Sports Management Degree Programs in Tennessee (A-M)

Tennessee is known for its participation in the entertainment industry through country music and sports, and graduates of sports management degree programs in Tennessee carve out careers that suit their passion for sports and their strong business skills.

Rankings

The sport management programs that are offered through Tennessee’s public and private universities expose students to fundamental business principles that are taught within the specialized context of the sport and recreation sector. Graduates of these programs become leaders in professional sport marketing, college sport program administration and secondary school athletics departments. To see more sports management degree programs in Tennessee, visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Tennessee (N-Z).

Belmont University

School of Education

Belmont University’s (BU) Department of Sport Science is found within its School of Education. The department administers numerous undergraduate programs that relate to wellness and sport administration; an advanced degree in sport administration is also available to students. Some of the department’s goals are to instill healthy lifestyle values to students and to prepare them for sport and recreation careers.

Master of Sport Administration

Students who choose to enroll in BU’s Master of Sport Administration (M.S.A.) program can expect a comprehensive curriculum that includes fundamental business theory and practical experiential learning opportunities. While many advanced degrees in business can be completed in two years when students attend classes part time, the BU M.S.A. requires more effort for successful completion because of its unique, year-long internship requirement. BU understands that many of its M.S.A. students work during the week. Subsequently, all M.S.A. classes are held in the evenings. Some examples of course topics that are included in the M.S.A. curriculum are sport event management, sport public relations management and the sport legal environment. In addition to its valuable internships with professional and college sport programs in Nashville, BU also provides graduate teaching assistantships to M.S.A. students. The school’s teaching assistantship program allows graduate students to gain experience while earning extra money for school expenses.

Accreditation

- - - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC)

Contact
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37212
(615) 460-6000
cindy.warner@belmont.edu
http://www.belmont.edu/sa/index.html

Christian Brothers University

School of Business

Christian Brothers University’s (CBU) School of Business administers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration and accounting. CBU business students customize their degree programs by choosing among seven business administration concentration areas. The specializations that are offered include management information systems, sport management, banking and finance, marketing, international business and hospitality management. Students are encouraged to participate in university-sponsored study abroad and internship programs to further enrich their academic experiences.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sport Management

CBU’S Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in Sport Management program provides students with a broad-based curriculum that lays the foundation for success in a number of careers within the entertainment and tourism industries. Realizing that activities within the sport sector often relate to hospitality industry job functions, CBU developed a curriculum for its sport management major that includes course topics in sport tourism, international hospitality management and resort management. Graduates of the B.S.B.A. in Sport Management program find entry-level employment at resort health clubs, professional sport teams, sport media outlets and public parks and recreation departments.

Accreditation

- - - SACS-COC

Contact
650 East Parkway South
Memphis, Tennessee 38104
(901) 321-3000
Jallen9@cbu.edu
https://www.cbu.edu/sport-management

Cumberland University

Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions

While Cumberland University’s (CU) Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions is primarily known as a professional boot camp for future nurses, the school also administers a variety of degree programs in other health and wellness disciplines. The school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as certificate programs in physical education, exercise science, sport management and athletic training. The Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions strives to produce ethical leaders within health care who are competent problem solvers and have a passion for learning.

Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance in Sport and Exercise Science

CU’s B.S. in Health and Human Performance in Sport and Exercise Science focuses on the study of physiology, human movement and the way that the human body responds to exercise. Participating students also learn about the important role that nutrition plays in overall wellness programs. Some course topics for this degree include kinesiology, anatomy and nutrition science. Upon completion of the B.S. in Health and Human Performance in Sport and Exercise Science at CU, students are prepared to take the American College of Sports Medicine certification exam. Some sport and exercise science graduates find employment in wellness clinics, sport training programs and fitness centers. Others use the undergraduate degree as a stepping stone toward professional careers in physical therapy, chiropractic medicine and occupational therapy.

Accreditation

- - - SACS-COC

Contact
500 Park Avenue
Lebanon, Tennessee 37087
(800) 467-0562
cbach@cumberland.edu
http://www.cumberland.edu

Master of Sport and Exercise Science in Sport Management

CU’s Master of Sport and Exercise Science in Sport Management degree program is designed to give graduates the career training that they need to work in the sport industry. Students can expect to encounter rigorous course work on topics such as sport marketing and retailing, sport journalism and fitness club operations management. The program’s curriculum follows the guidelines that are set by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), which is the recognized governing body for university sport management programs in the United States. Sport management graduates find employment with organizations such as MIRMAR Sports and Special Events, Nike, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Reebok, Major league Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network.

Accreditation

- - - SACS-COC
    - NASSM

Contact
500 Park Avenue
Lebanon, Tennessee 37087
(615) 547-1224
admissions@cumberland.edu
https://www.cumberland.edu/master-of-arts-in-sports-management/

East Tennessee State University

College of Education

The academic programs at East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) College of Education are designed to develop leaders who improve human services in the areas of teaching, education policy, education curriculum development, sport science and counseling. The college’s goals are primarily met through initiatives to expand professional development opportunities for its faculty and programs that build relationships with community businesses and other universities. Students at ETSU’s College of Education benefit from engaging instructors who are leaders in their respective fields, and they can access a built-in network of professionals in industry and academia.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

The ETSU undergraduate degree in sport management features a curriculum that combines fundamental business courses with real-world projects. The comprehensive academic program covers all of the major areas of the sport industry. Some core course topics include accounting principles, event management, research design and the legal environment within the sport industry. Students can choose among elective course topics such as trends in sports management, fund-raising in sport management and sport governance. The program’s courses relate to various aspects of sport management career categories such as those within secondary school athletic departments, collegiate sport leagues, professional athletic agencies and amateur community sport clubs. The undergraduate sport management degree program includes a required internship that allows students to put sport management theory into practice in a supervised setting. ETSU sport management students have additional opportunities to network and gain practical experience prior to graduation through the school’s Sport Management Club.

Accreditation

- - - SACS-COC
    - National Association of Sport Physical Education

Contact
P319 Warf-Pickel Hall
PO Box 70654
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
(423) 439-4637
lhotsky@etsu.edu

MA in Kinesiology & Sport Studies in Sport Management

ETSU’s advanced degree in sport management prepares students to gain leadership positions in all types of sport management career paths. The sport industry is experiencing world-wide growth, and the Master of Arts in Kinesiology & Sport Studies in Sport Management program at ETSU provides graduates with the tools that they need to achieve success in the multi-faceted field of sport management. The 36-hour academic program includes course work on topics such as operating fitness facilities, financing sport programs, sport marketing and sport public relations. Graduate sport management students have the option to generate a thesis on an approved sport management topic or to participate in an internship. Recognizing the need for skilled business professionals in the field of sport management, ETSU and other government agencies provide scholarships, graduate assistantships and other forms of financial aid to support the academic goals of sport management students.

Accreditations

- - - SACS-COC

Contact
PO Box 70654
Johnson City, Tennessee 37614
423-439-5257
greenea@etsu.edu

Lipscomb University

Department of Kinesiology

The Department of Kinesiology at Lipscomb University (LU) administers academic programs that relate to exercise science, physical education teaching and sport management. The faith-based school strives to develop ethical professionals who are passionate about promoting wellness in a variety of careers. The department supports students who have goals to achieve industry certifications, gain employment or enter professional degree programs in health-related fields.

B.S. in Sport Management

LU’s B.S. in Sport Management exposes students to the business side of the sport sector through a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on sport marketing, operations management and financial management. Some of the core course topics for this program are financial accounting, managerial accounting, microeconomics and marketing. Enrolled students also take a number of science and math courses that align with the mission and vision of the school’s kinesiology department. Some of these specialized course topics include biology, physiology and biostatistics. The curriculum for this undergraduate degree in sport management includes two required internships, and graduates of the program are prepared to obtain employment in a number of sport and wellness careers.

Accreditation

- - - SACS-COC

Contact
1 University Park Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37204
(615) 966-1000
Karla.chavez@lipscomb.edu

Martin Methodist College

Division of Education

The Division of Education at Martin Methodist College (MMC) administers academic programs that primarily train future educators to think critically and effect positive change within their local communities. Most degree programs within the Division of Education focus on preparing prospective teachers to pass state licensing exams and to complete specialized endorsement requirements for teaching primary and secondary school classes in math, science, English, history and even driver’s education. Besides the standard teaching degree programs, the Division of Education also oversees several health-related academic programs in physical education and human performance. These degrees are designed to prepare students for careers as physical education teachers, athletics conditioning coaches, corporate fitness program developers and physical therapists.

B.S. Physical Education – Sports Management

MMC’s B.S. in Physical Education with a sport management emphasis offers students a comprehensive curriculum that combines foundational elements of human performance and the business of sport. While enrolled in this program, students participate in required physical education courses that help them to stay active and learn proper sport techniques. Examples of these courses include swimming, volleyball, basketball and tennis. Many physical education teachers and wellness professionals require knowledge of health and emergency safety procedures, and courses within MMC’s sport management program reflect this industry need. MMC students can expect to take some course topics that directly relate to the sport management concentration area such as sport event planning, sport facility management and sport marketing. A supervised internship is also included within the 123-hour sport management degree program.

Accreditation

- - - SACS-COC

Contact
433 West Madison Street
Pulaski, Tennessee 38478
(931) 363-9857
gmeier@martinmethodist.edu
https://utsouthern.edu/academics/degree-programs/

Middle Tennessee State University

College of Behavioral and Health Sciences

Middle Tennessee State University’s (MTSU) College of Behavioral and Health Sciences trains servant leaders in health and human services disciplines. The college is home to the school’s nursing, human sciences, social work and health and human performance departments. The degree program curricula that is associated with these departments reflect the college’s commitment to research-based problem solving, collaborative learning and ethical practices. The faculty and staff at MTSU’s College of Behavioral and Health Sciences are life-long learners who often lead research projects that relate to the important trends and issues that impact their respective disciplines.

Leisure and Sport Management M.S.

The MTSU’s advanced degree in leisure and sport management prepares graduates for a number of leadership positions within private, public and non-profit sport and recreation organizations. Based upon their career goals, MTSU students can choose between the two tracks of sport industry and leisure services within the Leisure and Sport Management Master of Science (M.S.) program. Both concentration areas require students to take core courses that are quantitative in nature, and some of these core topics include research methods in human performance, data analysis within human performance and financial management within sport organizations. Some sport industry elective topics that are included within the program are sport tourism, disabilities within the sport industry and fitness education for adults. Some elective topics within the leisure services specialization are leisure and aging, therapeutic recreation within clinical environments and community development through leisure activities. A Leisure and Sport Management M.S. student must complete either a thesis or an internship project prior to graduation, and a comprehensive examination accompanies the internship project. Students who enroll in this challenging program have undergraduate degrees from accredited universities, and they must have successfully completed at least 18 credit hours of sport-related courses. The MTSU Leisure and Sport Management M.S. is a competitive program that has a high placement rate of graduates within the sport and leisure industry. The program’s director is highly regarded as a leader in sport management education by professionals in industry, government and academia, and MTSU students benefit from the partnerships that he helped to foster between the university and sport industry employers.

Accreditations

- - - SACS-COC

Contact
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37132
(615) 898-2906
Steven.Estes@mtsu.edu
http://mtsu.edu/programs/leisure-sports-management-ms/index.php#t-0

The sport sector belongs to one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. According to Forbes, the revenues generated by the sport and leisure sector is projected to reach over $73 billion by 2019. This is great news for sport management students and recent graduates. While employment opportunities in the field of sport management are expected to increase, the field remains a competitive one. Sports management degree programs in Tennessee help future sport management professionals to gain necessary networking skills, relevant internship experience and working knowledge of the sport industry.

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