Sports Management Degree Programs in Alabama

If you are looking for accredited sports management degree programs in Alabama, then you will be happy to learn that there are ten top-notch degree options available at some of the highest ranked universities in the United States. In the heart of the Deep South, Alabama is well-known for having a booming sports industry, particularly for football. Averaging over 100,000 fans at each game, the University of Alabama is famous for consistently ranking among the top 20 in average attendance with the fifth largest stadium in America.

Rankings

In addition to the collegiate level, Alabama serves as the location for several professional teams, including the Huntsville Havoc, Mobile Bay Hurricanes, Rocket City United, Birmingham Barons, Alabama Hammers, and the Tennessee Valley Tigers. In order to receive the specialized training needed to join the booming sports business industry in Alabama and beyond, read on to learn about sports management degrees offered in the “Yellowhammer State.”

Auburn University

College of Education

First founded in 1856 within just 20 years after the city’s establishment as the first land-grant college in the South, Auburn University is a major public land, sea, and space-grant research institution that serves more than 25,000 students on its sprawling 1,875-acre urban campus within West Alabama. Named by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges, Auburn is currently ranked as the 103rd top national university and 48th top public school in America by the U.S. News and World Report. Furthermore, the College of Education is recognized as the 77th best education school with the 6th best online graduate education degrees in the United States.

M.Ed. in Higher Education with Minor in Sport Management

Within the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Higher Education program at Auburn, a Minor in Sport Management is available with an 18-hour curriculum focused on sport ethics, sport finance, sport marketing, sociology of sports, sport psychology, and sport ethics. Featuring an experienced faculty of senior athletics administrators, the program attracts students who are interested in working in the world of academia in athletic administration, athletic training, coaching, and other areas. Students in the program are required to successfully complete a practicum in athletic administration to apply classroom learning in real-life situations to address student-athlete academic support, finances, gender equity, human diversity, event management, and compliance with NCAA regulations.

Accreditation

        • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
        • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

3084 Haley Center
Auburn, AL 36849
(334) 844-3502
adamsol@auburn.edu

Auburn University

Huntingdon College

School of Teacher Education and Sport Science

Grounded in the Judeo-Christian traditions of the United Methodist Church, Huntingdon College is a comprehensive private co-educational liberal arts institution situated on a 71-acre suburban campus in the historic neighborhood of Old Cloverdale of the state’s capital city in Montgomery. Since being initially established in 1854, Huntingdon has grown dramatically to become the 23rd best regional college in the South as ranked by the U.S. News and World Report. The School of Teacher Education and Sport Science is committed to shaping tomorrow’s world by preparing highly employable professionals with extensive preparation in education or sport studies.

Bachelor’s in Sport Studies: Sport Management

Intended to build the organizing, planning, budgeting, controlling, directing, and assessing skills needed for gaining successful employment in organizations related to sports activities, the Bachelor’s in Sport Studies: Sport Management program is designed to open a wide range of career opportunities in one of the largest and most diverse industries in the United States. Graduates are prepared to work as sport managers to utilize their abilities in college sports, professional sports, amateur sports, sport marketing firms, sport communication media firms, stadiums, social service agency sports programs, community recreation, and more. Housed within the Dr. Laurie Jean Weil Center for Human Performance with an on-campus sport medicine clinic, the program allows students to learn by doing through internships, service learning, and practicum.

Accreditation

        • Commission for Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)
        • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1500 East Fairview Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36106
(334) 833-4497
mbamman@hawks.huntingdon.edu
Huntingdon College

Samford University

Brock School of Business

Strategically situated on a 318-acre suburban campus at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains near the bustling downtown hub of Birmingham, Samford University is a comprehensive private historic Christian institution that serves more than 4,800 students. As the 87th oldest university in the United States with an illustrious history since 1841, Samford is named the 3rd best regional college in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. Boasting full accreditation by the respected AACSB International, the Brock School of Business delivers a life-long business education informed by Christian principles with innovative pedagogies.

Bachelor’s in Business with Sports Marketing Concentration

Offering the valuable opportunity for undergraduate students to combine their passion for sports with professional business training in an AACSB-accredited school, the Bachelor’s in Business program with a Sports Marketing Concentration is designed to develop the essential skills needed to enter the growing global sports marketplace with out-of-classroom experiential learning experiences. In providing a strong foundation for any career in the business side of sports, the program requires all students to spend at least one full semester working for the university’s Athletic Department. Students can choose to participate in study abroad trips to the most famous sporting organizations around the world to receive an international perspective to sports business.

Accreditation

        • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
        • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, AL 35229
(205) 726-2364
Darin.White@Samford.edu
Samford University

Troy University

College of Health and Human Services

With a total enrollment of over 30,000 students from around the world, Troy University is Alabama’s comprehensive international public research institution headquartered on an 820-acre rural residential campus in Troy with consortia relationships in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Azerbaijan. Named among the top 15% of “military friendly” universities in America by Victory Media, Troy is currently ranked as the 76th best college and 35th top public school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. With the 74th best online bachelor’s programs, the College of Health and Human Services prepares students for high demand careers to positively contribute to the lives of others.

B.S. in Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management

Designed to prepare undergraduate students for a wide variety of career paths across these three growing industries, the B.S. in Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management program offers a comprehensive educational experience to train students for entry-level openings in sport management, leisure services, and/or tourism and hospitality. In particular, the Sport Management concentration is focused on the preparation needed for success in managing interscholastic, intercollegiate, professional, and/or recreational sports. Within the 120-credit program, sport management students will take courses in sport finance, sport business, sport communications, sport law, facility management, and recreation programming with a practicum experience to build confidence in assuming leadership.

M.S. in Sport and Fitness Management

As one of only five graduate sport management programs accredited by the COSMA and one of the leading programs of its kind in the Southeast, the M.S. in Sport and Fitness Management degree has been established to provide graduate students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities needed to engage in the practice of management in sport-related industries. Offered in a convenient 100% online format at a distance, the program creates an integrative academic learning environment for analyzing and resolving challenges being faced in the business of sports organizations. Students in the program can select between two concentration areas in Athletic Administration or Coaching to supplement the broad-based curriculum.

Ph.D. in Sport Management

Highly regarded for being the first doctoral program of its kind to be offered in an online format in the United States to provide a high level of accessibility to working sport practitioners, the Ph.D. in Sport Management program is focused on developing the research, critical thinking, and teaching skills needed to build successful careers in leadership positions. Boasting a strong curriculum and faculty with professional expertise, the program prepares graduates to become experts in the exciting and expanding world of sport management in higher education, research, professional sports, or amateur athletics. In order to gain admissions to the program in a research-oriented environment, students must have a master’s degree in a related field.

Accreditation

        • Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)
        • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

600 University Avenue
Troy, AL 36082
(800) 414-5756
hstm@troy.edu
Troy University

University of Alabama

College of Human Environmental Sciences

Renowned for continued excellence in education, research, engagement, and service, the University of Alabama is the state’s comprehensive flagship public research institution with more than 34,800 students headquartered on a vast 1,000-acre suburban campus in Tuscaloosa within just 60 miles from the city of Birmingham. Consistently ranked first among public universities in America for the enrollment of National Merit Scholars, UA is currently named the 88th best college, 38th top public school, and 15th best university for veterans in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. The College of Human Environmental Sciences is a senior academic unit that builds on a liberal arts education to provide programs for improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

M.A. in Human Performance in Sport Management

Endorsed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), the M.A. in Human Performance in Sport Management program is designed to provide graduate students with the theoretical knowledge and hands-on learning experience needed to begin a successful career in today’s ever-expanding sports industry. Featuring a high-quality education in a nurturing environment, the program is focused on fostering mutual respect, empowerment, professional growth, and collegiality for managing in sport arenas. The 30-hour program is taught by experienced faculty with doctoral degrees in the sports industry to cater to the learning needs of recent college graduates, students with little experience in the field, and professionals who have been out of school for many years.

M.S. in Human Environmental Studies – Sport Management

Intended to educate graduate students with the theoretical knowledge of the sports industry while providing opportunities to apply training in real-world settings, the M.S. in Human Environmental Studies – Sport Management program prepares students for a variety of sport industry careers. With a 30-hour interdisciplinary curriculum meeting the rigorous standards of the Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC), the program includes courses in event management, sport administration, marketing, public relations, sales, finance, accounting, ethics, and facility management. Students will also complete a culminating fellowship in sport management within sport, hospitality, and entertainment operation settings.

Accreditation

        • National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
        • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

Box 870118
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-5921
kwright@bama.ua.edu
University of Alabama

University of North Alabama

College of Education and Human Sciences

Tracing its roots back to 1830 when it was founded as the first public state-chartered college in Alabama and one of the first co-educational universities in America, the University of North Alabama is home to more than 7,100 students in a 200-acre urban campus in Florence within blocks from the Tennessee River. Delivering a quality education at an affordable price, UNA is currently ranked as the 81st best college and 39th top public school in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Education and Human Sciences, students can choose from a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s, and education specialist degrees related to teacher preparation or human performance.

B.S. in Physical Education with a Concentration in Sport Management

Within the four-year scheduling of the B.S. in Physical Education program, undergraduate students not interested in obtaining teacher certification can pursue a Concentration in Sport Management to focus their studies on the business side of sport and leisure activities. Furthermore, students are given the option to choose from three emphasis areas in Sport Communications, Sport Management, or Sport Marketing. Graduates of the 120-credit program will be prepared to find career opportunities as athletic directors, compliance officers, event managers, facility managers, sports marketers, ticket sales representatives, sport broadcasters, sport writers, game day operators, coaches, and more. Students will spend the entire last semester working on a field internship within a sports organization or facility.

M.S. in Health and Human Performance with a Concentration in Sport Management

Focused on facilitating mastery of knowledge as well as the development of behaviors, skills, attitudes, and abilities reflecting expertise in the sports industry, the M.S. in Health and Human Performance program offers a Concentration in Sport Management will build the foundation necessary to successfully assume leadership roles. Featuring a research-oriented approach in conjunction with the on-campus Human Performance Laboratory, the program enables students to gain hands-on experience in school systems, recreational agencies, sports medicine clinics, sports organizations, wellness centers, and fitness centers. In order to complete the 30-credit program, students must pass a comprehensive examination, complete a master’s thesis project, and participate in a semester-long internship.

Accreditation

        • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
        • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1 Harrison Plaza
Florence, AL 35632
(256) 765-4313
tecoates@una.edu
University of North Alabama

As a dynamic and growing industry, there is a $500 billion dollar global sports marketplace today that extends around the globe from the United States to Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Whether you are interested in designing new sport products, negotiating sponsorship deals, implementing sport marketing plans, working with burgeoning sports players, or opening career opportunities in athletic administration at universities, earning a degree in sports management is the perfect way to reach your goals in this high-profile business. If you are from the “Heart of Dixie,” be sure to contact some of these accredited sports management degree programs in Alabama to get started on a bright career today!

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