The sports industry is huge in the U.S., worth an estimated $160 billion every year, and there are many more people involved than just the athletes themselves. Thousands of people work behind the scenes on the business side of the sports and recreation market, dealing with everything from marketing to coordinating major events.

About Salem’s Sports Management Bachelor’s Degree 

At Salem University, our Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Sports and Recreation Management can help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to step into the booming sports industry. Through this degree in sports management, you will learn how to design and lead recreational activities, coordinate conventions and sporting events, create effective marketing for sports and/or athletes, and beyond. A BSBA degree can also be a great stepping-off point toward getting your Master of Business Administration.

We’ve designed our sports management bachelor’s degree curriculum with the goal of providing a high-quality education that prepares you for lifelong learning. We aim to develop your leadership and problem-solving skills and encourage our students to read critically, ask appropriate questions, gather information, and apply critical analysis. And we do all of this within a framework that fits into your current life and responsibilities with our unique, one-course-a-month schedule. Pursue your sports management bachelor’s degree at our beautiful campus in Salem, West Virginia, or fully online. 

What Can I Do With a Sports Management Bachelor’s Degree?

A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Sports and Recreation Management can help you prepare for entry-level employment in careers like:

  • Parks and Recreation Facilitator
  • Event Planner
  • PR and Communications Coordinator
  • Sports Marketing Associate
  • Sports Agent
  • Director of Athletic Event Management

What Will I Learn in Salem’s Sports Management Bachelor’s Degree?

Whether you choose our on-campus or online sports management degree program, you will learn from the ground up, starting with the fundamentals of business administration, management, financial management, international business, marketing, statistics, and human resource management. The foundational knowledge in the sports management program is combined with a general education framework that incorporates written and oral communication skills, critical-thinking skills, technological proficiencies, leadership skills, and more. We also include an international component focusing on global information, awareness, and perspectives. All of this is brought together in a capstone course and a hands-on practicum that gives you the opportunity to set up and manage an actual sporting event.

In your specialized sports and recreation management courses, you’ll cover topics like:

  • The various concepts, management principles, and theories recognized as essential elements for the management of physical education and sports programs
  • The structure of the sports industry and the career opportunities, facilities, marketing, client retention, budgeting, fundraising, current issues, and organizational structure
  • Personal and professional ethics and moral development and their necessity for successful sports management
  • The multifaceted details involved in the management operations of sports facilities, including planning, organizing, and financing
  • The application of law to the sports industry, including product liability, tort liability, antitrust law, state and federal legislation specific to sports, contract law, constitutional law, agency law, and collective bargaining

What Sports Management Classes Will I Take?

As a student in our on-campus or online sports management degree program, you will be required to complete 75 foundational and elective credits, as well as 30 core business credits that include:

  • ACC111 Principles of Accounting
  • ACC112 Principles of Accounting 2
  • BUS323 Commercial Law Salem
  • FIN344 Corporate Finance
  • FIN345 Corporate Finance 2
  • MGT210 Principles of Management
  • MGT361 Management Information Systems
  • MGT363 Organizational Theory
  • MGT499 Senior Capstone Project
  • MKT231 Principles of Marketing

You will also take 15 credits in the Sports and Recreation Management specialization:

  • PED418 Organization & Administration of Physical Education & Sports
  • SMG210 Principles of Sports Management
  • SMG230 Governance & Ethics in Sports
  • SMG340 Facilities & Event Management
  • SMG380 Legal Aspects of Sports

How Long Will It Take to Get My Sports Management Bachelor’s Degree?

On average, a full-time student can earn their on-campus or online sports management degree in approximately 40 months. However, we recognize every student is different, with different circumstances. Please contact one of our admissions advisors to discuss your questions and goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Salem University?

Since 1888, Salem University has built upon our tradition of accessible, affordable higher education by constantly innovating and looking to the future. We aim to develop lifelong learners who embrace problem-solving with a global perspective. We offer:

  • Accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs of study with continuous enrollment via distance education or on-campus
  • A unique one-course-a-month format that allows students to focus on a single subject at a time and build their knowledge in a way that feels natural
  • Online courses are structured to work within the constraints of full-time employment, allowing you to earn your degree with minimum disruption to your busy schedule
  • Supportive faculty and staff who serve as thought leaders and mentors
  • A beautiful 100-acre campus situated in the Smoky Mountains where programs of study are available for campus residents and commuter students

Admission Requirements

Admission to Salem is open to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or ability/disability. Anyone wishing to attend Salem can obtain the necessary application from the Office of Admissions or apply online. The completed application should be submitted to the Office of Admissions at the earliest possible date. The University admits students on a rolling, monthly start basis. Acceptance is within the discretion of Salem University; some programs have additional admissions requirements.

ACCREDITED BY ACBSP

This course is accredited by ACBSP.