Sports Management Degree Programs in Nebraska - Sports Management Degree Guide

Sports may not come to mind first when you think of the “Cornhusker State,” but there are still five excellent accredited sports management degree programs in Nebraska. Lying on the majestic Great Plains, Nebraska is our nation’s 16th largest state with over 1.8 million residents. Nebraska’s treeless prairies are best known for producing corn, pork, beef, and soybeans.

Rankings

Yet, sports clubs are also growing rampant in Nebraska. Students studying sports management could learn firsthand for professional teams like the Lincoln Saltdogs, Nebraska Danger, Omaha Beef, or Omaha Storm Chasers. Division I intercollegiate athletics is also huge thanks to the powerhouses at Creighton University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of Nebraska-Omaha. Since 1950, Nebraska’s largest city of Omaha has hosted baseball’s College World Series too. Below we’ve highlighted details of sports management programs offered at the bachelor’s and master’s level for Nebraskans.

Bellevue University

Business, Management, and Leadership Department

Educating more than 10,300 students each year, Bellevue University is a comprehensive private non-profit distance learning institution first founded in 1966 to deliver primarily adult education. In fact, over 80 percent of Bellevue’s student body is aged 25 or over. Although the university’s headquartered in Bellevue, Nebraska, there is a satellite center in west Omaha and a fully developed online division. According to the USNWR, Bellevue has the country’s 63rd best online bachelor’s programs. The Business, Management, and Leadership Department houses all degrees focused on preparing leaders for today’s diverse global business world.

Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management

Available online or in-class in Bellevue, the Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management program is designed for undergraduate students seeking a mix of business and sports-related coursework to obtain leadership roles in today’s competitive sport industry. Students are strongly encouraged to pursue a Business Administration minor to deepen their career preparation. The 36-credit major will build a broad foundation in facility management, sport ethics, financial accounting, marketing, finance, public relations, and sport law. As juniors, Bellevue students complete an applied internship course for hands-on experience. All students are also required to complete the Kirkpatrick Signature Series with classes in American values, tradition, freedom, and social responsibility to become better 21st century U.S. citizens.

Accreditations

- - - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

1000 Galvin Road South
Bellevue, NE 68005
(402) 293-2000
OneStop@Bellevue.edu
http://www.bellevue.edu/degrees/bachelor/sport-management-ba/

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Health and Human Performance Department

First founded in 1887 by the Methodist Church, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a premier private co-educational Christian liberal arts institution enrolling around 1,600 full-time students on its beautiful 50-acre urban campus in the state’s capital city of Lincoln. Ranked 84th by Forbes magazine in America’s Best Colleges, NWU is currently named the 143rd top liberal arts college and 101st best school for veterans in the U.S. News and World Report survey. Within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Health and Human Performance Department strives to prepare competent global citizens who will promote improved well-being.

Sport Management (B.S.)

The Sport Management (B.S.) program at Nebraska Wesleyan leads to a Bachelor of Science degree for undergraduate students who develop the managerial expertise required to handle the business side of today’s spectator sports industry. Housed in the Weary Center for Health and Fitness, the program requires the completion of at least 49 major credits. Adding a minor in Marketing or Human Resources Management is available. Major coursework will explore topics ranging from sport governance and event planning to sport finance and business communication. For graduation, students must complete a capstone seminar and pass the senior comprehensive exam. Graduates can excel as sportscasters, sporting event managers, recreation coordinators, sports information directors, coaches, club house managers, and more.

Accreditations

- - - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

5000 Saint Paul Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68504
(402) 465-2366
paj@nebrwesleyan.edu

University of Nebraska at Kearney

College of Education

Established in 1905 as part of the five-campus state system, the University of Nebraska at Kearney is a comprehensive senior public teaching institution with around 7,000 students studying across its sprawling 514 acres of rural land in Nebraska’s Buffalo County. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, UNK is highly regarded for being ranked the 46th best regional college, 11th top public school, and 34th best university for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News. Noted for having America’s 23rd best online graduate education programs, the NCATE-accredited College of Education has a state-of-the-art Wellness Center in its Kinesiology and Sport Sciences Department.

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

UNK’s Bachelor of Science in Sports Management program is a business-oriented major ideal for undergraduate students who wish to pursue a career in the administrative side of spectator sports. Students are trained with the fundamentals required to obtain gainful employment in leading collegiate, amateur, professional, and international sporting organizations. The 120-credit program builds on a core of rich knowledge in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Students will then study various aspects of the organization of recreation, sport, and tourism. Sports management majors are required to complete at least four weeks interning at an approved sport-related agency. With six additional courses, students could also qualify for a double major in Business Administration.

Master of Arts in Education in Sports Administration

Offered fully online or on-campus in Kearney, the Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Sports Administration program gives UNK graduate students the valuable opportunity to broaden their expertise in the management of sporting events and teams. As a non-certification track, the 36-credit curriculum will include courses on leisure behavior, sports philosophy, research methods, statistical analysis, marketing, sports law, and public relations. Depending on their learning style, graduate students can select the applied internship or master’s research thesis options. All students must successfully complete a comprehensive exam. For admissions, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum combined GRE score of 281.

Accreditations

- - - National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
    - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

905 West 25th Street
Kearney, NE 68849
(308) 865-8331
kss@unk.edu
http://www.unk.edu/academics/hperls/index.php

Wayne State College

Health, Human Performance and Sport Department

Located on a main 128-acre rural campus in Wayne within Nebraska’s northeastern corner, Wayne State College is a comprehensive senior four-year public institution first founded in 1910 and currently educating around 3,500 students annually. Named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll three years straight, WSC is currently honored by the U.S. News as the 75th best regional college, 21st top public school, and 58th best university for military veterans in the Midwest. The Health, Human Performance and Sport Department is committed to excellence in promoting active lifestyles and health enhancement.

B.A./B.S. in Sport Management

Offering a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, the B.A./B.S. in Sport Management program is available at Wayne State College in Nebraska to prepare undergraduate students for entry into a variety of professional or intercollegiate sports careers. Over the course of four years full-time, students develop the knowledge, skills, and values requisite for succeeding in the competitive global sports industry. Starting in the junior year, students will gain experience outside the classroom with two field practica and a semester-long internship. It’s advised that sport management majors supplement their learning with a minor in Broadcast Communication or Business Administration. 83 percent of recent graduates are employed in a sports-related organization and 17 percent are enrolled in graduate school.

Accreditations

- - - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

1111 Main Street
Wayne, NE 68787
(402) 375-7232
viloofe1@wsc.edu
https://www.wsc.edu/hhps

Having a sports management degree can work wonders in turning your love for athletics into a rewarding administrative career on the sidelines. Analysts for Forbes magazine projected annual growth of 4.8 percent in the sports industry over the next five years. Its total revenue value is expected to grow from $53.6 billion to $67.7 billion worldwide. Earning an accredited degree could be just what your career needs to take off. Then, you could even become a Certified Sport Management Specialist through the International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA). Check out these top-notch accredited sports management degree programs in Nebraska to start shooting for and scoring your career goals.

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