Last Updated: January 9, 2026

Study Sports Management in Virginia

If you are passionate about sports, business, and marketing, majoring in sports management is a solid educational plan. After all, you can learn how to use your passion to start a rewarding career that you can enjoy for years to come.

When considering going to school for a degree in sports marketing, you have many different choices in Virginia. Whether you want to study at a small school, a large school, a public school, or a private school, Virginia has you covered.

This guide explores popular sports management programs you might consider. Both undergraduate and graduate options are detailed below.

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

Sports Management Programs in Virginia

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

  • University of Virginia–Wise
  • Radford University
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Old Dominion University
  • Liberty University
  • Georgetown University
  • Purdue Global
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Southern New Hampshire University

University of Virginia–Wise

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Science – Emphasis in Sports Management

At the University of Virginia–Wise, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Science with an emphasis in Sports Management that prepares you for careers in sports marketing, promotion and management, and budgeting and personnel issues. The skills you acquire in this program enable you to seek entry-level work in youth, amateur, semi-pro, and even professional settings.

Of course, you can also use this program to prepare to continue your studies as a graduate student. No matter what your educational or career goals in sports might be, this degree will help you achieve them.

As with any undergraduate degree, you must complete general education requirements that comprise roughly one-third of the 120-121 total credits needed to graduate. These courses, which are at the introductory level, explore many different topics, from math and science to social studies and language arts.

However, you will likely take courses well beyond the scope of those listed above. For example, you can expect to take classes in the following areas as well:

  • Communications
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Business and Economics
  • Physical Education
  • Foreign Language

The bulk of your classes during your first two years in this four-year program will be in the areas discussed above. You will also take introductory-level classes within your major.

For example, you are required to take Personal and Community Health, a 2000-level class that examines the various practices that contribute to improved physical health. Moreover, you will learn about methods that make better emotional, social, mental, and community health more likely, too.

As another example, you will take Lifetime Fitness and Wellness, another 2000-level course. This class examines the strategies that can be used to incorporate physical fitness into everyday life. In particular, you will focus on wellness and how stress management, weight management, and nutrition are all key elements of a solid wellness plan.

Some of the introductory courses within the major deal specifically with sports management, too. A good example of this is the Sports Marketing class that provides insights into many different marketing topics, including:

  • Public Relations
  • Sports Consumer Behavior
  • Technology in Marketing
  • Sponsorship
  • Strategic Market Planning

You are also required to take a physical education activity class. You are free to choose which activity you learn more about—you might choose from volleyball, weight lifting, or dance, to name a few options.

The upper-level classes in this degree focus more specifically on sports management elements. First, you will take Introduction to Sports Management, which explores the history of this field, key philosophies, and essential principles. Then, in Sport in Society, you will learn about the sociological factors involved in sports and physical activity. For example, you will discuss how sports are often a vehicle for social and political change.

Another course that’s required for this degree is Coaching Methodology. This class offers a study of the managerial skills and practical applications of coaching methods at all levels of sports. You will discuss topics like recruiting, preseason training, risk management, and teaching elements of the coaching profession.

The remaining major-area coursework examines topics such as:

  • Sports Ethics
  • Sports Finance
  • Event and Facility Management
  • Exercise Sports Psychology
  • Governance in Sports

The final component of this program is a Sports Management Internship. During the internship, you will learn from a site supervisor who is trained in sports management. Your specific duties during the internship depend on your precise placement, but generally speaking, you will help conduct the day-to-day operations within the organization. Your grade is a combination of evaluations from your site supervisor and the internship supervisor at the university.

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

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, a class rank in the top 50 percent with a 2.0 GPA or higher, or have a 17 ACT or 900 SST composite score and a 2.0 high school GPA.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from each college or university where you’ve earned credit.

Radford University

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

The Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Radford University is a traditional on-campus, four-year program that prepares you for a career as an administrator or other leader in the sports industry. More specifically, this program aims to help you acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work in community sports programs, commercial sports industries, wellness and fitness settings, or collegiate or professional athletics.

In addition to the typical coursework needed to graduate, this program also requires you to participate in professional fieldwork that gives you the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in class. You will also assist faculty members in conducting research and have the option of attending a national conference to present that research.

Like the program discussed above, this one requires you to complete general education requirements that make you a well-informed and well-rounded student. These courses, which include writing, math, natural science, social science, and many other core areas, comprise roughly one-third of the credits necessary to graduate.

About one-half of the total credits in this program are within the sports management major. These courses are divided into three key areas: major requirements, concentration requirements, and outside coursework.

The major requirements explore fundamental topics in sports management. A good example of this is Legal Issues in Sports Management. This class introduces you to relevant legal doctrines and standards that govern sports. You will discuss major statutes, explore case law, and examine the rights and privileges the law affords athletes and other sports personnel.

Another required course that helps you develop key skills is the Financial Aspects of Sports class. As a future sports manager, it’s critical for you to have an understanding of finance-related elements like budgeting, fundraising, sponsorships, and the general economic impact of sports. This course ensures you understand these and other important concepts.

You will also take Event and Facility Management as part of your training. This class analyzes the behind-the-scenes requirements for hosting an athletic or entertainment event. You will discuss event planning and production procedures, while also gaining insights into proper evaluation procedures to learn what went well and not so well after an event is complete.

The remaining core courses cover topics such as:

  • Sports Ethics
  • Marketing
  • Sociocultural Aspects of Sports
  • Sports Administration Seminar
  • Introduction to Sports Management

Next, the concentration courses dive deep into topics directly related to sports management. You need to complete 15 credits in this portion of the curriculum, and you have your choice of more than two dozen class options to do so.

Let’s say you are interested in the legal aspects of sports management. In that case, you might take Business Law, Entertainment Law, and Legal Environment of Business as three of your five concentration classes. Alternatively, perhaps your passion is in the marketing aspects of sports. That being the case, you might take Advertising Strategy, Digital Marketing Strategy, and Professional Selling as three of your classes.

Fortunately, there is a wide range of courses you can choose from to complete the concentration component. Other options include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Wellness Lifestyle
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Personal Finance
  • Sales Management
  • Teamwork and Communication

Next, you will complete 21 credits of outside coursework. These classes focus on the business-related aspects of the sports management field. Classes like Economics, Principles of Marketing, and Organizational Behavior are available. Numerous other classes are available as well, giving you the ability to customize your degree to your needs and interests.

The final aspect of this degree is a practical field experience in a sports-related setting. Let’s assume you are interested in working in a college athletics department. To prepare for that, you might seek a field placement in Radford’s athletics department, where you can learn how to effectively manage a team of people from a sports administrator. Or, let’s say you want to manage a youth sports league. In that case, you might intern with a local youth sports program and get hands-on experience working on the public relations, promotional, financial, and administrative components of that job.

The following criteria must be met to be considered for admission as a first-year student:

  • Have a high school diploma or equivalency.
  • Have a 3.3 high school GPA or higher and a passing grade in Algebra II for direct admission.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university from which you’ve earned credit.
  • Submit an optional personal essay.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Master of Sports Leadership

Virginia Commonwealth’s Master of Sports Leadership offers the flexibility of choosing a face-to-face, hybrid, or online learning format. By choosing to study online, you can work toward this degree with less of an impact on your daily life than a traditional on-campus graduate program.

This degree was designed with content knowledge, leadership, and professionalism in mind. As a result, your coursework and hands-on learning experiences focus on fostering your development in these areas. Through rigorous class studies and relevant fieldwork, you will become a better-informed leader in the sports industry.

You must complete 36 credits to graduate. Though many students need 1.5-2 years to finish these requirements, some students finish in as little as one calendar year. Whatever the case, you will take courses such as:

  • Research and Analytics in Sports
  • Team Dynamics in Sports
  • Sociology of Sports
  • Sports Business
  • Marketing of Sports

The classes listed above are all part of the required core sequence of courses. The required core also includes a Leadership Models in Sports class that explores the impact of quality leadership on sports organizations. You will discuss various principles and techniques of leadership while also learning about the functions of high-caliber leadership in management.

The remaining 18 credits of coursework are electives. With well over a dozen electives to choose from, you can tailor your studies to your specific interests.

For example, you might take Global Sports Issues if you are interested in sports on a global scale. This class explores behavior within cultures and discusses how social groups are influenced by sports. Furthermore, this class analyzes the educational, political, and economic impacts of sports on societies.

Now let’s say that you are interested in the relationship between sports and the natural world. The Sports and Environment course does just that. Enrolling in this class means you will discuss the effects—both negative and positive—of sports on the environment. Conversely, you will also learn how the environment affects sporting events and how teams have to adapt to changing conditions.

As another example, let’s say you are interested in becoming a collegiate coach. In that case, the NCAA Coaching class is an ideal elective. This course is designed to help you understand the fundamental aspects of coaching, from the daily responsibilities of managing a program to the on-field leadership qualities you will need to manage the financials of the program. Furthermore, you will become familiar with NCAA rules and regulations for coaches.

Other elective class options include the following:

  • Sports Psychology
  • Sports Law
  • Topics in Sports Leadership
  • Sports Media and Communications
  • Sales and Development

You also have the option of completing an externship. This field experience can be taken for 1-6 credits that go toward the 18 required elective credits for this degree. Pursuing an externship is a fantastic idea if you want to improve your employability. Getting first-hand experience while you are still in school is an invaluable learning tool and can help you make connections with sports organizations that might hire you after you graduate.

You must meet the following requirements to apply:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate discipline.
  • Provide transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a written statement in which you discuss your specific career interests.
  • Submit three letters of recommendation from references who can speak to your potential for graduate studies.

Old Dominion University

Master of Science in Sports Management

Another graduate degree option in Virginia is the Master of Science in Sports Management from Old Dominion University. With one or two-year options, this program gives you the flexibility of studying full-time or part-time. What’s more, you will learn from experienced doctoral-level professors who have experience in the sports management field.

The program is designed with sports leadership in mind. You will gain theoretical knowledge that’s important for your development as a sports manager. But you will also get hands-on, practical experience in this field that prepares you to hit the ground running with a new career after graduation.

You must complete coursework in four key areas to graduate:

  • Sports Management Core Courses
  • Research Core Courses
  • Elective Courses
  • A Capstone Experience

The sports management core coursework focuses on the business aspects of this field. For example, you are required to complete a Sports Finance class that covers topics like financial planning, financial analysis, accounting, and economics. What’s more, you will gain the skills required to conduct basic fiscal planning.

Likewise, you will take Strategic Marketing in Sports, which familiarizes you with the theoretical and practical aspects of this field. For example, you will learn about the importance of branding, the effectiveness of certain types of marketing (e.g., print and digital), and discuss consumer behavior theory as well.

Two other classes – Sports Law and Management and Leadership in Sports – round out the core coursework. The Sports Law class analyzes the relevant regulations, policies, and laws in sports that dictate your work as a professional The Management and Leadership in Sports class, meanwhile, prepares you for a management position by exploring leadership theories, strategic planning, and human resource management, to name a few.

The research core includes two classes. First, you will take Sports Analytics to learn how to use data to make better-informed decisions. Second, you must choose to take either Introduction to Research Methods in Education or Applied Research Methods in Education. In either case, you will become familiar with the essential features of conducting research, analyzing data, and making informed research-based decisions.

The rest of your classes are electives. You must take three of the five following courses to fulfill this component:

  • Facility Management for Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment
  • Sponsorship and Event Planning
  • Ethics in Sports Management
  • Social Issues in Sports
  • Sports Entrepreneurship

Lastly, you must choose one of three capstone experience options. The first choice is a thesis, which requires you to conduct thorough research on a topic of your choice, prepare a detailed scholarly paper, and defend your work to a faculty committee. This is a good option if you intend to continue your education in a doctoral program.

The second choice is called Research Problems in Sports Management. Think of this option as an analytics-focused pathway. You will use statistics and analytical techniques to solve key problems in this field. To do so, you will work with a faculty member to design and carry out research related to sports. You must also take an additional elective class if you choose this option.

The third and final capstone pathway is an internship. The internship, which requires you to complete 400 hours of work in a sports management setting, is a great option if you want to start your career after completing this degree. Your placement for the internship will be arranged by Old Dominion and will be in a setting that’s directly related to your specific interests. You will work full-time during the internship and gain critical management, leadership, and business skills.

The requirements to apply are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Submit transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a current resume.
  • Submit a personal essay in which you discuss why you are applying to this program, explain your career interests, and discuss your ability to complete graduate-level work.
  • Provide three letters of recommendation from former professors or employers.

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

As of January 2026, sports management professionals in Virginia earn an average annual salary of approximately $132,000. More experienced professionals in Virginia earn well over $160,000 per year.

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