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Baker Online

Master of Science in Sport Management

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Matthew R. Bice, PhD

Dean of Graduate and Online Education

Earn Your Sports Management Degree Online

About

Follow your passion; work with coaches, agents, and athletes; and travel to exciting events with our sports management degree.

The sports industry is robust, competitive, and growing, and you’ll be well-equipped to join the elite ranks of the field with a master’s in sports management from Baker University. Employment of entertainment and sports professionals is projected to grow by 22 percent through 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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At Baker, you can earn your degree in sports management in a fully online program that’s typically completed in 18 to 20 months.

Join classes taught by working professionals—experts in their fields—who help students earn a sports management degree and develop relevant skills like these:

  • Facility planning
  • Event management
  • Sports marketing
  • Sports law

Our academic advising team acts as your partner, helping you plan your courses and efficiently complete your degree.

 

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Start Your Future With a Sports Management Degree

Learning doesn’t have to happen in a classroom. You can earn a degree in sports management at Baker without relocating or leaving your full-time job.

  • 100 percent online—earn your degree from anywhere.
  • Seven-week classes help you finish coursework quickly.
  • No GRE is needed.
  • Program is designed for working professionals.

Earn your master’s in sports management in less than two years. Start your journey by taking the first step in the admissions process.

         

Program Highlights: Sports Management Degree

Our online sport management master’s program gives you a courtside seat to relevant trends in the sports industry, with classes led by seasoned managers and administrators. Here are a few reasons to consider earning your degree in sports management from Baker University.

Rankings and affordability. Baker is highly ranked for best online programs, offering the highest return on investment of private colleges in Kansas, according to Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (2022), and the highest average salary among graduates of universities in Kansas. Our sports management degree program is also approved for federal financial loans.

Adaptable scheduling. The master’s in sports management program at Baker University is designed to fit into your existing schedule. You can take one or two classes at a time, and new classes start every seven weeks.

Versatility. Earn your degree in sports management, and graduate with the skills of an experienced professional. Explore relevant fields, including facility planning, event management, sports marketing, sports law, and more.

Networking. Build rewarding relationships at all levels. Connect with faculty who have practical expertise in sport management. Connect with professional sports teams in Kansas City that already employ Baker alumni.

One-on-one attention. The sports management master’s program is small by design. This allows natural connections to form between you, your classmates, and your professors. We bring you more than coursework—we bring you a community.

Dedicated advising. From answering your first question about returning to school to finalizing enrollment, your dedicated enrollment recruiter is your partner every step of the way. Once you’re enrolled, your academic advisor guides you through degree completion planning, course scheduling, and resources for success.

 

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Exceptional Experiences: Sports Management Degree

What could you accomplish in our sport management master’s program?

Connect with sport pros. Talk with guest speakers from prominent local professional sports organizations—Baker University has strong ties to the rich Kansas City sports market.

Get an inside look at the industry. Tour a local arena as a part of the Sports Facility and Event Management course—our sport management master’s faculty will arrange visits for students as they’re available.

Intern with big names in sports. The master’s in sports management program culminates with a field experience so you can put theory into practice. Baker students often land internships with the NFL, NBA, and baseball teams in various leagues.

Collaborate with top students. Students in the top 20 percent of the sports management degree program may be invited to the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society to network with future leaders in business, management, and administration.

         

What Can You Do With a Degree in Sports Management?

With a degree in sports management from Baker, you’ll be well-prepared to launch or advance your sports management career with leadership positions throughout this growing industry.

Employment of entertainment and sports occupations is projected to increase by about 160,600 by 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A sports management salary will vary based on where you work and what you do. For instance, the 2021 median pay for administrative services and facilities managers was $99,290 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Possible Sport Management Degree Career Paths

  • Administration in college, professional, community, and Olympic athletics
  • Corporate sponsor relations and social responsibility
  • Sport facility operations and event management
  • Sport sponsorship
  • Sport marketing and communication

Sport Management Degree Job Titles

  • Sports information director
  • Player relations manager
  • Talent producer
  • Director of athletics
  • Recreation coordinator

Financial Aid for Your Sport Management Degree

Learn how affordable your degree in sports management can be. You’ll find the return on investment you’re looking for in Baker University’s highly ranked online programs.

Financial Aid Options

Tuition & Fees

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Baker Is Military Friendly

Military Advanced Education named Baker University one of America’s Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities. Veterans and active-duty service members and their spouses may qualify for tuition discounts.

Military Benefits

         

Meet Our Students

“The instructors have professional experience in the subject matter they’re teaching. They have the expertise to connect academic content with real-life situations, so students can truly apply the course material to solve everyday problems. We had the opportunity to hear from professionals that are currently immersed in sports administration, marketing, and event and facility planning, just to name a few.”

—nick | MSSM ’18, Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach

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Examples of Sport Management Courses

Learn the skills you need to lead from industry experts. You may take one or two courses at a time. If you choose to double up classes in Baker’s sport management master’s program, then you need to maintain a 3.5 grade point average.

  • Leadership and Management in Sport: Start your master’s in sports management by developing your managerial skills as an organizer, facilitator, communicator, and team builder.
  • Marketing Strategies in Sport: Explore the dimensions of the consumer market and analyze consumer buying behavior and decision-making processes based on fundamental market research.
  • Sponsorship and Revenue in Sport: Dive into strategies for securing sponsorships, sponsorship activation, and managing sponsor relations.
  • Sports Facility and Event Management: Analyze principles for planning, designing, and managing indoor and outdoor facilities for sport and recreation.
  • Communication and Public Relations in Sport: Get an integrated approach to relationship management, including customer relations, public relations, community relations, and media relations.

View Full Course List

         

Related Programs at Baker University

Considering a career path outside the scope of the sport management master’s program? Take a look at other programs designed for working professionals:

MBA: Reach your personal career goals in business with concentrations in finance, health care administration, human resources, strategic management, and supply chain management and logistics.

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership: Focus on developing leadership skills like critical thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving.

Requirements and Courses

Admission Requirements

MSSM Courses

Graduation Requirements