed by not only offering a solid bachelor of science (BS) degree in recreation and sport management, but also by including nine distinct concentration areas for learners to further specialize in public recreation, fitness club management, commercial recreation, sport management, and more. Classes include recreation and sport facilities, program planning in recreation and sport, marketing and promotion in sport management, and leisure and society.
- University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Designed as a bachelor of science (BS) in sport and entertainment management degree, the program gives learners a look into the sport and entertainment industries. With two internships and a heavy course load of business, economic, and finance electives, learners will be pushed for peak results.
- Towson University, Towson, MD
The bachelor of science (BS) in sport management degree aims to help learners adapt and capitalize on the ever-changing field of sports. One of the unique requirements for learners at Towson is to finish a minor in business administration. Some of the highlight classes in this degree program include sport culture and counterculture, American women in sport, sport and globalization, and cultural economy of sport.
- SUNY Brockport, Brockport, NY
Flexibility is key in the bachelor of science (BS) in sport management degree. Unique to the Brockport experience, learners complete three mini-internships as well as a semester-long internship to expose them to career options in the working world. Learners also get the choice of either adding a minor to their degree or taking a semester to study abroad.
