Sports Management Degree Programs in Michigan (A-F)

The field of sport management encompasses a wide array of careers and specialties, and those interested in this diverse field will find several accredited sports management degree programs in Michigan. Sports managers primarily work with individuals, teams and companies to build brands and market players.

Rankings

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sports agents earned an average salary of $98,750 in 2014, and Michigan is one of the largest employers of sports managers in the country. The following undergraduate and graduate degree programs will prepare future sports managers for working as agents, marketing professionals, team or individual managers, and even coaches. To see more accredited sports management degree programs, visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Michigan (G-Z).

Adrian College

Department of Accountancy and Business Administration

Adrian College was founded in 1859 under the direction of the United Methodist Church, an affiliation it retains today while extending its reach to a broader audience of students. In 2012, the school enrolled a record 1,700 students, and enrollment currently rests at around 1,650 for the current academic year. Adrian College offers 40 majors and pre-professional programs and boasts a number of recognitions from publications like U.S. News and World Report, including a 2012 ranking as a “Top College in the Midwest.” For students interested in sports management, the school offers a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on Sports Management.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Sports Management

Housed under Adrian College’s Department of Accountancy and Business Administration, the bachelor’s program in sports management combines traditional elements of business with the practical application of sports management concepts. Every student who pursues a business degree at Adrian College has to fulfill the Business Core requirements, which include courses on topics such as accounting, managerial finance, economics and business law. Once these core requirements have been met, students will customize their degree by taking relevant major-specific courses. According to the department’s website, students will be able to “think logically, analyze objectively, and communicate clearly” upon completion of the program. In the sports management program, students will take courses from faculty with significant experience in the industry. Conferences, trips and guest lectures provide students with plenty of opportunities to engage with real-world professionals in sports management. Students will also complete various projects designed to reinforce course objectives while helping them to establish strong portfolios.

Accreditations

- - - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact
Adrian College
Department of Accountancy and Business Administration
110 S Madison Street
Adrian, MI 49221
Phone: (800) 877-2246
Email: ezonder@adrian.edu (Erica Zonder)
Website: http://adrian.edu/academics/academic-departments/accounting-business

Aquinas College

Department of Business Administration

Operating on the values of “faith, learning, service and community,” Aquinas College is a Catholic liberal arts college dating back to 1886 with accreditation since 1946. While founded on Catholic principles that it adheres to today, Aquinas College welcomes students of all religious backgrounds, and potential students do not need to express any religious affiliation to attend. The school boasts that nearly all of its graduates go on to find employment, enroll in post-higher education programs in law or medicine, or pursue graduate degrees. Students here can enroll in a dual major leading to a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Sport Management.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Sport Management, Dual Major

At Aquinas College, students can focus their business degree program in sports management, which currently ranks within the top ten for largest majors on campus. This dual major enables undergraduates to learn the foundations of business management while acquiring the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in sports-related fields. The program is overseen by professionals with significant industry experience. Because of the school’s location in Grand Rapids and the prevalence of local professional sports teams, students have several advantages when it comes to internships. For example, students in the past have worked with the Grand Rapids Griffins and the West Michigan Whitecaps. In addition, the school’s Sport Management Club makes it possible for students to gain substantial hands-on practice in the industry. Along with the university’s graduation requirements for undergraduates, students enrolled in the bachelor’s program for sports management must complete between 58 and 64 credit hours on specialized topics for the major.

Accreditations

- - - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact
Aquinas College
Department of Business Administration – Kinesiology
1607 Robinson Road S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799
Phone: (616) 632-2897
Email: sprindeb@aquinas.edu (Deborah J. Springer)
Website: http://www.aquinas.edu/health/sports_manage.html

Central Michigan University

College of Health Professions

Central Michigan University ranks as one of the country’s 100 largest public colleges and boasts an annual enrollment of approximately 27,000 students. Founded as a teaching college in 1892, the school now offers more than 200 academic programs at varying degree levels. Students can take courses via the university’s primary campus in Mount Pleasant, online and in 50 satellite locations throughout North America. For those interested in accredited sports management degree programs, Central Michigan University’s College of Health Professionals offers three undergraduate degrees and one graduate program. Unlike many similar courses of study, these programs are accredited by the Commission on Sports Management Accreditation.

Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management

Students who pursue a bachelor’s program in sports management at Central Michigan University have the option to earn a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Applied Arts. A Bachelor of Arts focuses on core subjects related to liberal arts, including a foreign language requirement and courses in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Students will complete at least 124 credit hours total, and this includes the major-specific courses related to sports management. With a Bachelor of Arts, students will take a more diverse range of courses covering topics ranging from computer science to French films. Liberal arts degrees typically encompass a wider array of courses in an effort to give students a broader perspective on their chosen profession. In the case of sports management, studying diverse topics will help students to develop more effective communication skills, which serve as vital assets in this profession.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

Sport management is one of eight majors available through Central Michigan University’s Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions. The college seeks to achieve three objectives in its degree offerings: to “maximize student success,” to combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge, and to work within the context of the local community. In addition to the general education credits required of an undergraduate student, the B.S. program requires 40 hours of major-specific coursework and electives. Courses cover topics such as the concept of sports in the United States, sport fundraising and the foundations of sports management. Of the total hour requirements, at least 12 must be taken at the university. Students also have the option to coordinate their degree program with interdisciplinary majors and minors such as merchandising or broadcasting. If students want to combine these majors and minors, then they’ll need to seek academic advisement before enrolling.

Bachelor of Applied Arts in Sport Management

A Bachelor of Applied Arts focuses more on applied knowledge than on the liberal arts, and it’s a specialty designation reserved for majors in specific fields, including sports management. Students will need at least 124 credit hours in order to earn the bachelor’s degree. While the B.A. and B.S. programs offer greater flexibility in terms of coursework, the B.A.A. program affords students the unique advantage of being tailored specifically to the industry. Students who pursue this particular program will spend more time engaging in practical experiences and hands-on coursework while still reaping the benefit of a liberal arts education. A portion of the credit hour requirements come from the minor. Students must complete between 20 and 30 hours of a university-approved minor or internship, and this minor has to be approved by the student’s major department. In addition, students need to complete elective requirements, but they can’t take more than eight hours of electives from their major department.

Master of Arts in Sport Administration

The Master of Arts in Sport Administration offered by Central Michigan University seeks to provide students with “personalized education that fits [their] background, experience, and goals.” Those who attend here gain access to faculty with practical industry experience who can offer guidance on how to enter and excel in this competitive field. The program requires completion of 36 credit hours, and courses cover subjects such as financial management and sport, research methods for the field, and sport event management. Students will also complete either independent study or a thesis under the direction of a faculty adviser. In addition, graduate candidates must complete up to six hours of electives in subjects such as communication or physical education. This program has been created to adhere to the accreditation requirements of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education –- North American Society for Sport Management. Regular admission into the program requires a 3.0 GPA.

Accreditations

- - - Commission on Sports Management Accreditation
    - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact
Central Michigan University
Department of Physical Education & Sport
194A Student Activity Center
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
Phone: (989) 774-2026
Email: wells1cl@cmich.edu
Website: https://www.cmich.edu/home

Davenport University

Donald W. Maine School of Business

Originally opened as the Grand Rapids Business College in 1866, Davenport University has evolved into the “second largest private, non-profit institution of higher education in Michigan” according to the school’s website, offering programs centered on health, business and technology. The university’s Donald W. Maine School of Business seeks to accomplish three primary objectives: to teach students practical and theoretical skills related to their fields of interest, to enhance the academic experience through continued specialization and quality incentives, and to recruit both traditional and nontraditional students to the college. Students interested in sports management can enroll in a bachelor’s program here.

Sport Management, BBA

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in sports management prepares students for careers in varying levels of sports, including secondary education, college and professional. Aligned with standards designated by the North American Society for Sports Management, the Sport Management BBA program at davenport University helps students develop their interests and hone their management skills within the context of athletics. The program comprises three elements of the sports industry: “Performance, Production and Promotion.” Students will take courses related to these focus areas and complete six courses totaling 400 hours of practical experience with a real-world organization. The program requires completion of at least 120 credit hours. This program can be pursued at one of 11 campuses in the state as well as completely online. For students interested in the marketing side, the school also offers a Bachelor of Business Administration Marketing degree program with a sports management focus.

Accreditations

- - - International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
    - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact
Davenport University
Donald W. Maine School of Business
6191 Kraft Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Phone: (800) 686-1600
Email: Bob.Clarkson@davenport.edu (Bob Clarkson)
Website: http://www.davenport.edu/programs/business/bachelors-degree/sport-management-bba

Eastern Michigan University

College of Health and Human Services

Eastern Michigan University comprises five colleges and a graduate department that serve more than 23,000 students in over 200 academic degree programs. Founded as a teaching school in 1849, the school now offers a wide range of degrees in today’s most demanded subjects. Students who attend here will appreciate that the school boasts one of the most affordable tuition rates in the state and hosts seven satellite locations. Eastern Michigan University’s College of Health and Human Services offers a Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management, a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and a Master of Science in Sport Management.

Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management

Specifically designed for students who want to pursue high school or collegiate sports management positions, the undergraduate programs in sports management at Eastern Michigan State University combine a diverse range of coursework with practical experiences. The university requires that students complete at least 124 hours encompassing general education courses, major-specific classes and electives. Sports management majors also need to choose a minor, limited to one of seven options: communication, entrepreneurship, nonprofit administration, general business, hotel and restaurant management, management, or marketing. For the 42-hour major-specific requirements, students will take courses covering topics such as applied sport psychology, sport economics and finance, and sports law. Students will also complete three levels of fieldwork as well as electives. In order to graduate, students have to maintain a 2.75 GPA throughout the duration of the program, and they can only be admitted to the program once they’ve declared their intentions and satisfied the prerequisite requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

The Bachelor of Science in Sport Management has less of a liberal arts focus than the B.A. program, but the requirements for graduation are essentially the same. Students need to maintain a 2.75 GPA and complete at least 124 credit hours. In terms of the credit requirements, students should note that Eastern Michigan University requires 60 hours to be completed at an accredited four-year institution, which means that community colleges are excluded from this minimum. Students also need to complete at least 30 hours at Eastern Michigan, and 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree must come from Eastern Michigan courses. The school also emphasizes unique credit hours, meaning that 30 credit hours need to be from different major-specific courses and 20 need to come from minor courses. In addition, students will need to ensure that they take a variety of courses at varying academic levels in different subjects.

Master of Science in Sport Management

For those interested in accredited sports management degree programs in Michigan, Eastern Michigan University offers a master’s degree that will help propel students forward in their professional careers as well as their academic pursuits. The program’s objectives include helping students to develop solid research skills, encouraging ethical considerations in the sports management industry, and fostering practical and academic skills within the field. Students must have a 3.0 GPA in order to be considered for full acceptance, and they need to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school prior to admission. The program requires completion of between 33 and 36 credit hours. Coursework covers topics such as facility planning and development, and human resources for physical education and sport. Students may choose whether to complete a thesis or a comprehensive exam. The thesis option includes six elective credit hours while the comprehensive exam option includes nine hours of electives.

Accreditations

- - - Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Contact
Eastern Michigan University
College of Health and Human Services
School of Health Promotion & Human Performance
319N Porter Building
Phone: (734) 487-7120, ext. 2745
Email: briemer@emich.edu (Brenda Riemer)
Website: https://www.emich.edu/chhs/hphp/spmg/

Working in sports management is financially lucrative, economically stable and emotionally rewarding for those who enjoy directing the future of athletics. According to research on the economic impact of sports, this industry is the sixth largest in the country, which leaves ample opportunity for those with degrees to make their mark. Students who are interested in accredited sports management degree programs in Michigan will enjoy a variety of options from the schools listed above.

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