Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (L-O)

Finding high-quality sports management degree programs from accredited colleges and universities in Ohio is simple. Nicknamed the “Buckeye State,” Ohio is America’s 10th most densely populated state with over 11.6 million inhabitants. From Lake Erie to the Ohio River, the state is ideally located for economic growth.


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Ohio has the nation’s seventh largest economy with plentiful opportunities for sports management students. Ohio’s major league sports teams include the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. Ohio teams have combined for nine NFL championships and seven World Series. College athletics are also highly competitive, especially with the Ohio State Buckeyes and Cincinnati Bearcats.To see more sports management degrees from accredited colleges and universities in Ohio, visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (A-K) and Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (O-U), and Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (U-K).

Lake Erie College

School of Education and Professional Studies

Nestled on a 50-acre suburban campus in Painesville just 30 miles east of downtown Cleveland on the Laketran bus, Lake Erie College is an accredited private non-sectarian, non-profit liberal arts institution enrolling a close-knit community of around 1,200 students. Initially founded in 1856 as a women’s college, LEC is now co-educational with a faculty-studio ratio of 15:1 and average class size of 17. Washington Monthly magazine named LEC the 528th best master’s university for social mobility, service, and research. Fully accredited by the TEAC, the School of Education and Professional Studies offers performance-based programs that lead to an average 93 percent pass rate on the Ohio Assessments for Educators.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

Through a liberal arts foundation, the Bachelor’s in Sport Management program at LEC allows undergraduate students acquire a broad-based repertoire of knowledge for becoming a sports manager. Great emphasis is placed on the managerial processes involved in running collegiate, amateur, professional, and international sport organizations. Within the 120-credit curriculum, students complete courses ranging from sport marketing and sport sociology to facility planning and events promotion. In the final year, students complete a 225-hour internship to gain valuable experience in sport management. If desired, the major can be supplemented with a Physical Education Minor to satisfy Ohio teaching licensure requirements.

Accreditations

        • Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

391 West Washington Street
Painesville, OH 44077
(440) 296-1856
admissions@lec.edu
https://www.lec.edu/school-of-education

Malone University

School of Business and Leadership

Affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church, Malone University is a small private non-profit Quaker liberal arts institution initially founded in 1892 as Cleveland Bible College. Enrolling around 2,400 students from nearly 50 Christianity denominations, Malone is located on a 96-acre urban campus in Canton, Ohio, within 24 miles south of Akron. According to the U.S. News, Malone is the 61st best regional college and 46th top school for veterans in the Midwest with America’s 120th best online bachelor’s programs. The School of Business and Leadership is accredited by the ACBSP to prepare business professionals with the integrity and ethics for honorable decision making.

Sport Management, BA

Integrating the Christian faith, the Sport Management BA program leads to a Bachelor of Arts for Malone undergraduate students to gather the practical business skills for gaining entry into the fast-growing sports field. Students are given the managerial knowledge to successfully lead sports organizations, including recreation agencies and community leagues. All classes are taught by business leaders, athletic directors, and former professional athletes. With a focus on social sustainability, the 120-credit curriculum spans over four years full-time with unparalleled resources from the Cleveland and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas. Undergrads achieving a minimum GPA of 2.25 can complete an internship for hands-on experience. BA students are also encouraged to join the Sport Management Association (SMA).

Accreditations

        • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

2600 Cleveland Avenue NW
Canton, OH 44709
(800) 521-1146
mophardt@malone.edu

Marietta College

Department of Sports Management

Enrolling around 1,250 students in 45 majors, Marietta College is a four-year private co-educational liberal arts institution situated on a 90-acre suburban campus in historic Marietta within southeastern Ohio near the Muskingum River. Consistently included within the Princeton Review’s “Best in the Midwest” schools, Marietta is ranked the fifth best regional college by the U.S. News. Forbes even placed Marietta ahead of academic giants like Johns Hopkins and Cornell in terms of student satisfaction. The Department of Sports Management strives to properly equip graduates with the business management principles for the recreation industry.

Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management

After the required First Year Experience (FYE), the Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management builds a solid liberal arts foundation for students interested in joining the multi-billion global sports market as qualified managers. For the 122-credit degree, students work with academic advisors to tailor their curriculum to their unique professional goals. Courses could include economics, facility management, event planning, sport psychology, sport law, or marketing. Students benefit from working in Marietta’s Dyson Baudo Recreation Center (DBRC), which has an indoor track and two-story climbing wall. On average, class sizes are capped at 20 for active learning. Students have interned with the Philadelphia Phillies, Akron Racers, Columbus Clippers, and more.

Accreditations

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

Contact

215 Fifth Street
Marietta, OH 45740
(740) 376-4684
admit@marietta.edu
http://w3.marietta.edu/Academics/undergraduate_degrees/sports_management.html

Miami University of Ohio

College of Education, Health & Society

Named one of the original eight “Public Ivies,” Miami University of Ohio is the state’s second oldest public state co-educational research institution educating more than 21,400 students from its main 2,100-acre rural campus in Oxford Township in northwestern Butler County. Ranked 22nd nationally by The Wall Street Journal for most qualified graduates, Miami is named the 82nd best university, 34th top public school, and 67th best college for veterans in America by the U.S. News. Also crowned the country’s 104th best education school, the College of Education, Health & Society houses 17 undergraduate majors from athletic training to social work and special education.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Leadership and Management

Miami’s Bachelor of Science in Sport Leadership and Management program introduces the business and recreation fundamentals that students need to succeed in leadership positions within the 21st century sport industry. Students are challenged to innovatively engage in the unique culture of sport with four specialized concentrations: Coaching, Sport Journalism, Sport Management, and Sport Media. In addition to the Global Miami Plan, B.S. students follow the 18-credit Sport Leadership Core. For hands-on experience, majors complete a 120-clock hour field practicum and applied capstone project. Some students benefit from earning a double major for a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Culture or Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health.

Accreditations

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

Contact

106 Phillips Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
(513) 529-2700
knhdept@miamioh.edu
https://miamioh.edu/ehs/academics/departments/knh/academics/majors/slam/index.html

Mount St. Joseph University

School of Business

Created in 1829 as St. Peter’s Academy by the Sisters of Charity, Mount St. Joseph University is now a private non-profit, co-educational Roman Catholic institution serving around 2,300 students of diverse faiths on a 92-acre suburban campus just outside downtown Cincinnati. Named the 77th “Best Bang for the Buck” in the Midwest in Washington Monthly, MJSU is ranked the 68th best regional college and 52nd top school for veterans by the U.S. News. The School of Business offers small, intimate class sizes for a cooperative learning environment in which students transform into well-rounded, ethical business leaders.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

The Bachelor of Science in Sport Management program at MSJ provides a comprehensive, business-focused curriculum to give students a definite competitive advantage for job openings in today’s thriving sport industry. Students develop the managerial skills to plan, organize, direct, control, and budget organizations related to sports or recreation. The program comes with a minor in business administration to ensure in-depth knowledge of the marketplace. One of the biggest benefits of this 72-credit major is its Program Partner Initiative, which lends support to obtaining internships and full-time jobs. If desired, sport management majors can join the 4+1 MBA program to earn a master’s in just five years.

Accreditations

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

Contact

5701 Delhi Road
Cincinnati, OH 45233
(513) 244-3262
dan.yost@msj.edu
http://www.msj.edu/academics/majors-minors-for-undergrads/sport-management/

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

School of Education and Professional Studies

Affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private non-profit evangelical Christian liberal arts institution headquartered on a main 327-acre rural campus in Mount Vernon within central Ohio. First established in 1968, MVNU offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees to traditional or non-traditional students with a student-faculty ratio of 15:1. According to the U.S. News, MVNU is ranked the 61st best regional college and 48th top university for military veterans in the Midwest. Within the School of Education and Professional Studies, programs range from early childhood education and visual arts education to physical education and social work.

B.A. in Physical Education – Sports Management

Ideal for students with an interest in fitness and health, the B.A. in Physical Education program at Mount Vernon Nazarene is accredited by the NCATE to build the professional skills required for sharing a passion for sports. Within the 120-credit curriculum, students can select from three concentrations in Exercise Studies, Sports Management, or Physical Education/Health Education. Majoring in sports management will equip undergraduates with the athletic and business knowledge to lead sports teams and clubs. Students complete two field practicum placements, which have included Suffield Academy, Gonzaga University, and the San Diego Padres. Faculty are drawn from MVNU’s athletics department. Graduates will qualify for Ohio teaching licensure or pursuing careers in sports management.

Accreditations

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

Contact

800 Martinsburg Road
Mount Vernon, OH 43050
(866) 462-6868
mvnu.admissions@mvnu.edu

Ohio Dominican University

Department of Sport Management

Welcoming over 2,900 students, Old Dominican University is an accredited private four-year Roman Catholic liberal arts institution first opened in 1911 on a beautiful 75-acre urban campus in the North Central neighborhood of Columbus near Easton Town Center. Featuring a selective acceptance rate of 46 percent, Old Dominican is ranked the 85th best regional college and 64th top university for military veterans in the Midwest by the USNWR. The Department of Sport Management offers two programs in the Business Division that value diversity, social responsibility, and ethical sports leadership.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

Rooted in the Dominican tradition, the Bachelor of Science in Sport Management program at ODU strives to develop the knowledge, skills, and integrity needed to successfully build a contemporary sport management career. The four-year program will include courses in finance, microeconomics, sport psychology, marketing, event planning, facility management, sport law, communications, and sport governance. Students engage in challenging courses in the classroom while conducting service learning projects in the community. All B.S. students must complete a hands-on internship with teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Columbus Clippers, and Columbus Crew. To demonstrate dedication to a specific sports arena, students can pursue the Minor in Sport Media or Minor in Coaching.

Master of Science in Sport Management

Strongly based in sport business, the Master of Science in Sport Management allows Ohio Dominican graduate students to expand their knowledge and analytic base for attaining mid- to upper-level administrative jobs in the international sports industry. Students in the 16-month program attend classes on weekday evenings in convenient eight-week sessions. There’s a Leadership Concentration available. Coursework will explore everything from sport marketing and human resources management to sport sociology and conflict management. For the capstone, students can select a comprehensive field project or master’s thesis research paper. Undergraduates with a minimum GPA of 3.0 could follow the 4+1 program to earn the master’s degree in five years.

Accreditations

        • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

1216 Sunbury Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 251-4669
strodej@ohiodominican.edu
http://www.ohiodominican.edu/academics/undergraduate/bachelor-degrees/sport-management/department-page

Ohio Northern University

Getty College of Arts and Sciences

Started as the Northwestern Ohio Normal School in 1871, Ohio Northern University has evolved into a comprehensive four-year private higher learning institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church to educate over 3,700 students on its 342-acre rural campus in Ada about an hour’s drive from Toledo. Ranked 18th nationally in the Princeton Review’s list for “Most Conservative Students,” ONU is named the 2nd best regional college and 2nd top school for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News. The Getty College of Arts and Sciences offers small classroom environments for encouraging independent thinking and lifelong learning.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

At ONU, the Bachelor’s in Sport Management program has excelled in producing savvy business leaders capable of managing the finance, operations, public relations, sales, and marketing aspects of profitable athletic enterprises. Over four years full-time, students will accumulate at least 124 credits to build the problem-solving and collaboration skills in high demand by the sports industry. Students assist in managing the university’s 23 NCAA Division III varsity teams. The bachelor’s program also requires a 12-week experiential internship for 450 clock hours of off-campus training. Previous students have interned with the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Graduates with this degree have an average job placement rate of 93 percent within six months.

Accreditations

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

Contact

525 South Main Street
Ada, OH 45810
(419) 772-1878
r-beaschler@onu.edu

Jobs in the multi-billion dollar sports industry aren’t only reserved for athletes and coaches. All sports enterprises must hire knowledgeable professionals to handle the business aspects of athletics behind the scenes. Aspiring sports managers typically need to hold at least a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college for career entry. Investing in higher education can be costly with rising tuition, but it pays off. The BLS reports that sports agents and managers earn an average yearly salary of $97,220. Take your passion for athletics to the sidelines by selecting one of these sports management degree programs from accredited colleges and universities in Ohio.

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