Athletic Administration MBA + Online Options

Athletic administration and sports management is becoming ever more complicated and commercial, so naturally the demand for well educated athletic administrators and managers is growing.

Today the sports and athletic industries generate more than $400 billion in revenue each year – in the US alone. To tap into some of the best upper management jobs in sports and athletics, it can be a financially prudent move to earn an MBA in athletic administration. Like any successful business, an athletic organization needs to be properly managed so that it is profitable and efficient. This is the case whether the organization is at the local, collegiate or professional level.

With an MBA in athletic administration, you will be well positioned as a top prospect for good career opportunities in athletic administration.

One of the most common jobs that you could qualify for is athletic director. This sports administration professional oversees many types of athletic programs, usually at a university. Some large high schools also may have an athletic director as well.

Generally, this professional will work on supervising all of the details that are relevant to athletic departments working smoothly. You can expect working with coaches and other sports team staff. You would likely be responsible for firing and hiring decisions related to the teams for the university.

What Is an Athletic Administration MBA?

An MBA in athletic administration or sports management is a graduate degree that is made for students who want to combine a passionate interest in sports with an excellent business management education. For professionals who want to work in management and administration in athletics, earning a master’s in business in this field could give you the edge in this competitive business.

An MBA in athletic or sports administration will give you advanced management skills in the business of sports. Sports and athletic management are concerned with the efficient and effective operation of athletic organizations that are focused on making money from athletic events and competition.

An MBA in athletic administration will provide you with vital skills in dealing with athletic public relations, negotiating athletic contracts and forming long term sports business strategies.

You should be aware there are several different types of athletic administration and sports management degrees available. The most common is an MBA program in athletic administration, where you will study subjects such as accounting, finance in sports and marketing. There also are master’s programs available specifically in sports management.

Specific Requirements

For most upper level management positions in sports administration or education administration, you will need to have a graduate degree. Having an MBA in athletic administration is good preparation for a leading management role.

Most employers will want to hire athletic administrators or directors who have five years or more of experience in a college or high school setting.

To increase your chances of landing a good position in this competitive field, you should have a 3.0 GPA in your bachelor’s work. A background in PR, sports and athletic management, and business is a good background for this profession.

Types of Courses to Expect

In your athletic administration or sports management MBA program, you will be taking classes in advanced law, marketing, sales, media relations, event operations, and league governance. You also can expert to take the basic MBA courses that most MBA programs have, such as finance, accounting, leadership and statistics.

Also, you should expect to take the following courses that are focused on athletic administration and sports management. These courses are offered in the MBA program at Northwestern University:

• Sports Marketing
• Sports Research Methods
• Sports Leadership
• Sports Business
• Legal and Ethical Issues
• Sports Public Relations
• Sports Media Relations

Career Path and Salary

With a background in athletic administration, you will be able to go in several directions in your athletic and sports management career. Many professionals with this type of MBA end up working in the education administration field in a university or high school.

Education administrators in the area of athletics oversee the entire athletic department at a high school, college or university. They are responsible for ensuring that the athletic department is running profitably and efficiently.

The job outlook in this field is solid, with jobs expected to expand by 4% in education administration by 2029. The median pay is $97,500, with the top 10% earning more than $199,400 per year.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job growth figures for Postsecondary Education Administrators represents national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data Accessed May 2021.