Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Study Sports Management in Minnesota

In Minnesota, sports management programs are much more involved than teaching you about the business aspects of sports. Instead, you can learn valuable lessons about finance, marketing, leadership, sports administration, and more.

An advantage of enrolling in a sports management program in Minnesota is that you can tailor your learning to the specific application of sports management that most interests you. Elective courses, specializations, research projects, and internships all give you opportunities to zero in on the aspects of this field that align with your interests and goals.

Some of the popular sports management programs in Minnesota are outlined below. With two undergraduate and two graduate options, there are plenty of choices for you to get the education you want!

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

Sports Management Programs in Minnesota

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

  • Saint Mary’s University Minnesota
  • Minnesota State University Mankato
  • St. Cloud State University
  • University of Minnesota
  • Saint Cloud State University
  • Concordia University – St. Paul
  • Purdue Global
  • Grand Canyon University

Saint Mary’s University Minnesota

Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management

At Saint Mary’s University Minnesota, you can complete a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management that’s accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). This accreditation indicates the program’s commitment to providing students with solid business training with industry-aligned teaching in sports management.

Your education begins with 60 credits of general education courses and electives. General education courses explore fundamental topics in fields like math, science, social sciences, and English. For example, you might take any or all of the following classes to satisfy general education requirements:

  • Introduction to Sociology
  • College Algebra and Trigonometry
  • U.S. History to 1865
  • Introduction to Biology
  • English Composition

Furthermore, you will likely take courses in communications, art, humanities, and foreign languages.

The elective component of this part of your education is important because you can use it to supplement your major-area studies if you choose. For example, let’s assume you’re interested in the financial aspects of sports administration. That being the case, you might take numerous finance electives to fulfill part of the general elective requirement for this degree.

The bulk of your major area studies fall under core requirements. These classes discuss essential business principles, such as:

  • Accounting Concepts
  • Strategic Management
  • Business Law
  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Principles of Management

But this just scratches the surface. Your business training also includes classes like International Business Environments, which explores the intricacies of conducting business on a global scale. You will learn about cultural, ethical, and geographic aspects of international business while also examining potential legal and political ramifications on business.

Meanwhile, the Principles of Marketing class discusses introductory concepts of marketing. For example, you will learn how marketing is a central function of any business organization. You will learn about pricing, buyer behavior, and ethical issues in marketing, as well as channels, distribution, and promotion.

Other required business core courses include:

  • Business Computer Applications
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Corporate Finance
  • Business Ethics
  • Reasoning with Statistics or Introduction to Probability and Statistics

You must also take six sports management-focused classes. These courses dive deeper into the relationship between sports and business. A good example of this is Sports Finance, which analyzes how sports managers manage revenue generation. The course discusses financing initiatives, financial planning, and advanced budgeting concepts, as well.

Training in facilities management is also part of this degree. The Sports Facilities and Event Management class explores how sports managers are involved in planning and implementing events. You will learn from a strategic management perspective and acquire the skills needed to execute event plans, coordinate stakeholders, and conduct critical evaluations of events to determine successes and failures.

Additional studies are required in Sports Marketing, Digital and Social Media Analytics, and Legal Aspects of Sports.

You will put your training into practice in a series of field placements. You will first complete a practicum in sports management, during which you will work in a supervised sports management setting. Typically, practicums focus on introducing you to the real-world applications of work. As such, you might think of the practicum as a job shadowing opportunity—much of your time will likely be spent observing others as they conduct their daily routine in sports management.

You will get much more practical experience in the two-part Sports Management Internship. The internship places you in a sports management setting where you will work alongside a supervisor to complete employer-directed assignments. For example, you might be tasked with helping the marketing team devise an updated social media campaign for an upcoming sporting event. As another example, you might work with the human resources team to identify areas in which the organization can improve employee morale.

Internships can be a crucial part of your development because you’re applying what you’ve learned in a real-world setting. What’s more, internships are excellent networking opportunities during which you can build professional relationships and perhaps even secure a job after you graduate.

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, if applicable.
  • Submit official SAT or ACT scores if you wish.

Minnesota State University Mankato

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

Another undergraduate option in this field is the Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Minnesota State University Mankato. This 120-credit program is offered in person and requires about four years of full-time studies to complete.

One of the benefits of a program like this is its versatility. Completing the degree requirements prepares you to work in public, private, and commercial sports organizations. Moreover, you will have the knowledge and skills required to pursue positions in health and fitness, college sports, facilities management, and even professional sports settings.

As is normal for undergraduate degrees, a significant portion of your studies are general education courses. These courses, the bulk of which you take during your first two years of study, encompass topics like:

  • Chemistry
  • Public Speaking
  • College Algebra
  • American Government
  • Foundations of Writing and Rhetoric

Other general education courses you’re likely to take include Introduction to Sociology, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Introduction to Psychological Science, to name a few.

One of the first major-related courses you will take is Introduction to Sports Management. This class offers a broad overview of the sports management industry through academic and professional lenses. You will learn about essential sports management theories and concepts, explore many different job opportunities within this field, and discuss essential tasks and duties commonly assigned to sports managers.

The bulk of your sports management coursework, though, falls under the Major Common Core category. These classes—of which there are 30 credits—examine central issues and topics related to sports management. For example, you’re required to take the following:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Psychosocial Aspects of Sports
  • Ethics and Morality in Sports Management
  • Sports Business and Professional Development
  • Planning Sports Facilities

The remaining required core coursework includes upper-division coursework that explores targeted topics. For example, Financial Aspects of Sports discusses finance, budgeting, and economic elements of sports businesses. As another example, Sports Administration offers insights into the theoretical underpinnings of management in sports settings.

Further studies will be done in Sports Marketing, Sports and Esports Event Management, and Legal Aspects of Physical Education and Sports. These classes ensure you understand the fundamentals of marketing, management, and ethical practice as it pertains to working in the sports industry.

The remaining coursework includes six credits of major-related electives. You can choose two of the following four courses:

  • Sports Media, Sponsorship, and Sales
  • Seminar in Sports Management
  • Analysis of Sports Data
  • International Sports Management
  • Sports Tourism

You must also select a minor to go with your major in sports management. The university offers minors in many areas, including Athletic Coaching, Esports Management, Human Resource Management, and Marketing, to name but a few.

The last aspect of this program is experiential in nature. On the one hand, you will participate in an Applied Sports Business class that offers a comprehensive real-world learning experience. You will work closely with a direct supervisor in a field setting, during which you will learn the basics of working in a sports organization. This experience serves as a transition from the academic studies of your classes to the practical application of your learning.

On the other hand, you must complete an internship at an approved site. The internship is a more in-depth and independent learning experience. Though you will still have an onsite supervisor, you will have more freedom to work independently and with other team members. Again, this real-world experience is vital to your growth and development as it provides you with hands-on experience working in this field prior to graduation.

The criteria for first-year admission are as follows:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or above, a rank in the top 50 percent of your graduating class, or an ACT composite score of 21 or higher plus a cumulative high school GPA of 2.7 or higher.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit, if applicable.
  • Submit official SAT or ACT scores if you wish.

You can still apply for admission even if you don’t meet all the requirements above. However, you must submit a personal statement, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and submit your senior year grades to support your application.

St. Cloud State University

Master of Science in Sports Management

A graduate option worth your consideration is the Master of Science in Sports Management from St. Cloud State University. This program is designed to give you a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in multiple areas of sports, from sports organization to athletic coaching to athletic administration. Likewise, this program focuses on numerous key areas of sports management, including:

  • Sports Analytics
  • Sports Communications
  • Sports Marketing
  • Facilities Management
  • Sports Finance

Aside from offering a multidisciplinary approach, this program has the advantage of featuring an experienced faculty that is accomplished in this field. Likewise, you can take advantage of graduate assistantship opportunities through St. Cloud’s campus recreation, kinesiology, and athletics programs to offset the cost of your studies. More than that, you can find opportunities to work with programs at all NCAA division levels, high schools, and even professional sports organizations.

Another benefit of this program is that you have the flexibility of choosing one of multiple tracks to complete your degree: thesis, comprehensive exam, or portfolio/internship. Choosing the thesis option requires you to conduct detailed, original research on a specific sports management topic that you present in written and oral form. The comprehensive examination option, meanwhile, requires you to complete a detailed exam that tests you on essential concepts and topics from throughout your time in the program.

The internship option is perhaps the most popular, though. To complete this track, you must first finish four core courses:

  • Sports Law
  • Sports Marketing and Sports Communication Media
  • Organization and Administration in Sports Management
  • Sports Facilities

From there, you need to finish one research methods course. You can choose between Research Methods in Sports and Exercise or Introduction to Research in HEID. In either case, you will learn the fundamentals of conducting academic research, analyzing data, and drawing logical conclusions from said data.

The elective component of this track includes 15 credits of coursework. These classes are intended to be a means of customizing your learning. So, for example, you might take Sports and Exercise Nutrition if you’re primarily interested in sports performance. Conversely, you might take Sports Psychology if you find the emotional and behavioral components of sports most intriguing. Other elective options include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Strength and Conditioning for Sports Performance
  • Advanced Theory of Competitive Athletics
  • Leading Organizational Change
  • Leadership
  • Contemporary Equity Issues in Higher Education

As mentioned earlier, this track requires a portfolio and internship. The portfolio element is reflective in nature—you will keep research, essays, and projects, compile them into a comprehensive portfolio, and use them as a vehicle to reflect on your growth and development as a future sports manager.

At the same time, you will complete internship hours in a sports organization. The purpose of the internship is to help you apply what you’ve learned in a highly supportive and supervised setting. Your responsibilities will depend largely on your interests and internship placement, but you can expect to participate in wide-ranging activities, including developing marketing plans, contributing to discussions related to finance, and devising possible solutions to address current problems or issues within the organization.

The admissions requirements are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

University of Minnesota

Master of Arts in Sports Management

The University of Minnesota’s Master of Arts in Sports Management is yet another excellent option for advancing your career in this field. The program was designed with a comprehensive education in mind. You will examine the practical and theoretical aspects of management and apply what you learn in all aspects of the sporting process, from facility management to fitness to ethical and legal considerations.

The interdisciplinary curriculum offers two tracks: a thesis or a research project. As discussed earlier, a thesis requires detailed and in-depth study of a specific problem or issue in sports management. You will spend the better part of a year working on your thesis, developing your hypothesis, conducting research, analyzing data, and developing a coherent and comprehensive presentation of your findings. This track requires you to complete at least 10 credits of thesis work. You can take up to 18 thesis-related credits, though.

Meanwhile, the research project represents a similar task. You are required to conduct scholarly research on an approved topic. Your work should add to the body of knowledge in this field and provide new insights into sports management and related functions. You must earn at least four credits in this track, and it can take up to 12 credits to complete your project.

The coursework for both tracks is the same and is divided into three parts: required core coursework, required research courses, and elective classes.

First, you must earn at least 16 credits in the required coursework area. These classes explore essential concepts in sports management, such as:

  • Sports Finance
  • Programming and Promotion in Sports
  • Sports Management Ethics and Policy
  • Organization and Management of Physical Education and Sports
  • Legal Aspects of Sports and Physical Activity

These classes ensure that you begin your career with a comprehensive understanding of important ideas in sports management.

The research component includes studies in your choice of two research classes. The purpose of these courses is to familiarize you with the process of conducting academic research. For example, you will learn how to collect quantitative and qualitative data, organize and analyze data, and compile scholarly writings in which you report your findings.

You have some freedom regarding the research courses you take. You just choose two of the following:

  • Conducting Qualitative Studies in Educational Contexts
  • Introductory Statistical Methods
  • Intermediate Statistical Methods
  • Qualitative Family Research Methods
  • Research Methodology in Kinesiology and Sports Management

Lastly, your studies include elective credits. The number of elective credits you need depends on the track you select—four credits are necessary if you pursue the thesis track, while 10 credits are needed if you pursue the research project track. The elective options run the gamut from Sports and Gender to Research Problems in Applied Kinesiology to Issues in the Sports Industry. Other options include Sports and Society, Readings in Kinesiology, and Strategic Marketing.

You can apply to the University of Minnesota’s Graduate School online at any time. The criteria for admission are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a personal statement.
  • Provide a research description.
  • Submit one scholarly writing sample.
  • Submit three letters of recommendation.
  • Submit a graduate assistantship application if desired.

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

As of June 2025, sports management professionals in Minnesota earn an average annual salary of approximately $76,626. More experienced sports management professionals in Minnesota  earn well over $110,000 per year.

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