Sports Management Degree Programs in Massachusetts (A-M)

There are a wealth of accredited sports management degree programs in Massachusetts that offer varied curriculums on topics like sports law, marketing, and public relations. The business of sport makes billions of dollars a year, and it’s been growing swiftly in the last half-century.

Rankings

As one of the most profitable segments of the economy, sport is also a very competitive field whether a person chooses to play on the field or work behind the scenes with the business and management side of the industry. Obtaining an undergraduate or graduate degree in sport management is the best way to enter what is a very competitive industry. To see more accredited sports management programs, visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Massachusetts (N-Z).

American International College

School of Business Administration

A private school located in Springfield, American International College is a small school that offers classes to over 1,700 undergraduates and about 450 postgraduates. Established in the summer of 1885, the school was once called French Protestant College and was supposed to provide advanced learning to local French-speaking Protestants in the region. The school expanded its offerings and focus over the next century as it opened its doors to other minorities who weren’t French, including women and immigrants from Canada and Europe. Today, the school prides itself on its multicultural make-up and encourages students to develop a strong sense of commitment to the local community.

Bachelor’s Sport and Recreation Management

Like similar accredited sports management degree programs in Massachusetts, the bachelor’s degree at AIC features a combination of management and business concepts as they apply to the world of sports management, sports organizations, and the recreation industry. In addition to sports marketing and the public relations campaigns necessary for successful sports teams, the program also teaches students about the management of large events and facilities, as well as management issues that individuals working in college-level athletics may face. Students will gain an understand of how important media relations is to the world of sport management through a challenging curriculum and an on-the-job experience. Internships through the program may occur at a variety of institutions like college athletic departments, professional sports teams, and private sports facilities. Students may even gain experience at sports agencies and marketing firms that focus on the sports industry. Some of the courses students will take include Management of Sports Industries, Event & Facility Management, and Sporting Goods Industry.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges
    - International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Contact

American International College
1000 State Street
Springfield, MA 01109
Phone: (413) 205-3216
Email: mei-lin.yeh-lane@aic.edu
http://www.aic.edu/academics/programs/sports_and_recreation_management

Anna Maria College

School of Business

Established in 1946, Anna Maria College was originally founded by the Sisters of Saint Anne. The school was first located in Marlborough, but it moved to Paxton in the early 1950s. Today, the small school has around 1,100 undergraduates and 330 postgraduates attending classes at its rural campus. The sports teams at the school participate in NCAA Division III, and the school’s colors are cardinal and white. Students may choose from 35 undergraduate programs and more than 20 graduate programs. The school also offers continuing education. The school’s curriculum combines a liberal arts education with career training and the school also offers a variety of courses online.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

The bachelor’s degree program at Anna Maria College is designed to help students enter the industry immediately after graduation. The industry is competitive, and the school realizes that entry-level jobs require experience and knowledge gained through practical classroom instruction and internships. The school describes its program as comprehensive with potential careers after graduation including Marketing Directors, Ticket Sales Directors, and Development Officers. Learning outcomes include gaining knowledge of the beginning and evolution of sport management, as well as today’s management principles and leadership qualities required of individuals working in the industry. Further, students will learn ethical reasoning and how to make important decisions while on the job. The curriculum also features essential topics on the finance, accounting, and economics of sport, as well as important legal concepts of the sport industry. Students will experience customized learning with mentorship from faculty that will ensure students leave the program with an exceptionally well-rounded education in sport management.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Contact

Anna Maria College
50 Sunset Lane
Paxton, MA 01612
Phone: (508) 849-3300
Email: admission@annamaria.edu

Elms College

Business Division

Officially known as College of Our Lady of the Elms, the school is located in Chicopee, which is close to the major Massachusetts city of Springfield. The college was established in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, which is a Catholic group and was originally a girls prep school in the late 1800s. The school then transitioned into a women’s liberal arts college for teachers. Over the next several decades, the school expanded its focus and also started offering night courses. In recent years, the school has seen some expansion with a new health and fitness center. Interestingly, the school didn’t become coeducational until the 1998 school year.

Bachelor’s in Management in Sport Management

Sports organizations require employees and managers with business knowledge who also understand the business of sport. Like many of the accredited sports management degree programs in Massachusetts, the bachelor’s degree at Elms is described as interdisciplinary, which means it covers a variety of business-centric topics as they apply to sports. Students will enroll in classes that cover accounting, social sciences, and business, as well as economics and law. The school reveals that a variety of valuable internships at sports organizations in western Massachusetts and nearby Connecticut are available and will help students gain the on-the-job experience needed to gain entry into this competitive industry. Some of the places where students have spent time in internships include the Springfield Falcons, which are part of the American Hockey League, the Volleyball Hall of Fame, and the Basketball Hall of Fame. With the internship experience and the interdisciplinary curriculum, students may find work in jobs that deal with coaching and athletics, as well as sport business jobs in public relations, marketing, and management.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges
    - International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE)

Contact

College of Our Lady of the Elms
291 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
Phone: (413) 265-2300
Email: kimballd@elms.edu

Endicott College

School of Sport Science & Fitness Studies

Endicott College was founded by a husband and wife as a two-year college for women that would offer women the opportunity to gain independence and valuable jobs in the workplace. The first class of students enrolled in 1941, shortly after the Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted the school its first charter. After a few years, the school was granted approval to award associate’s degrees, and it became a 4-year college in the 1980s. It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that the school became a coeducational facility. There is a variety of historic buildings on the school’s campus, which caters to around 2,500 undergraduates and 2,800 postgraduates.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

The Sport Management program at Endicott College has been recognized by a variety of associations and councils for the excellence of its curriculum. The school counts itself as one of the first to meet the standards designed by the Sport Management Program Review Council (SMPRC). The program was also endorsed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), as well as the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM). The school describes its program as one that’s academically rigorous and focuses on giving students a practical experience in sport management that’s rooted in theoretical knowledge and modern standards in the industry. Students must complete between 125 and 126 credits to complete their bachelor’s degree, and students are expected to exit the program with appropriate skills in management, public speaking, and record keeping. Students also receive training in marketing & sales and correspondence. Upon graduation, students are considered ready to enter the workforce and gain admittance to the competitive industry of sport management.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges
    - Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)

Contact

Endicott College
376 Hale Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 927-0585
Email: dswanton@endicott.edu

Lasell College

Sport Management Department

Lasell College has been in operation in one form or another since 1851 when it was operating as Auburndale Female Seminary. Located in Newton, Lasell College has around 1,800 undergraduates and 1,600 graduate students. The school’s sports teams are nicknamed the “Lasers,” and the school’s official colors are blue and white. Although the founder of the school died of typhoid fever shortly after it opened, the school was immediately recognized as one with significant potential, and the school quickly became known for its rigorous curriculum for women. The school was considered radical at the time, and it grew and changed over the next century to become the modern four-year institution it is today.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

The industry of sport is one of the fastest growing segments of the economy, and its growth has made it one of the largest money-makers in the country. The program at Lasell is designed to instruct students on topics related to management as it impacts the sport industry. The program offers classes on the beginnings of the industry and the concepts that were developed over time to impact sport enterprises and teams around the world. At the conclusion of the program, students are expected to understand the industry as it functions in a global economy. Additionally, students are meant to understand how sport products and their associated services are treated on an international level, as well as the best practices for leadership, management, and administration of sport-related services. Further, students must grasp all the key concepts and theories of the discipline and gain a broad understanding of the business principles guiding the sport industry.

Master of Science in Sport Management

The Master of Science in Sport Management degree at Lasell College requires that students complete 36 credits, but up to six of those credits may be waived if a student has applicable, prior experience. The curriculum features 27 core classes that cover a broad spectrum of sport management topics, as well as nine credits related to a student’s choice of concentration. There are three concentrations from which to choose including Sport Hospitality Management, Sport Non-Profit Management, and Sport Leadership. Each concentration allows the student to focus his or her energies on learning concepts directly tied to the job the student wishes to apply for after graduation. For example, the Sport Hospitality Management concentration is designed for students who come from a variety of backgrounds that may include hospitality, business, marketing, or event management. Courses students can take include those on sport facilities, sales, and events and how those concepts are important for students who wish to begin a career in this competitive industry.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges
    - Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)

Contact

Lasell College
1844 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02466
Phone: (617) 243-2000
Email: dthomas@lasell.edu

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Department of Business Administration & Economics

MCLA offers undergraduate and graduate programs from its campus in North Adams. The college was established in 1894 as North Adams Normal School as a facility for training teachers. Today, MCLA is part of the university system of Massachusetts and offers a variety of programs in areas of science and the arts. The school has almost 1,900 students attending classes, as well as over 500 postgraduates enrolled. The school’s sports teams are known as the Trailblazers, and they play under the colors of navy and gold. In the past few decades, the school has focused on expanding its “STEM” offerings, which feature classes in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

Learning sports management at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts requires enrolling in the Business Administration program and choosing a concentration in Sport Management. As with other accredited sports management degree programs in Massachusetts, students will take several courses in business like Managerial Accounting, Marketing, and Microeconomics. Additionally, the degree features a variety of sport management-centric courses like Issues in Event & Sport Management and Sport Finance & Economics. Students are also free to choose a variety of upper-division electives in sport management courses. Overall, students need 120 credits to graduate and an overall cumulative GPA of 2.00 or above. The school allows students to transfer some credits, but at least half of the major credits required for a student’s degree must be taken through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Some of the sports management topics students will cover include marketing, team facilitation, sport psychology, and sport literature. Further, students must master basic communication and writing with two classes from the English Department in business writing.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Contact

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
375 Church Street
North Adams, MA 01247
Phone: (413) 662-5000
Email: admission@mcla.edu

Merrimack College

Girard School of Business

Merrimack is a private college just north of Boston in the town of North Andover. The school has around 2,700 undergraduates and 250 postgraduates attending its suburban campus. The school was established in 1947 as a school affiliated with the Augustinians of the Roman Catholic Church. The school caters to traditional students, as well as students who may need to attend school part time or during the evenings. Popular programs at the school include health science, public affairs, and engineering. The school has 24 varsity teams that play in NCAA Div I for the hockey teams and DIV II for the other teams. The school’s official colors are blue and gold.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

Merrimack describes its sport management program as an interdisciplinary degree that is designed to help students prepare for a career in the sport industry directly after graduation. The industry is a thriving and growing one, which means a degree in sport management may offer a student strong potential for finding a lifelong career. The program features a variety of core classes in general areas of business, as well as specialized training in sport management. The school describes its program as ideal for students who want to work within sports in areas like facilities management, athletic administration, or sport marketing. Sports-centric classes students will take include Introduction to Sport Management and Sport Marketing. Students will also participate in a sport practicum, as well as take electives in the subject of sport. Students will cover topics in law, marketing, promotion, and consumer behavior as the impact the sports industry. The Sport Management Practicum will provide students with a hands-on experience at a local sport organization.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Contact

Merrimack College
315 Turnpike Street
North Andover, MA 01845
Phone: (978) 837-5000
Email: admissions@merrimack.edu

Mount Ida College

School of Business

Located in Newton, Mount Ida College has about 1,300 students attending classes at its suburban campus. The school opened at the end of the 19th century as an all-female high school and started offering junior college level courses about a decade later. The school hit a rough patch during the Great Depression and had to close for a few years until it was purchased by a man named William Fitts Carlson and relocated to its present location. Associate’s degrees at the school wouldn’t come until the late 1960s, and it would become a co-educational school in the early 1970s. Mount Ida is a private school and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sport Management

The school describes the industry of sport as one filled with teams where people need to work together to find success, and that same concept applies to the design of the curriculum at Mount Ida. The program is described as versatile that features classes on many topics that impact sport management including business, arts, and sciences. The degree is designed to help students graduate with a competitive education that will help the student obtain employment in the growing yet competitive industry of sport management. The school is located quite near Boston, which offers students the opportunity to experience life in a sports-centric metropolis. In the classroom, students will be taught important problem-solving techniques and will receive assignments designed to have real-world applications. Students will learn about a variety of activities including facility management, marketing, and event planning. Further, students will study promotions, media relations, and youth recreation. Students will also participate in a 15-week internship that will result in hundreds of hours of workplace experience.

Master of Management in Sport Leadership

Students will enroll in the Master of Management program and will choose the concentration of Leadership in Sport. The degree is appropriate for bachelor’s degree holders of any academic background and is designed to prepare students for work as managers in the sports industry. Students will gain workplace experience in an internship while also building professional connections in nearby Boston where future employment might be located. The school describes its curriculum as one that offers hands-on instruction that features case studies and applications for the real world. The program provides students with what they need to know whether they’re leading a high school sports organization or are involved in a pro league. Some of the courses included in this graduate degree include Sport Media, Public Relations, and Sport Law. The degree features 21 credits in management courses and 15 credits in the concentration of sport management and leadership. Graduates should be able to find work in virtually any sports organization.

Accreditations

- - - New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Contact

Mount Ida College
777 Dedham St.
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: (617) 928-4553
Email: admissions@mountida.edu
http://www.mountida.edu/academics/undergraduate-majors/sport-management/

There are many industries that have shown significant global growth in the past decade including healthcare and technology, but the industry of sport is another area that has seen rapid expansion at every level from professional leagues to independent sports facilities in small towns around the nation. The industry of sport caters to many facets of the sports world from billion-dollar sports franchises to small high school varsity programs. Anyone who wants to work in sports but who isn’t athletically inclined will thrive in accredited sports management degree programs in Massachusetts and will find employment in this competitive field easier after obtaining a degree.

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