Online Masters in Sports Administration

Sports Administration is becoming an increasingly popular degree as sports have grown from simply a national pastime to a major industry in the United States. An online masters degree in sports administration is an ideal manner in which to earn this degree as it provides a flexible schedule, allowing students to continue in their full-time employment while taking classes.

Online Master’s Degrees in Sports Administration Requirements

An accredited online masters degree program in sports administration will provide students who already have a background in athletics, public relations, education or business with the skills and theory necessary to lead effectively in a sports-related career.

Those interested in an online sports administration masters degree often have a bachelor’s degree similar to one of the following:

• Sports Administration
• Physical Education
• Communications
• Kinesiology
• Business
• Marketing

Students pursuing a sports administration masters degree online may already be employed in a sports-related field such as sports information or coaching; however, students may come from other fields as well, such as education, sales or marketing.

Online Sports Administration Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s programs in sports administration typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of sports administration degrees offered by the best sports administration master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Sports Administration (MS in Sports Administration)
• Master of Arts in Sports Administration (MA in Sports Administration)
• Master of Education in Sports Administration (MEd in Sports Administration)
• Master of Business Administration: Sports Administration (MBA with concentration in Sports Administration)

Following an online masters in sports administration, it is possible to earn a PhD in the same field. Though the schooling options are few, a doctorate may be necessary to enter into research or sports law.

Information on Sports Administration Courses

The top schools offering an online master degree program in sports administration will require courses that provide students with the skills necessary to be successful in a sports-related management position. These programs will have mandatory courses as well as electives more specifically suited to a student’s concentration. In addition, many of these schools will also require a capstone course or paper.

Some courses found in the best sports administration masters programs online are:

• Sports in the Social Context
  This course will introduce students to required research skills and will examine the history of society and sports.
• Fundamentals of Sports Marketing
  This course examines marketing theory and strategies as they relate to sports.
• Management and Organization of Sports
  This course is primarily a study on the role of a sport manager.
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Sports Management
  This course examines ethics in regards to issues such as race and gender, budgeting, and recruiting.
• Principles of Sports Finance and Accounting
  This course is a study of economics and financial management in regards to the sports industry.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because sports administration is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s sports administration students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Sports Management
• Sports Marketing and Public Relations

Careers in Sports Administration

An online master’s in sports administration can lead to a variety of careers within the sports realm. Depending upon a graduate’s interest and specialization, he may choose to work in management, marketing, or even finance. While it is difficult to project the growth of specific careers in the sports industry due to the fact that the popularity of sports and entertainment tend to fluctuate with the economy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics does expect a 15% growth of employment in sports-related fields in the next decade.

• Athletic Director
  An athletic director is expected to create and manage athletic programs; this typically includes responsibilities such as scheduling events, creating a budget, and supervising coaches. A college or university athletic director can expect to earn $40,000 to $70,000 a year.
• Sports Information Director
  A sports information director is primarily responsible for public relations and distributing sports information, advertisements, scores, etc., through a variety of media outlets. The average salary of a sports information director at the university level is $89,000.
• Sports Marketing Director
  A sports marketing director is responsible to market a sports organization; this may include marketing individuals, products and services to compete with other organizations. Depending on the type of and success of an organization, a sports marketing director can expect to earn $49,000-$122,000 a year.
• Compliance Officer
  A compliance officer is expected to ensure that rules and regulations have been established and are being followed for a specific sport. A compliance officer at the collegiate level can expect to earn anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000.
• Recreational Facilities Manager
  A recreational facilities manager is held responsible for the management, supervision, and maintenance of such a facility. A recreational facilities manager can expect to earn $44,000 to $76,000 a year depending upon the location and type of facility.

Earning a sports administration master’s degree online is the perfect choice for a student who wishes to continue in full-time employment while taking advantage of the opportunity to pursue an exciting sports administration career.