Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Study Sports Management in Massachusetts

A love of sports can be so much more than a passion. Instead, you can turn that passion into a career with the right education and experience. Getting the proper education starts with finding a sports management program that aligns with your goals. Massachusetts has plenty of options awaiting you!

No matter if you’re a high school student looking ahead to your undergraduate studies, a postgraduate student seeking advanced studies in a graduate degree program, or something in between, you will find what you need in one of the programs described below. With both bachelor’s and master’s degree options, there is something for everyone who wants a career in this field.

Accredited Sports Management Programs in Massachusetts - Best Sports Management Degrees in Massachusetts Online

Sports Management Programs in Massachusetts

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering sports management programs in Massachusetts:

  • Elms College
  • Suffolk University
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • Boston College
  • Lasell University
  • Nichols College
  • American Public University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Southern New Hampshire University

Elms College

Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management

The Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management from Elms College is a typical on-campus undergraduate program that takes about four years of full-time studies to complete. During your time in this International Accreditation Council for Business Education-accredited program, you will participate in rigorous coursework and get critical hands-on experience that prepares you for entry-level careers in the sports world.

The program’s curriculum is multi-faceted to give you the utmost learning experiences that make you a well-rounded job candidate. You will take courses that promote a better understanding of sports science, marketing, coaching, event promotion, and more.

Your first courses will mostly fall under the guise of general education requirements. These introductory classes give you a broad base of knowledge and skill development that help you become an improved student, a more skilled worker, and a more informed citizen. You will take classes in areas such as:

  • Mathematics
  • Physical Science
  • Social Science
  • Language Arts
  • Humanities

You may also take classes in the arts, communications, physical education, and world languages, to name a few. Roughly half of the 120 credits you need to graduate fall within the general education category.

The remaining coursework focuses on sports management topics. The bulk of these credits are in the business core sequence—43 credits of general business classes. For example, you will take Accounting I and II, Computer Applications, and Principles of Management, all of which are typically required courses for all business majors.

Furthermore, you will learn about other aspects of becoming a business leader by taking classes like Operations Management, Principles of Marketing, and the Legal Environment of Business. You’re also required to take Principles of Financial Management, which focuses on the methods by which businesses and organizations manage their finances. More specifically, you might learn how organizations raise capital, allocate budgets, and comply with legal and tax provisions.

You will also take classes that prepare you to be a more effective leader. A good example of this is the Managerial Communication course, which explores how people in mid- and upper-level positions can improve their ability to communicate with employees, other managers, and executive-level staff. You might learn how to write more concise reports, improve your interpersonal communication skills, and become a better public speaker, too.

Other required business core courses include the following:

  • Business Strategy
  • Career Development
  • Economics II
  • Introduction to Entrepreneurship

A sequence of five sports management courses is also required. These classes drill down to highly specific areas that you must have competency in as a sports manager. For example, the Event Management and Promotions course gives you insights into planning, developing, and carrying out events of all kinds. You might learn about key promotional methods, facilities management, and the importance of sponsors in creating high-quality, fan-friendly events.

Other sports management courses examine legal-related topics. Sports Law and Sports Ethics are two such examples. In the former class, you will learn about everything from contract negotiations to antitrust law to tort law. In the latter class, you will analyze ethical dilemmas you might encounter on the job, such as gender equity, the use of performance-enhancing drugs, and organizational obligations to fans.

The remaining two courses in this part of the program focus on general topics. For example, Introduction to Sports Management gives you insights into the history of this field. Meanwhile, the Sports Marketing course provides basic training in traditional and cutting-edge methods of promoting sports and other events and improving community awareness.

You must choose three sports management electives to complete the coursework component of this program. The only remaining aspect of your training is a four-credit internship, which you can complete at Elms College or any of the participating institutions and organizations in Western Massachusetts.

The admissions requirements for first-year students are as follows:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Submit optional application items (e.g., ACT or SAT scores, a personal statement, letters of recommendation) as you see fit.

Suffolk University

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sports Management

At Suffolk University in Boston, you can enroll in a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Sports Management that offers a comprehensive exploration of business, marketing, management, and related fields. The interdisciplinary nature of this program ensures you graduate with the skills that sports organizations demand from prospective sports managers.

One of the most interesting features of this program is its exclusive partnership with the Boston Celtics. This partnership gives you an inside look at how a world-renowned organization operates and also allows you to interact with sports management veterans who have a proven track record of success.

However, the partnership with the Celtics isn’t the only advantage this program offers. The Boston area is home to many minor league and professional league sports teams, and with sports businesses like Titleist, Bauer Hockey, New Balance, and DraftKings headquartered in New England, there is no shortage of opportunities for you to get real-world experience in this field before you graduate.

You must complete a 124-credit program to graduate, which typically takes about four years. As discussed earlier, many of the credits you earn fall under the general education category. Classes like College Algebra, English Composition I and II, and Introduction to Biology are examples of courses you might take to fulfill general education requirements. Likewise, you might take courses like Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Psychology, and Art Appreciation to fulfill requirements.

A large portion of the remaining credits needed to graduate are included in the business core requirements. These classes, which explore areas like Business Foundations, Introduction to Business Communication, and Applied Microeconomics, help you build a solid understanding of fundamental business concepts. Other areas of inquiry within this field include the following:

  • Accounting for Decision-Making I and II
  • Business Finance
  • Management Information Systems
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Global Macroeconomics

You will also examine fields like Strategic Management, Data and Decision and Analysis, Operations Management, and Business Ethics and Law.

The sports management major requires you to take more specific courses that give you a higher level of understanding of your responsibilities as a sports manager. For example, Sports Ethics and Law is an in-depth analysis of common ethical dilemmas and their associated legal implications in this field. You will discuss antitrust law, labor law, and contract law, alongside an analysis of intellectual property. You will also be tasked with developing your own values and ethics as they pertain to working in this field.

Sports Marketing is another required course that helps you develop as a future sports manager. This class explores proven concepts and activities that enable you to successfully promote sports. More specifically, you will learn how to draw international attention to sporting events and examine solutions to common marketing issues that might disrupt an organization’s ability to effectively promote an event.

Other required and elective coursework takes a look at topics such as:

  • Advanced Sports Public Relations
  • Negotiations
  • The Business of Sports and the Media
  • eSports: Marketing Insights From the New Frontier
  • The Sports Institute: Opportunities in the Sports Industry

This degree also requires you to complete a capstone. The purpose of the capstone is to highlight the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired throughout the program. You will be responsible for completing a real-life case study and a one-client project in which you demonstrate your grasp of law and ethics, entrepreneurship, finance, economics, and other crucial areas.

You must meet the following criteria to qualify for admission as a first-year student:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities where you’ve already earned credit (if applicable).
  • Submit a personal statement
  • Submit a letter of recommendation.
  • Submit official SAT or ACT scores if you wish.

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Master of Science in Sports Management

The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Master of Science in Sports Management gives you the expertise you need to rise to the top of the sports management field. With coursework in law, finance, marketing, and other essential fields, you will emerge from this program with a comprehensive understanding of how to help sports organizations succeed.

A unique feature of this program is its volunteer network of graduate mentors. Each term, more than 30 alumni of this program help current students get a foothold in the program. They offer monthly Skye sessions, periodic job shadowing opportunities, job recommendations, and even resume advice. Combined with a rigorous curriculum, this mentorship experience will have you ready to pursue your career goals from minute one after graduation.

The curriculum is divided into two components: required classes and electives. The required classes explore many different aspects of sports organizations, from Sports Marketing to Sports Finance and Business to Sports and the Law. Additional coursework examines the following:

  • Organizational Behavior and Development
  • Sports Analytics
  • Applied Sports Marketing research
  • Professional Development in Sports Management

The required classes listed above were purposefully designed to ensure you have a deep understanding of crucial sports business topics. For example, the Organizational Behavior and Development class prepares you to be a change-maker in a sports organization. You will learn how to structure organizations for maximum effectiveness, recruit workers whose knowledge and skills advance the organization’s goals, and create an improved relationship with fans at the same time.

As another example, the Sports Finance class explores the importance of accounting and finance principles in sports organizations. For example, you will learn how to structure and organize financial statements, evaluate sports economic conditions, and analyze revenue streams and expense categories, too.

The Professional Development in Sports Management class is another interesting example of how you can use this program to further your understanding of the sports industry. This skills-based class focuses on helping you develop as a top-level manager. For example, you might participate in a small group exercise on building improved interpersonal communication skills that enable you to work more cohesively with other managers. As another example, you might participate in leadership activities that challenge you to rise to the occasion and take a leadership role within an organization.

The other element of this curriculum is a 12-credit sequence of elective courses. These electives enable you to customize your learning. If, for example, you’re interested in economic issues, you might take Economics of Sports as one of your required electives. Or, if you are interested in university-level sports, the Issues in College Athletics class would be a prime choice. Other options include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sports Sales Strategy
  • Women in Business
  • Sports Labor Relations
  • Socio-Historical Foundations of Modern Sports
  • Applied Topics in Sports Business

The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a personal statement
  • Provide a current curriculum vitae or resume
  • Provide up to four letters of recommendation from professional and educational references.

It is also highly recommended that you have at least one year of full-time professional work and that you submit GMAT or GRE scores.

Boston College

Master of Science in Sports Administration

You can enhance your career potential by completing the Master of Science in Sports Administration from Boston College. This program focuses on organizational culture within sports organizations and how you can creatively address organizational needs in a way that addresses the needs of stakeholders while also improving the on-field product for fans.

In amongst that, you will also have ample opportunities to hone your leadership skills. More specifically, the faculty—who have extensive experience working in the sports industry—will help you identify the challenges of this career and how you can lead yourself and others through those challenges to find success.

The other objectives of this program are simple:

  • Learn how to apply your knowledge and skills in real-world sports administration settings.
  • Develop best-practice approaches to problems within sports administration.
  • Demonstrate an aptitude for critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and effective communication.
  • Prepare for career opportunities by participating in networking, career coaching, and professional development opportunities.

You will acquire these and other skills as you complete the 10-course, 30-credit program. Eighteen credits of coursework fall under core requirements. Think of these as foundational courses that help you develop a stronger understanding of sports administration and related tasks.

For example, the Sports Marketing and Communication class enhances your ability to communicate effectively in interpersonal situations, public speaking situations, and in written form as well. You will learn how to work with different media outlets, how to develop marketing strategies for sports and related events, and how to evaluate organizational-level communications for effectiveness, too.

Another required class is Sports Law and Compliance. This class examines laws and regulations as they pertain to recreational, amateur, and professional sports. Additionally, you will learn about the rules of sports, contract-related regulations, and relevant sports laws as well.

The remaining required coursework touches on the following topics:

  • Introduction to Sports Management
  • Sports Finance
  • Sports Leadership and Ignation-Based Ethics

You will take 12 credits of electives to supplement your learning. These classes are chosen from a list of approved options that run the gamut from Sports Psychology to Sports Analytics to Diversity and Inclusion in Sports.

Let’s say, for example, you’re interested in becoming a high-level manager in this field. In that case, you might take courses like The Athletic Director or Athletics and Facilities Operation. Conversely, assume you’re interested in working in collegiate sports. In that case, Issues and Challenges Affecting Student-Athletes and Coaching for Performance and Student-Athlete Development should be electives high on your list.

As with most programs like this, a project or internship is also required to graduate. Choosing the project track means you complete a capstone in which you apply your learning to real-world situations. This track requires a lot of research that you present in a major paper and a final oral presentation.

The internship track allows you to gain real-world work experience in a partner organization, such as a high school or college athletics department, a municipal recreation department, or even a professional sports team. The internship is designed to align with your specific interests and goals; that being the case, the university will work closely with you to find an appropriate internship placement.

This program’s admissions requirements are as follows:

    • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
    • Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher. Your application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis if your GPA does not meet this threshold.
    • Submit a personal statement.
  • Provide two letters of recommendation.
  • Submit GRE or GMAT scores if you wish.
  • Participate in a personal interview if required.

How Much Can You Earn With a Sports Management Degree in Massachusetts?

As of May 2025, sports management professionals in Massachusetts earn an average annual salary of approximately $79,224. More experienced professionals in Massachusetts earn well over $145,000 per year.

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