What Can You Do with a Sport Management Master’s Degree?

You can build a solid professional career in today's growing sports industry with your Master of Science in Sport Management Studies at PennWest California.

According to Forbes magazine: The sports market in North America, which was worth $60.5 billion in 2014, is expected to reach $73.5 billion by 2019. The field of sports management equips professionals with the skills and knowledge in demand by sport marketing agencies, intercollegiate athletic departments, professional sports organizations, sports equipment manufacturers and many more operations throughout the vast sports industry. 

PennWest California is recognized as an academic leader in preparing graduate students for coaching, management and other professional positions in the competitive sports industry. Cal U’s M.S. in Sport Management Studies was the nation’s first 100% online program offering students a sound management foundation in the sports industry, learning from top faculty experts in Pennsylvania and across the country. PennWest California also offers bachelor’s degree programs in sport management studies. 

Master’s students have the opportunity to develop specialized skills and knowledge by choosing one of these concentrations:

  • Intercollegiate Athletic Administration:Focus on important business and management issues, including sport governance, sport compliance, legal aspects of equity in intercollegiate athletics, human resource strategies in intercollegiate athletics, sport finance, ethics, marketing and more.
  • Sport Management:Develop solid skills that meet the challenges of the dynamic sports world.
  • Strategic Sport Analysis:Meet the needs of the sports industry by understanding how to successfully incorporate analytics and economic analyses into the daily management of sports organizations. 

Sport management students also benefit from practical experience by applying sport management theory in an actual setting under the direct supervision of a recognized leader in the sports industry. Students can select the site to complete their mentorship, which can, if approved, be their current place of employment. Students complete a minimum of 300 hours in the 12-credit Sport Mentorship course to gain comprehensive on-the-job experience.

Many Career Options

PennWest California sport management students are well-prepared for top roles in management and leadership within the sports industry. PennWest California graduates are succeeding in a range of key positions: athletic director, head football coach, fitness center director and physical education instructor.

PennWest California students also work in a wide range of sport businesses and organizations, such as:

  • Major and minor league baseball.
  • NCAA Division I, II and III intercollegiate athletics.
  • NHL and NFL.
  • NAIA intercollegiate athletics.
  • Interscholastic athletics nationwide.
  • Public parks and recreation.
  • YMCA

Employment of sports occupations is projected to grow 10% through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increasing popularity of sports will contribute to job growth for sports occupations. The median annual wage for sports occupations was $42,010 in May 2017, which was higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $37,690.

Here’s BLS information on several selected sports occupations:

Coaches and scouts:Coaches teach amateur or professional athletes the skills they need to succeed at their sport. Scouts look for new players and evaluate their skills and likelihood for success at the college, amateur, or professional level. Many coaches also are involved in scouting. Employment of coaches and scouts is projected to grow 13% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Increasing participation in high school and college sports may boost demand for coaches and scouts. The median annual wage for coaches and scouts was $32,270 in May 2017.

Sports agents and managers: According to the BLS, the median national annual salary for an agent or business manager of artists, performers and athletes is $62,080. The top 10% of those who act as agents or business managers for athletes earn more than $194,810. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors. Employment growth is projected at 7% through 2026.

Umpires, referees and other sports officials:These professionals preside over competitive athletic or sporting events to help maintain standards of play. They detect infractions and decide penalties according to the rules of the game. Employment of umpires, referees and other sports officials is projected to grow 8% through 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job prospects are expected to be good at the youth and high school levels. The median annual wage for umpires, referees and other sports officials was $26,800 in May 2017.

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