Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Study Sports Management in Texas

One of the great things about pursuing a career in sports management is that you don’t need an advanced degree to get started. In fact, you can find many entry-level positions with no more than a bachelor’s degree. So, in four years, you can graduate and begin your career in a field that you love.

Another feature that draws many Texas students to sports management is the variety of careers that are available. You might work for a collegiate athletic department, a city’s recreational program, a professional sports team, or something in between. The possibilities are truly endless.

This guide explores some of the popular sports management programs in Texas—both bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. In each case, you will get the training you need to start or advance your career, no matter the level or type of sport.

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

Sports Management Programs in Texas

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

  • University of Texas at Austin
  • East Texas A&M University
  • Texas A&M University
  • Southern Methodist University
  • Texas State University
  • Southern New Hampshire University
  • American Public University
  • Full Sail University
  • Purdue Global

University of Texas at Austin

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology

The Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health at UT-Austin offers a specialization in sports management that prepares you for entry-level and mid-range careers working in recreation, sports, athletics, and fitness. The program is a traditional on-campus degree that requires 120 credits to graduate. You can complete these requirements in four years, provided you study full-time.

Your initial coursework will be university core classes that offer basic insights into primary academic fields. For example, you will take English Composition, American and Texas Government, and a First-Year Signature Course that introduces you to the ins and outs of being a successful college student. Likewise, you will take courses in the following areas:

  • Humanities
  • American History
  • Social Science
    Mathematics
  • Natural Sciences
  • Visual and Performing Arts

You must also take at least two years of a foreign language if you have not already done so in high school. In all, you need to take 42 credits of university core coursework.

This degree further requires you to take basic courses in economics, computer applications, and communication skills. As a future business professional, it’s necessary to understand essential economic forces (e.g., supply and demand) and be able to effectively use computers and computer programs to gather, analyze, and interpret data. Likewise, business professionals should have an excellent command of written and spoken language, which you will acquire in the communication skills class.

In addition to the courses outlined above, you will take 12 credits of kinesiology and health core classes. These classes might include the following:

  • Introduction to Health Promotion and Behavioral Science
  • Physiological Basis of Conditioning
  • Management of Physical Activity and Sport Programs
  • Motor Learning
  • Historical and Ethical Issues in Physical Culture and Sports.

You are further required to take three credits of movement-related coursework.

The final component of the curriculum is the sports management focus. You will complete 21 credits of coursework in this cognate, including Sports Law, Sports and Event Marketing, and Revenue and Budgeting in Sports. You will also take Media and Public Relations in Sports, which examines the role of traditional and modern media (e.g., newspapers and social media) and their role in promoting sports and athletic events.

You will take a Strategic Management of Sports Organizations class, too. This course analyzes important topics in the management of athletic-related organizations, such as health promotion, strategy development, marketing, and the administration of athletic programs. Furthermore, you will discuss topics like behavioral economics, game theory, and strategic decision-making in business.

This degree requires you to take either Sports Industry in America or Structure and Organization of Sports Programs. The former explores the history and development of sports programs in school and business settings. The latter dives into the development of sports programs and the manner in which their administration is organized.

The final aspect of this program is your choice between a sports management internship or a fieldwork option with an associated elective class. The internship requires you to accumulate at least 270 hours working in a sports, fitness, or health-related setting. The fieldwork option requires 135 hours of experience in an approved setting as well as the completion of an approved elective course. In both cases, you will get ample hands-on, supervised experience that will help you integrate your learning and develop a sense of how to apply your learning in a sports management setting.

First-time students must meet the following requirements:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Complete the application for admission.
  • Pay a $75 application fee.
  • Submit official high school transcripts showing that you’ve completed the required high school prerequisites or provide equivalency exam scores.
  • Submit the required essay and short answers.
  • Submit official SAT or ACT scores.

East Texas A&M University

Bachelor of Science in Sports and Recreation Management

East Texas A&M’s Bachelor of Science in Sports and Recreation Management is an on-campus, traditional program that requires you to complete 120 credits to graduate. This is a full-time program offered at the Commerce and Dallas campuses. It requires about four years of full-time studies to complete.

Like most programs in sports management, this degree focuses on the business side of sports. You will learn about sponsorship issues in sports, facility operations, sports marketing, and event management, to name a few. Moreover, you will learn how to harness the power of digital media to promote sports teams, individual athletes, and sporting events in amateur and professional applications.

As a first-year student, you will need to complete general education requirements prior to starting your major-area studies in sports and recreation management. As outlined earlier, these classes are introductory in nature and explore topics like math, science, social sciences, and the humanities. You will also take classes in communications, the arts, language arts, and physical education, to name a few.

Generally speaking, the first two years of your undergraduate studies will largely involve general education courses (42 credits in total). The final two years of the program focus more heavily on sports and recreation marketing. This includes a 15-credit Sport and Recreation Core sequence of classes that include the following:

  • Foundations of Sports and Recreation Management
  • Introduction to Sports Analytics in Sports Management
  • Sports Psychology
  • Programming and Events in Sports and Recreation
  • Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports and Recreation Management

Then, you will take 18 credits that focus specifically on sports management. For example, you are required to take Facility and Venue Management, which examines the history of sports facilities and the appropriate procedures for operating them. This class also looks ahead to the future of sports and how recreational facilities are changing to meet modern demands.

Additionally, a course in Social Issues in the Global Sports Economy is required. This class discusses ethical issues that are affecting sports today. For example, you will analyze political and economic considerations in sports management, diversity issues in sports, and cultural considerations that make sports administration a unique undertaking from one country to the next.

A Marketing for Sports and Recreation class is required as well. This course offers an overview of market research, strategic planning, and advertising principles in sports. You will also take a look at marketing concepts that are successful in promoting sports, as well as the primary methods used to market sports as a consumer product.

You will add to your training by taking 21 elective credits in business, marketing, management, and kinesiology. You have wide latitude when choosing your electives. For example, you can take Concepts of Physical Activity, Human Anatomy and Physiology, or First Aid and Safety. Other options include Introduction to Personal and Community Health, Principles of Microeconomics, and Electronic Commerce.

You must complete a minor with this degree as well. The program strongly encourages you to use a minor in General Business to supplement your studies in sports management. A minor requires 18 credits of coursework, which, in this case, includes, but is not limited to, studies in the following:

  • Principles of Management
  • Principles of Accounting
  • Marketing
  • Introduction to Business Finance

As is common for undergraduate programs in this field, you will complete an internship in sports management. The internship will take place in an approved setting where you will work with a supervisor to apply your knowledge and skills to improve the functioning of a sports or recreation-focused organization. In addition to working as a sports management intern, you will have opportunities to network with colleagues and explore job opportunities.

You must meet the following requirements to apply for full admission as a first-year student:

  • Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
  • Rank in the top 30 percent of your graduating class or submit acceptable ACT or SAT scores.
  • Submit official high school transcripts or equivalency scores. You must have at least four credits of English, three credits of math, three credits of science, three credits of social studies, and two credits of a foreign language.
  • Submit ACT or SAT scores (this is only required if you are not in the top 30 percent of your class).

Texas A&M University

Master of Science in Sports Management

The Master of Science in Sports Management program from Texas A&M University is an advanced degree designed specifically for bachelor’s degree holders interested in advancing their careers. Choosing this program means you will gain advanced knowledge of the scholarly aspects of sports management while also gaining real-world experience working with sports organizations.

This program offers two tracks: a 32-credit thesis option or a 36-credit non-thesis option. In either case, you will need about two years to complete the requirements to graduate (though you have up to seven years to finish the program).

Assuming you chose the thesis option, your studies will begin with a required sequence of research-related classes. For example, you will take Research Methods for Sports Organizations, which explores the research processes used in athletics, recreation, and fitness. Your studies will include an examination of research designs, hypothesis testing, sampling procedures, and descriptive analyses, to name a few.

You are also required to take Theory of Research Sports Management. This class examines commonly used statistical analyses in this field. You will learn how to use statistics to gather, analyze, and interpret data. You will then use the data you collect and analyze to expand the research knowledge base in sports management and validate existing research theories.

This program also requires you to take at least nine credits of sports management electives. Texas A&M offers many different options to satisfy this requirement, including Psychology for Coaches, Sports Law, and Sports Economics. You can also choose to take any of the following:

  • Athletics Administration
  • Best Practices in Coaching
  • Ethics in Coaching
  • Special Topics in Sports Management
  • Directed Studies in Sports Management

You can choose to complete a practicum or internship as an elective as well. Having hands-on experiences like these can be extremely beneficial for your development as a future sports manager. Not only that, but field experiences are excellent opportunities for networking, which can help you find a job upon your graduation.

The bulk of your coursework is within the required sports management core. You will take seven courses in this portion of the curriculum, including Management in Sports Organizations, which discusses management theory, leadership in sports organizations, and organizational theory. You will also analyze organizational behavior patterns in fitness, recreation, and sports applications.

The Sports Media and Communications core class is another important part of your training. In this class, you will analyze the relationship between sports and the media, focusing specifically on broadcasting, public relations, and media platforms. You will also explore sports media management, including the increasingly important role of social media in promoting athletic events and connecting with fans.

The remaining sports management core courses are as follows:

  • Financial Management in Sports
  • Personnel Management in Sports
  • Diversity Ethics in Sports Organizations
  • Sports Marketing
  • Sales and Revenue Generation in Sports

Be sure you meet the following requirements prior to applying:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Submit a statement of purpose essay.
  • Provide three letters of recommendation.
  • Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae.

The application deadline for the on-campus program is February 1 of each year.

Southern Methodist University

Master of Science in Sports Management

At Southern Methodist University, you can complete a Master of Science in Sports Management that prepares you for a senior-level position in the sports industry. This full-time program requires you to complete 17 courses, which takes just one year to complete. All courses are offered in seven-week modules, which allows for accelerated studies without being overwhelmed with work from a traditional class load.

You will begin the program by completing Financial Accounting, Data Analytics, Sports Sponsorship, and a Core Practicum. The Financial Accounting class examines the fundamentals of financial statements and how to explain the data contained therein to stakeholders. Meanwhile, the Data Analytics class explores how sports organizations can use data to solve problems ranging from financial difficulties to the performance of athletes on the field.

The Sports Sponsorship class is a two-credit study of all things related to sponsorship. This includes a study of the financial implications of sponsors, how to prospect for sponsors, and the marketing strategies used to promote sponsors. Lastly, the Core Practicum is an opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in the classes described above in a real-world setting. Furthermore, it’s a chance to assess your skills, gain new knowledge from industry insiders, and learn how to market yourself to potential employers.

The remaining courses you are required to take in your first semester include the following:

  • Data Analytics II
  • Research Design in Sports Management
  • Sports Law
  • Core Practicum (continued)

Then, in the spring, your studies shift focus somewhat to management topics. For example, the Sports Facility Management class analyses the day-to-day operation of arenas, stadiums, and other sports-related venues. You will also take an Organizational Behavior class that analyzes the human element of sports organizations. The course takes a look at leadership, motivation, managing conflict, and effective decision-making, to name a few.

Another important spring course is Ethics in Sports. You will learn about historical issues in this field that presented ethical challenges. Likewise, you will discuss current ethical issues in sports, examine their impact on the sports industry, and devise solutions to ethical dilemmas that present themselves to managers in sports organizations.

Your studies into ethics and law expand further with the Case Studies in Sports Law class. This required course dives deep into the laws that govern sports organizations. You will specifically learn about antitrust laws, contract laws, and Title IX. Additionally, you will learn about tort law, intellectual property law, and constitutional law.

Other classes you are required to take include the following:

  • Advanced Sports Communication
  • Sports Organizational Design
  • Managerial Finance

The final aspect of this program is a four-credit internship during the summer session. This 200-hour internship helps you transition from being a student to a practitioner by allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in your classroom studies. You will work with an on-site supervisor to learn the ropes of being a sports management professional. Over the course of 200 hours, you will refine your skills, gain new knowledge, and network with other sports professionals.

The requirements for admission are as follows:

  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
  • Provide a current resume.
  • Submit an essay in response to the prompt on the application.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • Submit a video statement in which you introduce yourself to the admissions committee.

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

As of May 2025, sports management professionals in Texas earn an average annual salary of approximately $62,500. More experienced sports management professionals in Texas earn well over $155,000 per year.

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