Sports Management Degree Programs in Minnesota (A-S)

The sports industry is a multi-billion dollar part of the economy in constant growth, and students will benefit from participation in accredited sports management degree programs in Minnesota. The state offers this major in a variety of respected institutions from small colleges to major universities. Majoring in sport management offers students the opportunity to work virtually anywhere in sports from coaching and scouting jobs to employment in management or as a sports commissioner.

Rankings

The sports industry is competitive, and the knowledge gained in a college program is exceptionally valuable for students interested in finding employment in sports, as well as for anyone who wants to work at the management level. To see more sports management programs from accredited colleges and universities, visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Minnesota (T-Z).

Bemidji State University

Human Performance, Sport & Health

Founded nearly 100 years ago, Bemidji State University was once a Normal School. The school was once slated to receive a name change to showcase the unification between the colleges in the state system in Minnesota. However, current and former students, as well as people in the university’s town voiced their opposition to the name change, and the school remained Bemidji State University. The school has around 6,300 students attending, and the students play under the colors of green and white for NCAA Div I and Div II. The school’s teams are nicknamed the Beavers, and their mascot is Bucky the Beaver.

Sport Management, BA

The school suggests graduates of the sport management program will have a wide variety of career options when the job hunt begins because the industry is diverse, active, and growing. The school considers its sport management program to be one of the most respected in the five-state region, and the curriculum was designed to meet COSMA standards. The program offers instruction on important topics like management and leadership in sport management, as well as ethics, communication, and marketing for sport. In addition, the program features classes that teach budgeting and finance for the sports world, and a variety of legal concerns and how they impact the economics of the industry. The school requires a 400-hour internship of its students and describes this part of the program as a project that offers invaluable experience for the dedicated student. Past students have participated in internships in a variety of industries from local sports teams to internships with professional sports teams and organizations in the region.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Bemidji State University
Department of Human Performance, Sport and Health
1500 Birchmont Drive NE,
#29
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: (218) 755-3898
Email: admissions@bemidjistate.edu
https://www.bemidjistate.edu/academics/human-performance-sport-health/courses-programs/sport-management-ba/

Concordia University Saint Paul

College of Arts and Sciences

Concordia University is located in St. Paul and is a private university with around 4,000 students attending classes on its five-acre campus. The school is part of the Concordia University System, which is run by the Lutheran Church. The school was founded in the late 19th century to provide a Christian education to high school students who wished to enter the ministry. After a successful first year, the school expanded and eventually delved into college-level education. The school was accredited as a two-year college in 1921 but went through difficult times during the depression until it recovered during and after WWII to become involved in offering degrees beyond religious concentrations.

Bachelor of Arts in Sport Management

Concordia’s sport management program teaches students to use standard business principles, as well as legal knowledge, to run athletic programs. Students will have the knowledge required to work for a variety of businesses and organizations after graduation including health clubs, fitness facilities, and traditional athletic programs. Jobs with sports teams at city, state, and professional levels are also open to students who want to work on the business side of the sports industry. The bachelor’s degree in sports management program features 45 credit hours dedicated to sport management dealing with concepts like kinesiology, sport management, and exercise. After graduation, students may consider work in sports marketing, fitness center management, or the management of virtually any sports facility. Graduates will combine their knowledge of business and sport theory to become a valuable asset to any sports organization. The program also encourages student participation in workshops, seminars, and clinics near the school, as well as around the country.

Master of Arts in Sport Management

Students interested in an advanced career in sport management will want to consider the graduate program at Concordia, which helps students gain knowledge about working with sports teams and facilities at the management level. The graduate program is offered online and is designed to accommodate students who want to study on their own timeline and schedule. The program is designed to mimic the program a student might experience on-campus with group projects and a learning environment that encourages interaction with the professor and other students. The course requires that students complete 33 hours and covers advanced topics like strategic planning and marketing, as well as law and how those concepts impact work in the sports world. As an accelerated program, the master’s program is designed to allow students to complete their degree in just 18 months. The school describes the cost of its program as competitive and one that helps adult learners return to study.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Concordia University, St. Paul
1281 Concordia Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: (651) 641-8230
Email: admissions@csp.edu
http://www.csp.edu/academics/sport-management-major/

Crown College

Business and Sport Management

A private school in St. Bonifacius, Crown College has around 1,220 students and is run by the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The school has a significant focus on biblically based education and offers students the opportunity to study on a 215-acre campus. The school is about a half hour outside the Twin Cities, but it was once located in the city of St. Paul. The school relocated to its current city in 1970. The school began with just four students in 1916 and was eventually developed into a school for future members of the clergy. It would then expand to offer other subjects beyond Bible studies.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

Students in Crown College’s Sport Management program investigate a variety of important concepts that impact modern sports including the economics of the industry, legal considerations, ethical issues, and the social importance of sport. The school reveals that its focus on the principles of management makes it a unique program in the world of sport management. The program also features classes in marketing, finance, and law. During the program, students get to participate in an internship that puts them in contact with the intercollegiate athletic department and a professional sport environment. To complete the degree, students must take 24 credits in Christian Studies, 30 credits of General Education, and 56 credits of Sport Management classes. The program’s sport management classes are a mixture of accounting, business, and finance courses, as well as classes on sport marketing and management. Sample classes include Sport Marketing and Fund Raising, Administration of Sport and Athletics, and Sport Psychology.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Crown College
8700 College View Drive
Saint Bonifacius, MN 55375
Phone: (952) 446-4100
Email: admissions@crown.edu
https://www.crown.edu/

Minnesota State University, Mankato

Allied Health & Nursing

MSU is a public school in Mankato, which is about 75 miles outside of the Twin Cities. The school was founded in the mid-19th century as a Normal School, and it’s the second oldest university in the Minnesota State system. The university is also the second largest in the state with around 18,000 students enrolled. The university is considered the flagship of the MSU system, and the school is an important part of the local community with the jobs it adds to the economy. Students play in NCAA Division II games as the Mavericks in uniforms that feature purple and gold.

BS Sport Management

The sport management program at MSU gives students theoretical knowledge and practical experience for work in the sports industry. Students are allowed to officially declare a major only after they’ve completed 30 semester credits and maintained a career GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale. The program requires 21 credits of general education and 37 credits in the major. Classes featured in the curriculum include Introduction to Sport Management, Psycho-Social Aspects of Sport, and Sport Ethics and Professional Development. Like other accredited sports management degree programs in Minnesota, students also get to choose six credits of electives, and the school also requires that students minor in one of several listed minors. Choices for a minor include Business Law, Marketing, Economics, and a handful of other disciplines. The Sport Management Program at Minnesota State Mankato is the oldest in the Midwest at more than three decades old. In and around Minnesota, the program is considered one of the best accredited sports management degree programs in Minnesota.

Master’s in Sport Management

The school describes admission to the graduate level program as competitive, and school administrators recommend that students apply early for the best chance at getting into the program. The school offers mid-year admission when a vacancy occurs in the middle of the year. To graduate, students must choose from one of three curriculums including an internship option, thesis option, or manuscript option. In addition, students must complete several classes in the sport management core, as well as further classes offered as electives. Some of the classes students may choose for their electives include Psychology of Sport & Exercise, Sport Media, Sponsorship & Sale, and Planning Sport Facilities. In addition, certain classes have prerequisites that a student may need to satisfy before he or she can enter those classes. The application requires all the standard components including the application, standardized tests, undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, and a letter of interest.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Minnesota State University, Mankato
228 Wiecking Center
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: (800) 722-0544
Email: admissions@mnsu.edu
http://ahn.mnsu.edu/hp/sm/

Oak Hills Christian College

Bachelors of Science

Oak Hills Christian College is a small school located just outside of Bemidji. The school offers bachelor of arts, associate in arts, and certificate programs. The school was founded in 1927 as an institution of higher learning for Bible studies that weren’t connected to a particular denomination. Throughout its history, the school has been known under a few different names and was given its modern name in 1998. Each major at the school features classes in the student’s chosen major, as well as several classes in Biblical Studies, Christian ministry, and general education. Students also get free electives of their choice in each major.

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

The Bachelor of Science in Sports Management features a variety of courses that combine a Christian worldview with the art and science of sport management. For example, students will take Sports as a Ministry, which is a class that combines ministry and sport management. Additionally, students will take several courses in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry. In all, students must complete 126 credits with nine of those credits as free electives. Objectives of the program include the ability to fulfill the school’s Christian objectives and the ability to connect with others in ministry. In addition, students must also demonstrate their skills in sport management in the areas of management, coaching, and marketing. The program’s purpose is designed to prepare students for service oriented roles in the sports industry. Students will expand their leadership and management skills that will allow them to work in local or international sports organizations like sports teams and community sports facilities.

Accreditations

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

Contact

OHCC Admissions Office
1600 Oak Hills Road SW
Bemidji, MN 56601
Phone: (218) 751-8670
Email: admissions@oakhills.edu
http://www.oakhills.edu/academics/majors/sports-management

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Business Department

With a history that stretches back more than 100 years, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private school that’s affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The school’s main campus is in Winona, but there are additional facilities in the Twin Cities, Rochester, and a handful of other Minnesota locations. The school is a medium size with around 6,000 students attending classes. The school was originally a men’s college, but the school began admitting women in 1969. The school underwent significant growth in the 1980s as it expanded with new buildings and acquisitions to meet the needs of a growing student population.

Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management in Sport Management

Students who graduate from Saint Mary’s Sport Management program must complete 51 credits in the major, which will prepare the students for work in a variety of exciting careers in sports and entertainment. Students may even consider work in industries like event management with the business and management knowledge gained in the program. The university provides helpful guidelines for students wishing to transfer from local community colleges and regional universities and also suggests incoming students take high school classes that include biology, business, and physics. Career options for graduates include public relations managers, athletic directors, and scouts. Students can also consider careers as event planners, fitness and recreation professionals, or physical therapists. The program features several business courses, general education courses, and sport management classes. Some of the sport management classes students will take include Sport Marketing, Sport Management, and Sport Facilities & Event Management. Students also have the opportunity to take a variety of electives during their enrollment.

Accreditations

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

Contact

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #1439
Winona, MN 55987-1399
Phone: (800) 635-5987, Ext. 7279
Email: smccallu@smumn.edu
http://www.smumn.edu/undergraduate-home/areas-of-study/business/majors/sport-management

St. Cloud State University

Department of Kinesiology

Founded in 1869, St. Cloud State University is a public school located in St. Cloud. The school is one of the largest in the state with around 20,000 students attending classes. Most students are undergraduate students with only around 1,700 students enrolled at the graduate level. The school is part of the Minnesota State system, but it began as a Normal School in the 1800s. The school featured just a single building at its start that was a renovated hotel that the state purchased for $3,000. Most of the initial students at the school were women. It wasn’t until the 1920s that the college started offering bachelor’s degrees.

Recreation & Sports Management (Bachelor’s)

Students enrolled in the Sport Management program take classes in several different areas including sports, business, and recreation, which helps students qualify for a variety of positions in many industries after graduation. As one of the most popular accredited sports management degree programs in Minnesota, students get to take their classes in a state-of-the-art facility that hosts classroom study, athletic teams, and a variety of recreational activities. The school offers classes with faculty who have connections to the Olympics, as well as a variety of student-led organizations and clubs designed to improve student leadership skills. The program also offers students access to a human performance lab that conducts research and testing for the benefit of athletes and fitness programs. While enrolled, students can join sports organizations at the school like the Sports Management Club and the Physical Education Club. After graduation, students can apply for jobs in facilities like aquatic centers, golf courses, fitness camps, and professional sports clubs.

Sports Management (M.S.)

The sports industry is competitive, and a graduate degree can elevate a student’s chances of being hired in his or her desired area of sport. With a Sports Management M.S. from St. Cloud State University, students can work in areas like campus recreation, municipal recreation, and public school activities. Students who wish to work at the management level will benefit from the graduate program as the curriculum concentrates on advanced topics in sport management. The school offers more than a dozen assistantships for students each year that are through the St. Cloud State Athletics Department. The program is available to students on a part-time or full-time basis to accommodate a variety of learners. Students in the part-time program can complete their degree by taking evening classes and by participating in the summer session. Some of the popular careers for students who have graduated from the program include Athletic Director, League Commissioner, Sports Agent, and Fitness Manager.

Accreditations

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

Contact

St. Cloud State University
720 4th Avenue South
St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
Phone: (320) 308-0121
Email: scsu4u@stcloudstate.edu

The sports industry is diverse, exciting, and profitable. Students who love sports will find a college education valuable, particularly when a student’s goal is to work off the field in areas like management, coaching, and publicity. After graduation, students have their pick of employment in small community sporting ventures, as well as major sports clubs like those in Major League Baseball or the National Football League. Sports management leads to careers that are both profitable and fun, which is a definite perk as far as work satisfaction is concerned. Students who want a promising job that will offer career advancement should consider accredited sports management degree programs in Minnesota.

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