Sports Management Degree Programs in Florida (A-F)

If you are looking for accredited sports management degree programs in Florida, then you are certainly searching in the right place! While our nation’s third most populous state may be best known for its hot sunny weather and white sandy beaches, there’s certainly no lack of opportunity for sport enthusiasts in Florida.

Rankings

Students who pursue a sports management degree at one of the many high-ranking universities in Florida will have their pick of year-round sports clubs to choose from for internship experience. From the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, and Miami Marlins to the Florida Panthers, Orlando Magic, and Jacksonville Jaguars, there’s several professional major-league sports teams headquartered here. Florida also serves as an epicenter for other outdoor adventures, including fishing, diving, parasailing, golfing, surfing, tennis, and race car driving. In order to help you get started exploring your sports career options in the “Sunshine State,” below are the accredited undergraduate and graduate sports management degrees available in Florida. To see more accredited sports management degree programs, please visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Florida (G-S) and Sports Management Degree Programs in Florida (T-Z).

Barry University

School of Human Performance and Leisure Studies

Since its inception in 1940, Barry University has grown into a dynamic private four-year Roman Catholic institution on a beautiful 124-acre suburban campus in Miami between the Atlantic beaches and Everglades. Known for being among the largest faith-based universities in the Southeast with a total enrollment of over 8,900 students, Barry is currently ranked as the 156th best college in the South and 218th top research university in America by Forbes magazine. The School of Human Performance and Leisure Studies is committed to helping students explore the physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual dimensions that facilitate our human potential.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

Whether undergrads are aiming to manage a professional sports team, own a sport-related business, operate recreational programs, or market college athletics, the Bachelor of Science in Sport Management at Barry will built the foundation to make these dreams come true. Featuring a minor in business, the program is designed to develop the specific knowledge, skills, and expertise needed to compete in the sports world or move into graduate school. There’s also a unique specialization available in the Diving Industry for sport management majors seeking to enhance their understanding of the physics and physiology of diving to explore business opportunities in this booming underwater realm.

Master of Science in Sport Management

As a 36-credit program that seamlessly blends academic learning with practical experience, the Master of Science in Sport Management program at Barry is designed to prepare graduate students for the rigors of various management tracks in sports, recreation, and health promotion. Well-known for producing graduates who work with all four of South Florida’s pro sports teams, the program includes a fair amount of electives to enhance preparation for sport-related careers in business, journalism, fitness, communications, tourism, psychology, and leisure. The program has been specifically designed for full-time working professionals with convenient course schedules in evenings and on weekends in Miami.

Accreditations

- - - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

11300 Northeast 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33161
(305) 899-3490
sportsciences@barry.edu
Barry University

Flagler College

Department of Sport Management

Situated on a 42-acre suburban campus in the residential section of the nation’s oldest city at St. Augustine with its stunning Spanish architecture, Flagler College is a small private co-educational liberal arts institution with a supportive learning environment for just over 2,700 students. With a rather selective acceptance rate of 48%, Flagler is currently ranked as the eighth best regional college in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. Within the Department of Sport Management, undergraduate students can work towards their personal and professional fulfillment to become strategic leaders in various sport-related careers.

Sport Management Major

As one of only 47 undergraduate programs approved by the COSMA nationwide, the Sport Management Major at Flagler is ideal for students seeking a bachelor’s degree to play a leadership role within today’s fast-growing multibillion-dollar world of sports. Students work to develop the skills that will meet the unique demands of administrative positions in professional sports, college athletics, sports marketing or sales, event management, and other forms of community recreation. Within this 57-credit major, students will take courses related to sport administration, sport marketing, sales promotion, sport finance, sport law, facility management, fitness, sport ethics, financial accounting, data management, and economics before completing a required senior seminar and professional internship.

Accreditations

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

Contact

74 King Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-6481
admissions@flagler.edu
Flagler University

Florida A&M University

Department of Health and Physical Education

Initially founded in 1887 as the only historically black institution in the state’s public university system committed to educating African Americans, Florida A&M University is located on a 422-acre urban campus in the capital city of Tallahassee with satellite campuses in Crestview, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami. Enrolling more than 11,000 students from over 70 countries worldwide, Florida A&M has been picked as the 8th top historically black college in America by the U.S. News and World Report. The Department of Health and Physical Education is focused on challenging students to compete and interact effectively within the consistently evolving fields of health, recreation, leisure, sports, and physical education.

Master of Science in Sport Management

Designed to offer interactive educational training for graduate students seeking a variety of careers in today’s integral sports industry, the Master of Science in Sport Management program at Florida A&M builds the necessary skill sets for becoming a manager, administrator, or practitioner in any sport-related setting. Since sports operations now require business savvy professionals to be well-versed in the intricacies of sport activities, the program places a supreme emphasis on the development of leadership, socio-cultural, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Graduate assistantships are available in the university’s Student Recreation Center and athletics department to help students easily afford tuition.

Accreditations

- - - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

1800 Wahnish Way
Tallahassee, FL 32307
(850) 599-3135
sarah.price@famu.edu
Florida A&M University

Florida Atlantic University

College of Business

Based on a main 850-acre urban campus in the sunny town of Boca Raton with satellite locations in Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Harbor Branch, and Jupiter, Florida Atlantic University is a comprehensive four-year public institution sprawling across 150 miles of the state’s southeastern coast to educate over 30,500 students. Named 28th in the nation for awarding degrees to Hispanic students, FAU is currently ranked as the 130th best college in the South and 194th top research university in America by Forbes magazine. Also acclaimed for being one of Princeton Review’s “Best 296 Business Schools,” the College of Business is accredited by the AACSB International to inspire students to innovate and make positive changes to the way business is being conducted globally.

MBA in Sport Management

Since its inception in 2000, the MBA in Sport Management program at FAU has featured a 90% job placement rate of graduates receiving permanent full-time positions in the sport and/or entertainment industry. With these stellar results, it’s clear that this program is committed to producing first-rate managers from a practitioner-oriented approach to lead the business side of sports. On top of the rigorous graduate business curriculum of at least 40 credits, students in the sport management specialization complete practical internship experiences at local and regional sport entities. By drawing upon traditional MBA knowledge in management, marketing, business law, economics, accounting, and finance, the program produces professionally and ethically sound sport managers for success.

Accreditations

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

Contact

777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
(561) 297-3031
jriordan@fau.edu
Florida Atlantic University

Florida International University

College of Education

Proudly standing as Miami’s first and only comprehensive top-tier public research institution since 1972, Florida International University is located on a 344-acre main Modesto A. Maidique campus in western Miami-Dade County with a satellite waterfront location along Biscayne Bay in the county’s northeastern reaches. With a current student body of over 50,000 and a massive alumni network of more than 200,000 professionals, FIU is highly regarded as one of the top 10 largest universities in the United States. Also acclaimed for having the 98th best online bachelor’s degrees by the U.S. News and World Report, the College of Education offers a wide range of distance learning options for aspiring teachers, administrators, and sports managers.

B.S. in Recreation and Sport Management

Offered in a traditional on-campus format in Miami or fully online from anywhere, the B.S. in Recreation and Sport Management program at FIU is focused on providing the professional preparation that undergraduate students will need to enter a successful career in sports and/or recreational settings. In the 120-credit curriculum plan, students are given the freedom to select a concentration area in Parks Management, Recreation and Sport Management, or Recreational Therapy. Before taking on the senior culminating internship, students take a wide array of courses in human growth, recreation services, financial accounting, budgeting, program development, environmental science, human resources, marketing management, sport sociology, and exercise physiology.

M.S. in Recreation and Sport Management

Recently granted the American Therapeutic Recreation Association Education Excellence Award, the M.S. in Recreation and Sport Management program at FIU is designed to deliver advanced preparation for managerial and supervisory level employment in sport, recreation, and recreational therapy organizations. While students can complete the 33-credit program from a generalist approach, there is an option to specialize in recreational therapy to specifically help people with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses engage in structured sport activities. Students are also given the freedom to choose a thesis track with a required research project related to sports and recreation or a non-thesis track featuring nine additional electives.

Accreditations

- - - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

11200 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-1411
bangh@fiu.edu
Florida International University

Florida Southern College

Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise

Sitting on a 113-acre suburban campus in Lakeland at the midway point between Tampa and Orlando near the warm water of Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern College is an award-winning comprehensive private teaching institution with a close-knit community of around 2,400 students. Recently recognized by Princeton Review for having the nation’s most beautiful campus, FSC is currently ranked as the 5th best regional college in the South by the U.S. News and World Report. From an applied business orientation, the Barney Barnett School has the mission of providing high-quality business educational experiences to give students a sharp edge in competitive disciplines.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sport Management

For undergrads looking to enter the growing $400-billion dollar sports industry, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program at FSC offers a Sport Management career track to study the business side of sports, including economics, accounting, finance, marketing, law, communications, management, and even psychology. In an active learning environment, the program develops the next generation of sport decision makers who understand how to plan sporting events, marketing sport merchandise, create good sports publicity, coach players, and administer large sporting organizations. Graduates can use their leadership skills to manage professional sports teams, sport leagues, college athletic programs, high school athletics, recreational centers, and major sport facilities.

Accreditations

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

Contact

111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 680-4397
nnugent@flsouthern.edu
Florida Southern College

Florida State University

College of Education

Among the nation’s leading elite public research institutions with the Carnegie Foundation’s highest designation as a doctoral research university for extensive research activity, Florida State University is located on a 475-acre sprawling campus in the urban epicenter of the state’s capital city in Tallahassee to educate over 40,800 minds. As the national leader in the number of doctorates awarded to African Americans, FSU is ranked as the 95th best university and 43rd top public school in America by the U.S. News and World Report. Also distinguished as the 39th best graduate education school, the College of Education offers programs for future sports leaders in the Department of Sport Management.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

As an upper-division program beginning in the junior year after students have completed at least 60 credits, the Bachelor of Science in Sport Management is focused on providing undergraduate students with an introductory understanding of sport business. Through a variety of electives, students can tailor their curriculum to align with their individual interests in business, marketing, recreation, finance, research, and other disciplines. This degree can be used to begin entry-level positions in the sport industry or for pursuing a graduate degree. Students are also encouraged to enhance their degree by pursuing the 18-credit interdisciplinary Certificate in Leadership Studies to truly unleash their inner manager.

Master of Science in Sport Management

Available for highly qualified graduate students seeking to unlock leadership positions in the sports industry, the Master of Science in Sport Management program at FSU expands students’ knowledge of business, marketing, promotion, event management, field research, and much more. Whether students choose the thesis or non-thesis track, the 32-credit curriculum will allow them to develop specialized expertise in a particular career path and/or build the research skills needed to pursue advanced doctoral studies. Practical experiences, including one formal internship, also provide students the opportunity to apply their learned knowledge in real-world sports industry settings across Tallahassee.

Juris Doctorate/Master of Science in Sport Management

Offered as a unique joint degree program with the College of Law, the Juris Doctorate/Master of Science in Sport Management at FSU is designed to give graduate students the opportunity to combine their knowledge of the sports industry with a background in sports law to wrap up an attractive set of educational credentials. Individuals in this program will acquire the broad understanding of theoretical and practical legal issues encountered by today’s sports organizations to protect them from liability. With a combined 106-credit curriculum, the joint degree will take at least three to four years for completion. Upon graduation, students will be eligible to sit for the bar exam in Florida and other states.

Doctor of Philosophy in Sport Management

Requiring the completion of at least 80 credits, the Doctor of Philosophy in Sport Management program is structured to immerse doctoral students in seminars and research pertaining to the sport industry to develop active researchers, professors, and advanced practitioners. With an emphasis on the philosophy of inquiry, the Ph.D. program ensures that students develop the quantitative and qualitative tools needed to conduct independent research in their dissertation. Doctoral students also shadow mentor with expert faculty members to receive the hands-on preparation needed to teach undergraduate lectures. In the curriculum, doctoral candidates should choose a specialization in Legal & Policy Issues in Sport, Management in Sport, Sport Marketing, or Sport Media & Culture Studies.

Accreditations

- - - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

Contact

600 West College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(850) 644-4813
ebettilyon@fsu.edu

Earning a degree in sports management is an excellent way for you to transform your life-long love for sports into a successful leadership career. While some may think this degree is only for sports agents seeking to represent big-name professional clients, sports management programs can be useful in a number of different arenas, including coaching, event management, recreation management, venue management, athletic training, sport marketing, and recreational therapy at all levels of sport skill. Consider applying to one or more of these accredited sports management degree programs in Florida to begin developing the skills needed to enter the exciting and competitive sports industry.

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