Overview
A lot of colleges in Texas offer sports management programs where you’ll study topics such as statistics, sports law, and communications to help equip you for the role you wish to take on in the future. Some degree programs are fit for those who want to work as coaches or trainers, while other programs teach you how to operate a sports facility and manage the careers of athletes. Other satisfying careers you can look forward to include working as marketing managers, scouts, or public relations specialists for just about any sport. All of the sports management degree programs in Texas will surely help you achieve your career goals.
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Featured Sports Management and Admin Programs
- GRE/GMAT Waived
- Flexible Learning Format
- Designed For Career Leadership
Georgetown University Online
Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management
Become a leader in the sports industry and earn your master’s in sports management online or on campus with Georgetown University, one of the world’s leading academic research institutions.
- 100% Online
- Application Fee Waived
- High-Growth Area
American University Online
Master of Science in Sports Analytics Management
American University’s online MS in Sports Analytics and Management will equip you to become a strategic sports manager with the skills needed to measure the impact that emerging technologies are having on sports organizations and society.
- AACSB Accredited
- Nationally Recognized
- Top-Ranked Program
Ohio University
Master of Sports Administration (OMSA)
Recognized for excellence by the prestigious Commission on Sport Management Accreditation, graduate ready to pursue college athletics, professional sports, and sports media.
- Bachelors & Masters Programs
- 100% Online & Affordable
- In-Demand Tracks
Campbellsville University
Online Sport Management Degrees
Make a name for yourself in a field that you are passionate about with a sport management degree from Campbellsville University Online.
What Will I Learn in A Sports Management Program or Sports Administration Program?
Degree Timelines
How long it takes to complete your sports management degree depends on the educational path you would like to take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program-required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4yrs |
Curriculum and Example Courses
While the curricula of most sports management bachelor’s degree programs include foundational business courses, many of the course requirements for sports management directly relate to the industry.
An example of a sports management course is event and facility management where students take classes that will help them learn the process of selecting an appropriate location for an event. They also examine the process of choosing sponsors and finding staff and navigating legal considerations and contract negotiations.
What Are The Standard Entrance Requirements to Enroll?
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most sports management degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition, to serve in some sports management careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Students applying for a graduate degree in sport management should obtain at least a bachelor’s degree. Prospective graduate students must submit official transcripts, a resume, and test scores with their application. Some schools also ask for GMAT or GRE test scores. Most programs ask for letters of recommendation, too.
Difference Between Sports Management & Sports Administration
Sports management and sports administration are quite similar and often overlap, although management focuses more on the business element. People with jobs in sports management dedicate themselves to public relations, marketing, or negotiating trades between teams. Sports administration is more focused on running an athletic program.
| School Name | City | State | Program Level | Program Name | Program URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Waco | Texas | Bachelors | Bachelor's in Sports Sponsorship & Sales | Click Here |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas | Texas | Bachelors | Bachelor of Sport Management | Click Here |
| Howard Payne University | Brownwood | Texas | Bachelors | Bachelor's in Exercise & Sport Science | Click Here |
| Lubbock Christian University | Lubbock | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Rice University | Houston | Texas | Bachelors | Bachelor's in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Schreiner University | Kerrville | Texas | Bachelors | B.A. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas | Texas | Bachelors | Master of Science in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Nacogdoches | Texas | Bachelors | BBA in Sport Business | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University | Commerce | Texas | Bachelors | Online B.S. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University | Commerce | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Commerce | Commerce | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Kingsville | Kingsville | Texas | Bachelors | Online B.S. in Kinesiology - Sport Business | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Kingsville | Kingsville | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| Texas Southern University | Houston | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Health, Kinesiology & Sport Studies | Click Here |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Exercise & Sport Sciences | Click Here |
| University of Houston | Houston | Texas | Bachelors | Online BS in Kinesiology, with an Emphasis in Sport Administration | Click Here |
| University of Houston | Houston | Texas | Bachelors | BS in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| University of Incarnate Word | San Antonio | Texas | Bachelors | B.B.A. with concentration in Sport Management | Click Here |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | Texas | Bachelors | Online B.A. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | Texas | Bachelors | Online B.S. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Sport Administration | Click Here |
| University of North Texas | Denton | Texas | Bachelors | Bachelors in Recreation, Event and Sport Management | Click Here |
| University of Texas | Austin | Texas | Bachelors | B.S. in Kinesiology Sport Management Major | Click Here |
| University of Texas Arlington | Arlington | Texas | Bachelors | B.A. Kinesiology - Sports Leadership and Management | Click Here |
| Baylor University | Waco | Texas | Masters | Masters in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Concordia University Texas | Austin | Texas | Masters | Online M.A. in Sports Administration | Click Here |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas | Texas | Masters | M.A. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Howard Payne University | Brownwood | Texas | Masters | Master of Education in Sport and Wellness Leadership | Click Here |
| Sam Houston State University | Huntsville | Texas | Masters | M.S. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University | College Station | Texas | Masters | Online M.S. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University | College Station | Texas | Doctorate | Online Ph.D. in Kinesiology-Specialization in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University | College Station | Texas | Doctorate | Ph.D. in Kinesiology-Specialization in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Commerce | Commerce | Texas | Masters | M.S. in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi | Waco | Texas | Masters | M.S. in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Kingsville | Kingsville | Texas | Masters | Online M.S. in Kinesiology- Sport Administration in Sport Management | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Kingsville | Kingsville | Texas | Masters | Online Minor in Kinesiology- Sport Business | Click Here |
| Texas A&M University, Kingsville | Kingsville | Texas | Masters | M.S. in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| Texas Southern University | Houston | Texas | Masters | M.S. in Health, Kinesiology & Sport Studies | Click Here |
| Texas Tech University | Lubbock | Texas | Masters | M.S. in Exercise & Sport Sciences | Click Here |
| Texas Woman's University | Denton | Texas | Masters | Online M.S. in Sports Management | Click Here |
| Texas Woman's University | Denton | Texas | Doctorate | Online Ph.D. in Sports Management | Click Here |
| University of Houston | Houston | Texas | Masters | Online MA in Sport & Fitness Administration | Click Here |
| University of Houston | Houston | Texas | Doctorate | Online PhD in Kinesiology, with an Emphsasis in Sport and Fitness Administration | Click Here |
| University of Houston | Houston | Texas | Masters | MA in Sport & Fitness Administration | Click Here |
| University of Houston | Houston | Texas | Doctorate | PhD in Kinesiology | Click Here |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | Texas | Masters | Online M.S. in Sport Administration | Click Here |
| University of North Texas | Denton | Texas | Masters | Masters in Recreation, Event and Sport Management | Click Here |
| University of Texas | Austin | Texas | Masters | M.A. or M.Ed. in Sport Management | Click Here |
| University of Texas | Austin | Texas | Doctorate | Ph.D. in Kinesiology - Sport Management | Click Here |
Southern Methodist University
Bachelor of Science in Applied Physiology and Sports Management
The curriculum involves both academic coursework and experiential learning and prepares students for careers in both the business side of sports management, such as marketing and management of sporting organizations and in health management, including corporate wellness and commercial health and fitness facility management. The program culminates in a mentored senior project in which the student chooses a concentration in sports management that integrates the science and business components of the program content and demonstrates research and evidence-based practices in his or her particular concentration.
Master of Science in Sport Management
This full-time, 12-month program takes the experiences gained in the Bachelor of Science degree to the next level by providing industry-specific training with an emphasis on analysis, research, strategic thinking, and effective business communication skills. This program also continues the mix between classroom learning and experiential learning, providing graduates with real-life case studies, internships, and practicums.
Accreditations
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
References
University of North Texas
Recreation, Event, and Sports Management
A degree in this area prepares students for entry-level positions in all aspects of the sports, special events, and recreation services industry. Some of the course work includes the history and philosophy of sports and leisure, leadership and management, planning, managing, and operating sports or recreation facilities, recreation program planning and evaluation, risk analysis, special events planning and management, and tournament and league operations. During your senior year, you’re required to complete a 12-credit-hour internship.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
References
Texas Tech University
Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
This specific program involves 36 credit hours of major-required coursework and the addition of a required minor that adds an additional 18 credit hours. Minors can be chosen in such fields as General Business, Legal Studies, Communications Studies, Journalism, Electronic Media, and Public Relations. Courses in this major involve fundamentals, social aspects, financial and economic aspects, leadership and management aspects, and international sport management concepts. These are then supplemented with the specifics of the chosen minor.
Master of Science in Sport Management
With this program, students can choose to complete internships, participate in research projects, or provide a thesis as part of the requirements for completion. Some of the areas of particular emphasis with this degree are sports marketing, risk management, sports leadership, and sports organizational behavior. Whether the thesis or non-thesis option is chosen, the degree requires a minimum of 36 credit hours for completion. With a thesis, students spend six of those credit hours devoted to the thesis. For the non-thesis option, students spend those six credit hours for an additional internship.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
References
Texas A & M University
Bachelor of Science in Sport Management
This undergraduate degree offers two options for pathways, one internship option, and one non-internship option. With the internship option, students will study sports management from a business perspective within the classroom and then participate in a 13-week internship that is designed as a capstone experience and provides the chance to apply the concepts and theories learned in the classroom to real-world settings. Students seeking the non-internship option are more likely to seek administrative and management positions in health, athletic, and country clubs or entry-level positions in management within collegiate or professional athletic organizations. With this option, students are required to complete two minors as well as their major coursework, and these minors can be chosen from a list that includes business, journalism, coaching, parks and recreation management, and tourism resource management.
Master of Science in Sport Management
The MS in Sport Management degree provides a thesis or non-thesis option and can be taken in a traditional classroom setting or completely online. Regardless of whether students study on campus or online, thesis or non-thesis, students are required to complete a total of 36 credit hours for completion of this degree program. In each case, courses include such subjects as Revenue Generation in Sports, Personnel Management in Sports, Sports Marketing, and Sports Law. In addition, all options involve practicums and either direct study or independent study time. The thesis option involves eight credit hours devoted to thesis development, while the non-thesis and online options add more practical experience in the form of internships.
Ph.D. in Kinesiology: Specialization in Sport Management
This degree program is designed for students who will seek teaching and research careers in the field of sport management, and students are only accepted into the program through the agreement and acceptance of a member of the graduate faculty who is willing to advise the student. The program involves a minimum of either 67 credit hours beyond the Masters’s level degree or 96 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Depending upon experience, students may be required to also complete undergraduate or graduate work as part of this program. Coursework for this degree heavily emphasizes research and analysis as students prepare their dissertations for eventual publication, a requirement to complete this program. As with most doctoral programs, a teaching internship is also a part of this program.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
References
- https://catalog.tamu.edu/undergraduate/education-human-development/kinesiology-sport-management/sport-management-bs/
- https://catalog.tamu.edu/graduate/colleges-schools-interdisciplinary/education-human-development/kinesiology-sport-management/sport-management-ms/
- https://knsm.tamu.edu/academics/kinesiology-emphasis-sport-management-doctoral/
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Featured Sports Management and Admin Programs
- GRE/GMAT Waived
- Flexible Learning Format
- Designed For Career Leadership
Georgetown University Online
Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management
Become a leader in the sports industry and earn your master’s in sports management online or on campus with Georgetown University, one of the world’s leading academic research institutions.
- 100% Online
- Application Fee Waived
- High-Growth Area
American University Online
Master of Science in Sports Analytics Management
American University’s online MS in Sports Analytics and Management will equip you to become a strategic sports manager with the skills needed to measure the impact that emerging technologies are having on sports organizations and society.
- AACSB Accredited
- Nationally Recognized
- Top-Ranked Program
Ohio University
Master of Sports Administration (OMSA)
Recognized for excellence by the prestigious Commission on Sport Management Accreditation, graduate ready to pursue college athletics, professional sports, and sports media.
- Bachelors & Masters Programs
- 100% Online & Affordable
- In-Demand Tracks
Campbellsville University
Online Sport Management Degrees
Make a name for yourself in a field that you are passionate about with a sport management degree from Campbellsville University Online.
University of Texas
Bachelor’s in Sport Management
This program is extremely selective as it only admits 120 students every year. You’ll need to take at least one economics class and one writing class before you can enroll. You must also complete a course on ethical issues and sports program management and earn a grade of B- or higher before you can enroll in the full program. The program consists of 120 credits and includes both Texas core curriculum courses and courses within the kinesiology department. During your junior year, the university asks that you meet with your adviser to talk about internship options. After applying for and finding an internship, you’ll complete it during your first or second semester in your senior year. The University of Texas requires that students do a minimum of 135 hours of fieldwork each week. You’ll need to keep a log of your work and turn in that log at the end of the semester.
This program is conveniently offered both online and on-campus and emphasizes the importance of working directly with clients and students. You will spend your first year taking 18 credits of required sport management classes like sports marketing, sport policy, and facility and event management. During your second and final year, you’ll take six credits of electives from within the department and six credits of electives from other departments. All education students must also do an internship in their seconds years that is worth six credits. You can do an internship on-campus or off. As is common with Master’s degrees, a thesis upon completion is the last and final step to earning your degree. The faculty that will have taught the courses throughout serve on the thesis committee for these defenses.
Prior to enrolling, you must submit a transcript that shows you took classes on managerial accounting, marketing principles, and management theory. Students who did not take those classes or the equivalent of those courses must take each one through the university. Its MS program consists of 36 total credits. Students spend the first year taking the same 18 required credits or sports management core classes as those in the other program do. During your second year, you’ll take a statistics course and a class on either proposal writing or research methods. You’ll also take at least one elective and two classes on thesis writing. All remaining credits come from the research, writing, and work that you do on your own thesis topic, which you present in front of a panel of experts.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
References
- https://education.utexas.edu/departments/kinesiology-health-education/kinesiology-health-undergraduate-programs/sport-management
- https://education.utexas.edu/departments/kinesiology-health-education/graduate-programs/sport-management
- https://education.utexas.edu/departments/kinesiology-health-education/graduate-programs/sport-management-campus/program-study-campus-ms-sport-management
Baylor University
The Master’s Degree in Sport Management at Baylor University is one of only 27 programs in the United States approved by the NASPE-NASSM Sport Management Program Review Council. It is a 36-credit hour program that includes general, research, ethics, and field experience. Courses required to complete the program include Ethical Issues in Sports, Facility/Event Management, Financial Management in Sports, Governance in Sports, Issues and Trends in HP and Sport Management, Legal Issues in Sports, NCAA Policies and Procedures, Public Relations in Sports, Research Methods, Sport in Social Context, Sport Management, Sports Marketing, Sport Psychology, Statistical Methods. Students must complete an internship, practicum, and thesis as well.
Accreditations
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- NASPE-NASSM Sport Management Program Review Council
References
Career & Salary Opportunities in Sports Management & Administration in Texas
The sport and fitness fields have grown into multi-billion dollar industries. Therefore, there is a growing need for individuals with an understanding of the administrative side of sports, fitness, and health. Individuals who have completed sports management degree programs in Texas will have better opportunities to move into a new career or to advance in their current career.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
| Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors | 329,200 | 10.0% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 311,700 | 12.9% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors | 22,600 | 9.7% |
Potential Employers in Texas
Major League and Collegiate Sports
Texas is saturated with professional sports teams and high-level Division 1 universities and athletics departments, which means a thriving state full of organizations that need recent graduates in the sports management field. The Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Dallas Cowboys, and Dallas Stars just begin to scratch the surface of potential sports employers within the team and league space. Even at the league level, the American Athletic Conference has its headquarters in Irving, Texas.
Sports Organizations and Recreational Organizations
Texas is a very large state, so it’s no surprise that the employment opportunities are ample. Just one recent example of sports companies flocking to Texas is the recent relocation of the Professional Golf Association of America headquarters which is now situated in Frisco, Texas.
