Study Sports Management in Maryland

One of the best reasons to study sports management in Maryland is the close proximity of collegiate and professional sports organizations. With easy access to top-level programs, you can learn from the best during a work placement or internship during your studies.

Better yet, there are many different options to choose from when it comes to sports management programs. Maryland has an extensive higher education system with public and private universities alike offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in this field. In other words, no matter if you are just starting your education or want to enhance what you’ve already learned, there’s a program for you in Maryland. This guide explores some of the popular program options.

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

Sports Management Programs in Maryland

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

  • Bowie State University
  • Towson University
  • Mount St. Mary’s University
  • Frostburg State University
  • University of Maryland
  • Cecil College
  • Georgetown University
  • American Public University
  • Arizona State University Online

Bowie State University

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

The Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Bowie State University is a traditional on-campus program requiring 120 credits to graduate. Most students need about four years to complete these requirements (taking 15 credits each semester). However, you can graduate early by taking an additional class each semester or taking summer session courses.

Like any sports management program, this one blends studies of business, marketing, finance, and sports-related issues. You will learn how to manage organizations, plan events, communicate more effectively, and analyze the social and psychological elements of sports, too. By completing this program, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to work in many different fields, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • College athletics
  • Community recreation
  • Sports marketing
  • Sports broadcasting
  • Sports sales

The curriculum is divided into two primary parts: general education requirements and major-area studies. The general education coursework includes entry-level studies in a broad range of subjects, like math, science, social sciences, and communications. You must also take courses that satisfy requirements for English, computer science, philosophy, the arts, and the humanities, to name a few. Roughly one-third to one-half of the credits you need to graduate fall under the realm of general education requirements and electives.

The remaining credits needed to graduate are major-focused. As such, you will take classes like Introduction to Sports Management, which familiarizes you with the business of sports. You will get an overview of essential skills you will need to be successful while also learning general management theories that will help you understand what it takes to be an effective leader in this industry.

You are also required to take the Role of Sports in the Society. This class examines the intersection of sports and sociology. You will discuss how sports has historically been a vehicle for social change and the ways in which it continues to do so today. Specific topics of study include race and ethnicity, socialization, gender relations, and social stratification.

Other courses you will complete within this major include the following:

  • Ethics in Sports Management
  • Sports Marketing and Promotion
  • Facility Management and Design
  • Governance of Sports
  • Diversity in Sports Management

As you progress through this program, the coursework becomes more and more specific. For example, Legal Aspects of Sports analyzes the relationship between sports and the law. You will acquire an understanding of the basics of the U.S. legal system, key legal terminology, and how legal principles are applied in amateur and professional sports.

As another example, you will take a Finance and Economics of Sports class that examines how sports organizations make money. You will take a deep look at financial indicators that assist sports managers in developing strategic financial plans. You will also discuss how to measure the impact of sports and recreational organizations on the larger economy.

The final semester of this program is dedicated to an Internship in Sports Management. At 12 credits, the internship is a full-time placement—no coursework is required during this semester. The internship lasts at least 14 weeks, and you must work eight hours per day, five days a week during that time.

You are free to select your internship placement site. However, your placement must be determined based on your specific areas of interest and expertise, and it must be approved by the university. For example, if you are interested in working as a sports administrator at the college level, you will be placed in a college athletics department to get the necessary experience.

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 (for test-optional admissions).
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official transcripts from every institution of higher education from which you’ve earned credit.

Towson University

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

Towson University’s Sports Management major focuses on the role of sports in the global economy. Not only will you develop the skills necessary to evaluate the financial and economic impacts of sports, but you will also acquire the knowledge needed to advance sports and make sports organizations more functional and profitable.

Since this is an interdisciplinary program, your learning will go well beyond the boundaries discussed above. In fact, this program examines many different aspects of sports, including the following:

  • Sociocultural impacts of sports
  • Sports trends and current issues
  • Sports law
  • Youth sports and recreation
  • Facility and event management

Furthermore, your coursework and field experiences will give you opportunities to learn about ethics and related laws and regulations, political considerations, and economic impacts of sports.

This program, like the one discussed previously from Bowie State University, requires 120 credits to graduate. Approximately half of those credits fall under general education requirements and electives. The general education requirements are necessary to help you become a well-rounded student. As such, you will take courses in broad academic areas, such as natural sciences, social sciences, English, and mathematics.

You will supplement the required general education courses with free electives. As the name indicates, free electives are your choice—you can take classes from any undergraduate field of study to satisfy these requirements. The classes you take matter, though—they can help prepare you for a sports career if you take the appropriate courses.

For example, let’s say you want to become a sports coach at the collegiate level. In that case, you might take free electives in weight training, athletic conditioning, and coaching. Or, let’s say your interest is in becoming a financial officer for a professional sports team. In that case, you might take free electives that focus on financial accounting, economics, and financial management.

The sports management major consists of 42 credits. Twenty-four of those credits come in the form of sports-specific coursework. Some of the basic courses you will take include the following:

  • Introduction to the Sports Industry
  • Sports Management
  • Sports and Society
  • Sports and Globalization
  • Sports Marketing

You will also complete a Seminar and Field Experience in Sports Management. This class discusses the professional practices required of successful sports managers. You will discuss professional development strategies, examine leadership styles, and get real-world experience in an experiential component for this class.

The major requires you to complete 12 elective credits within the major, too. With more than two dozen options, you can customize your degree by taking classes that align with your goals and interests. For example, let’s assume you are interested in the relationship between sports and society. That being the case, courses like Sports in Film, Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Sports, and the History of Sports in America would be appropriate to take.

As another example, let’s say you are interested in the event management component of sports. In that case, you might take classes like Sports Event Management, Sports Facility Management and Operations, and Sports Sales and Sponsorship.

As is common for undergraduate programs in this field, this degree requires you to complete an internship. The internship, which is 12 credits, takes place during your final semester in the program. The purpose of the internship is to get real-world experience working in sports management in a highly supportive environment. You will have an onsite supervisor who will guide you through your semester of work and assist you in developing critical skills. The internship is also an important networking opportunity—many students make connections during their internship that lead to employment after graduation.

The requirements to apply as a first-year student are as follows:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores.
  • Submit official ACT or SAT scores (if you have a GED).
  • Provide details about your activities in high school.
  • Submit an admissions essay.

Mount St. Mary’s University

Master of Science in Sports Management

You can get an advanced education in sports management by enrolling in Mount St. Mary’s Master of Science in Sports Management. This online program offers you the flexibility of learning from anywhere in the world. The classes you take are a blend of synchronous and asynchronous studies, meaning some courses require you to participate in online activities at specific times while others allow you to work at your own pace. In either case, you will benefit from small class sizes and program faculty who are leaders in this field.

This 36-credit program requires you to take classes in two categories: sports management and MBA electives. Naturally, the sports management courses comprise the bulk of the program—27 credits, to be exact. All sports management classes are online.

First, you will take Foundations in Sports Industry Management as an introduction to this field. This three-credit class explores various managerial concepts as they relate to sports and recreation. Likewise, you will examine current issues in sports and how they might impact current and future elements of the sports industry.

Next, the Sports Marketing and Development class equips you with the skills needed to promote sports and sporting events. You will discuss issues like branding and event promotions, sponsorships, and fundraising campaigns. The class also examines consumer behavior and gives you insights into how the buying public might (or might not) spend their money on sports-related events.

The Event and Facility Management class gives you insights into the behind-the-scenes aspects of sports management. You will discuss common problems related to managing events and facilities, such as maintenance and budgeting issues. You will also look at current trends in facility construction and design.

The remaining courses required in the sports management core are as follows:

  • Sociocultural Aspects of Sports Management
  • Legal Liability in Sports
  • Moral and Ethical Issues in Sports Management
  • Quantitative and Statistical Methods or Analytics for Managers

You will supplement your sports management studies with nine MBA electives. You are free to choose any approved MBA courses to fulfill this requirement.

The final element of this program is your choice of an internship or a master’s project. The internship is a six-credit experience in a sports management-related setting during which you will apply the knowledge and skills you’ve learned in your classes. You will also acquire more advanced skills as you observe experienced sports managers complete their day-to-day tasks. The internship requires 240 hours of work experience—ample time to hone your skills and prepare yourself for employment after graduation.

The master’s project option focuses more on research in sports management than acquiring real-world experience. For example, you might select a current problem or issue in sports and develop potential solutions that mitigate negative effects. As another example, you might choose to research a specific element of sports management that you are interested in, such as the financial management of sports organizations. Doing so would give you deeper insights that enable you to be a more effective manager.

You must meet the following criteria to be considered for admission:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher, five years of relevant work experience, or a GMAT score of 500 or higher.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.

Frostburg State University

Master of Science in Recreation, Parks, and Sports Management

At Frostburg State, you can complete a Master of Science in Recreation, Parks, and Sports Management that will help you be a change-maker in the sports industry. This program is offered online to give you better flexibility to complete your studies. The course format provides additional flexibility—each class is just seven weeks long and you take only two classes at a time.

In all, you must complete 30 credits. Most students need two years to finish the requirements of this degree. You will do so with the support of a cohort of students—you will move through the program with a consistent group of classmates, which helps build collegiality.

The program is divided into three parts: core coursework, sports management concentration courses, and a capstone experience. The core coursework consists of three essential classes:

  • Concepts and Foundations of Leisure
  • Fiscal Management in Recreation, Parks, and Sports Management
  • Research Methods and Evaluation in Recreation, Parks, and Sports Management

The classes listed above explore basic concepts that provide you with a foundation of knowledge of management principles. On the one hand, you will learn about the purpose of recreation and its benefits for people who engage in it. On the other hand, you will learn how to manage budgets, conduct related research, and evaluate programs and initiatives for success.

Most of this degree’s required credits fall under the sports management concentration. A total of 15 credits are needed, which you will earn by taking three required classes and one elective.

Sports Law and Ethics is an important required course because it familiarizes you with ethical and legal considerations you will have to make as a sports management official. You will discuss topics like contract law, torts, and Title IX issues. You will also learn about the moral and ethical obligations of being a sports leader.

Meanwhile, the Foundations of Sports Management class analyzes management theories, techniques, and principles relevant to your leadership role in this field. You will also learn about marketing, finance, and general business elements of this career. The class includes a discussion of the roles and responsibilities of sports managers and surveys various employment opportunities for sports managers as well.

The final required concentration course is Current Issues in Sports Management. As the name indicates, this class discusses pressing issues in sports. You will explore the relationship between society and sports, the media’s role in the sports landscape, and leadership issues within sports, too. Likewise, you will examine the role of sports in being a change agent for social issues.

As noted earlier, you must take one elective class. Your options include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Leadership and Ethics
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Human Resources Management
  • Foundation of Analytics
  • Developing Promotional Information Systems in Recreation, Parks, and Management

This degree requires you to complete a capstone project, too. You can choose from two options. Option one is a practicum in sports management. A practicum is like a work experience—you will be placed in an appropriate sports-related setting and observe experienced sports managers while also contributing your expertise to enhance the daily operation of the organization. The practicum option is an excellent choice if you intend to seek employment after graduation.

Option two is to complete a two-course research sequence. The first course focuses on grant writing and developing a thesis or sports management project. Think of this class as preparation for the very detailed work that occurs in the second course, which focuses on research and thesis writing. Though this option can also prepare you to seek employment after graduation, it is more appropriate if you are already working in the industry and want to expand your skills or if you plan to continue your studies in a doctoral program.

You can apply to Frostburg State online at any time. The requirements for admission are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references.
  • Submit a personal statement in which you discuss your career goals and how this program will help you achieve those goals.
  • Submit a current resume.

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