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Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Sports Administration Online

In this well-developed and highly respected program built on a foundation of general business practice, you will examine how the worlds of business and sports interact and learn how to manage those interactions to be more profitable and beneficial.

Apply by: 12/20/24
Start class: 1/11/25 Apply Now

Program Overview

Discover STU’s 100% online Sports Administration MBA program

The 100% online Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Sports Administration program from St. Thomas University gives you actionable insights into the business behind the game. It provides skills to ensure that players, fans, coaches, and financial backers coexist peacefully and that sports organizations flourish.

Our online sports administration program encompasses elements of economics, accounting, marketing, psychology, law, and communications. Learn how to market sports ethically and effectively and how to plan events, diving into the areas of sports publicity, budgeting, and administration. Study the major legal issues confronting sports administrators—such as contracts, due process, defamation, safety procedures, collective bargaining and arbitration, and risk management.

The MBA core curriculum emphasizes a broad range of skills in managerial accounting, policy and planning, strategy systems, international business, data analytics, financial management, and organizational behavior. Plus, you will benefit from more specialized business courses in sports media and public relations, facility and event management, and the legal aspects of sports administration.

This quality MBA online program is structured specifically for working professionals, with accelerated courses delivered in a convenient format ideal for a busy lifestyle. Coursework is taught by faculty with real-world experience. Choose from six start dates each year and earn your business master's degree while you continue working. Gain a comprehensive background to transition to a career in sports information, public relations, media relations, facility management, sports marketing, personnel, and more.

Note: The online MBA in Sports Administration program is comprised of 30 credit hours. However, an additional nine credit hours of foundation courses may be required based on a review of transcripts.

Sports Administration Careers

  • Athletic Director
  • Facilities Director
  • Sports and Wellness Director
  • Financial Management Director
  • Parks and Recreation Director
  • Sports Advertising Sales Director
  • Athletic Director
  • Facilities Director
  • Sports and Wellness Director
  • Financial Management Director
  • Parks and Recreation Director
  • Sports Advertising Sales Director
Total Tuition $19,500
Duration As few as 12 months
Credit Hours 30
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Call 855-215-4021

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Tuition

Pay for your degree as you go

Tuition for the MBA in Sports Administration online degree program is the same for in-state and out-of-state students and can be paid by the course. The total tuition is inclusive of all fees, including a technology fee for each course.

Tuition breakdown:

Total Tuition $19,500
Per Credit Hour $625

Calendar

Application deadlines and course schedules

The MBA in Sports Administration program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Choose the start date that is best for you.

TermStart DateApp DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition DeadlineClass End DateTerm Length
Fall 210/12/249/26/249/30/2410/4/2410/9/2412/6/247 weeks
Spring 11/11/2512/20/2412/27/241/3/251/15/253/7/257 weeks
Spring 23/15/252/21/252/28/253/7/253/19/255/9/257 weeks

Now enrolling:

Apply Date 12/20/24
Class Starts 1/11/25

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Admissions

Here’s what you need to apply to our online Sports Administration MBA program

Our streamlined admission requirements empower students from diverse academic backgrounds greater access to the MBA in Sports Administration online program. No GMAT is required to apply.

Admission Requirements:

  • Free Application
  • 2.33 GPA or higher
  • No GMAT

MBA in Sports Administration Online Admission Requirements

The following are required for admission to the MBA in Sports Administration online program:

  • Completed free application
  • Bachelor’s degree transcript (Unofficial transcripts are accepted)
  • 2.5 or greater GPA. No GMAT
    • 2.33 – 2.49 GPA. Other documents may be requested for additional program director review. No GMAT

Official transcripts can be sent to St. Thomas University through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. Unofficial transcripts and other documents can be uploaded via your Admissions Portal or emailed to [email protected].

Courses

See what you’ll study in our MBA in Sports Administration online classes

The MBA in Sports Administration online curriculum is comprised of 10 courses, including 18 credit hours of core courses, 12 credit hours of specialization courses, and up to nine credit hours of foundation courses based on a review of transcripts.

Courses in this program are seven weeks long. Courses during the two summer terms, however, are six weeks long.

Students will be placed in one of the following courses based on course availability.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The study of ethics and ethical behavior in public and private organizations is the fundamental purpose of this core course, which also explores broad areas of social responsibility to others in the enterprise, customers, the community and the preservation of the environment.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify, analyze, and apply traditional ethical theories.
  • Evaluate the effect of culture on ethical issues and identify, discuss, and assess current ethical issues in local, regional, national, and international arenas.
  • Articulate and assess conflicts between business practices and social justice.
  • Develop a personal code of ethics by synthesizing theory and practical application and apply ethical principles in one's professional life.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides a micro-perspective on organizations within the context of motivation, leadership, communication, interpersonal relations and group dynamics. Students will be encouraged to apply theoretical material to case studies and their own organizations.

Learning Outcomes

  • Examine experiences and identify organization behavior concepts in everyday life.
  • Evaluate the impact of organizational behavior concepts on cases by defending and justifying your position.
  • Apply knowledge of organization behavior concepts to solve organizational problems ethically.
  • Work effectively with others in team environments.
  • Articulate the impact of diverse and multicultural work environments.
  • Apply and evaluate the effectiveness of leadership in various organizational situations.
  • Write professional communications.

Students will take the following courses.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course provides an introductory framework to understand the structure and dynamics of Data Analytics for Business in relation to Descriptive, Diagnostic, Predictive, and Prescriptive Analytics through the use of data, quantitative mathematical and statistical models, and information technology software and applications. Graduate students will apply Data Analytics for Business tools to help decision makers gain improved insights about their business operations; and therefore to support them to make better, rational, fact-based, and data-driven business decisions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Examine the diverse applications and influence of data analytics on business practices, encompassing data creation, sharing, analytics, mining, reporting, and storage within and across organizations, including related ethical issues.
  • Apply Data Analytics for Business concepts to real-life business scenarios using common-place information technology.
  • Analyze and frame Data Analytics for Business problems and develop both proactive and reactive solutions.
  • Use critical thinking skills to develop effective case analysis recommendations and course of actions.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Acquisition of capital and debt, long-range and annual budgeting, budget management, cash flow management, short-term debt financing, interfacing with operation functions. (Pre-requisite: ACC 530 or have come in with 6 hours of undergraduate accounting courses)

Learning Outcomes

  • Perform essential managerial functions such as planning, control, and decision-making.
  • Prepare cost analyses, cash flow statements, budgets, and cost comparisons.
  • Make managerial decisions by analyzing financial statements.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Concepts, theories, and applications of marketing in an international environment, including the analysis of marketing opportunities, structuring of marketing programs, marketing efforts, and legal aspects of multinational marketing

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify variables in the global environment that require further analysis before creating a global marketing strategy.
  • Develop a comprehensive marketing plan, determine its components, and explain which options are appropriate under the current environmental conditions to marketing personnel.
  • Analyze the diverse cultures domestically and abroad.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Acquisition of capital and debt, long-range and annual budgeting, budget management, cash flow management, short-term debt financing, interfacing with operation functions. Pre-requisites: ACC 530, BUS 532, and BUS 724, or have come in with 6 hours of undergraduate accounting courses, 6 hours of undergraduate economics courses, and 6 hours of undergraduate statistics courses)

Learning Outcomes

  • Design an outline for ethical leadership by the financial manager based on different scenarios throughout the course.
  • Utilize financial statements to create financial profiles for a firm's managers, investors, and stakeholders.
  • Solve time value of money problems and apply the concepts to corporate finance decisions.
  • Evaluate various financing sources available to financing managers and estimate a corporation's cost of capital.
  • Select potential corporate investment projects by applying various capital budgeting criteria.
  • Use a financial model for estimating cash flows and analyzing capital budget projects.
  • Perform a qualitative and quantitative analysis of a potential project based on a real-world case study, including sensitivity analysis.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Concepts, theories, and practices in public, private, and non-profit organizations of policy-making, strategy, planning, budgeting, and various implementing systems. The case study method integrated with a contingency approach to management. This course should be taken after most of the MBA core courses have been completed.

Learning Outcomes

  • Develop analytical and practical skills to understand Strategic Management's role in business, address realistic corporate challenges, and contribute to business organizations.
  • Describe the Strategic Management implications of business trends like globalization, corporate mergers, technological advances, innovation, social media, workforce diversity, entrepreneurship, ecological sustainability, changing employment practices, corporate citizenship, and social responsibility.
  • Examine and frame Strategic Management problems and create both proactive and reactive solutions.
  • Create effective Strategic Management case analysis recommendations and courses of action.

Students will take the following courses.

Duration: 6 or 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces students to the principles of sports marketing and the application of these principles to sports and sports related organizations. The primary focus of the course is on planning, with additional emphasis on promotions management. This course includes presentations by guest lecturers, instructor's lectures, and student's presentations and is conducted in discussion format.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand and apply the key concepts of sports marketing to specific sports situations.
  • Create a written marketing plan for a sports organization, event, or product.
  • Describe the roles and responsibilities of marketing professionals in the sports industries.
  • Present issues and ideas related to sports marketing.
Duration: 6 or 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
Included within this course are the elements which shape the planning and construction of sports facilities and the issues and problems involved in facility and event management, including marketing, production, personnel, and budget. Students may also participate in the management of events. This course also includes visits to local facilities.

Learning Outcomes

  • Utilize the planning and design process as a system for identifying and solving problems.
  • Describe the reasons why a good risk management program is an important part of the job of sports administrators.
  • Use the process necessary to protect against claims of negligence.
  • Develop a successful risk management program.
  • Explain the legal duty and expected professional standard of conduct regarding sports and recreational management.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This course is designed to introduce students to the factors influencing sport socialization and psychology. Students will be provided with an extensive foundational experience in understanding the relationship between sport and the psychological contexts in which they exist. Topics for research will include, but are not limited to, the effects of personality, anxiety, motivation, and concentration as they relate to athletic peak performance.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand key issues and concepts relating to sport and exercise psychology.
  • Observe the relationship between personality and behavior/performance in sports settings.
  • Develop and enhance motivation in sports and exercise by applying appropriate guiding principles.
  • Evaluate arousal and anxiety-related emotions and their impact on sports performance.
  • Assess and utilize successful approaches to leadership and team building in sport.
  • Articulate common effects of exercise on psychological well-being.
Duration: 6 or 7 weeks
Credit Hours: 3
This required course provides the student with a background and understanding of the court and legal system in America and how law is used by, and applied to, athletes and athletics in America. Some of the major legal problems and issues confronting the sports administrator covered are: contracts, due process, defamation, actions against professional, college, secondary school and community programs; actions involving safety procedures; antitrust; collective bargaining and arbitration; and risk management. (This course is web enhanced)

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand and differentiate the various court and legal systems.
  • Utilize and apply contract law and trademark law to sports.
  • Apply and examine legal principles of tort law and trademark law to sports.
  • Identify and analyze tax and antitrust laws, practice equal protection principles, and operate within the principles of Title IX.

The following courses may be required based on a review of transcripts.

Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An intensive study of accounting principles and practices for those with no previous background in accounting. The collection, reporting and interpretation of the financial data of a modern business firm is emphasized.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify and predict the impact of business decisions on a company's financial statements.
  • Examine and determine the financial condition and performance of a business.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills in business situations.
  • Understand accounting terminology and essential concepts in financial and managerial accounting.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
An overview of basic probability and statistical techniques, to provide a foundation in the use of statistical methodologies, and the interpretation of the findings in analyzing business data.
Duration: 7 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of this course is to provide the foundation for understanding accounting, economics, statistics and case study analysis. The development of the aforementioned basic skills occurs within a business organization context and recognizes previously completed courses as well as experiential learning.

Learning Outcomes

  • Address "real life" corporate challenges and influence business performance using a mix of analytical and practical skills.
  • Understand and explain the implications of contemporary business trends such as globalization, corporate mergers, technological advances, innovation, social media, workforce diversity, entrepreneurship, ecological sustainability, changing employment practices, corporate citizenship, and social responsibility.
  • Analyze and frame strategic management problems and develop both proactive and reactive solutions to them.
  • Use critical thinking skills to create effective strategic management case analysis recommendations and courses of action.
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