Learn Sports Management with a Sports Business MBA
The business of sports has enjoyed substantial growth. The global sports industry is a multi-billion-dollar giant that encompasses events, sporting goods, training and infrastructure. This dynamic, high-growth industry offers many opportunities for future business leaders with a Master of Sports Business Administration. The Colangelo College of Business at GCU offers MBA candidates the option to specialize in sports management.
The Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Sports Business allows candidates to blend keen business acumen with a passion for sports. Explore key concepts in management and operations. Examine sales, marketing, finance and revenue generation through the lens of the sports industry.
Earn Your MBA in Sports Management Online at GCU
GCU’s sports MBA is designed to fit the needs of working professionals. You can earn your advanced degree within an engaging online classroom environment. Participate in intelligent peer discussions and benefit from exposure to a diverse range of perspectives and viewpoints. Study the theories and current research regarding the business of sports under the guidance of leading experts in their fields. You will examine core concepts in courses such as the following:
- Sports Business Analytics
- Sports Business Revenue Generation
- Strategic Management
- Applied Business Probability and Statistics
- Leadership and Organizations
The online degree program requires 54 credits for completion. Most online MBA classes are eight weeks in length.
While working toward your sports business MBA, you will explore a number of current issues in modern sports management. Examine digital technologies, like social media platforms, and how they are applied to the global business environment. Explore emerging trends in analytics, revenue generation, marketing and sports business sales. Other learning objectives include:
- Maximizing value for brands, rights holders, media and agencies
- Managerial accounting concepts like internal reporting, cost systems and performance evaluation
- Market environmental analysis, marketing planning and pricing strategy
There is an emphasis on the values of servant leadership. As a Christian school, the GCU community embraces ethical decision-making for the greater social good.
What Can I Do with an MBA in Sports Management?
Sports management is a dynamic career field that offers high-level opportunities for MBA graduates. Upon graduation, you may pursue positions working for professional sports organizations, athletic representation agencies, universities or media entities. Some of the jobs in sports that may be related to this degree include the following:
- Sports manager
- Public relations manager
- Sports marketer
- Chief executive
- Talent manager
Other possible career paths may include sports licensing professional, broadcasting executive, stadium operations executive and sports distributor.
Although the business of sports is the focus of this MBA program, candidates will also develop core business competencies that are transferrable to other industries. Organizations value job applicants who have demonstrated that they possess the drive and perseverance necessary to complete a sports business MBA program. Critical thinking, ethical decision-making and problem-solving are all skills that are valuable in any industry.
Graduates of Grand Canyon University may qualify for placement assistance. GCU is a regionally accredited, private university. Core programs within the Colangelo College of Business have achieved additional approval by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Program Core Courses
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare students for the graduate learning experience at Grand Canyon University. Students have opportunities to develop and strengthen the skills necessary to succeed as graduate students in the College of Business. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the tools for graduate success.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the College of Business, key concepts of leadership, and an overview of how the science of organizational behavior contributes to effective leaders and managers.
Course Description
This course is designed for individuals who are preparing for more advanced coursework in accounting and for students who have not had accounting in undergraduate work. Topics covered include the principles and practices of financial accounting and the fundamentals of managerial accounting, such as cost behavior and budgeting. The course covers accounting theories using computational examples, and homework is problem solving.
Course Description
This course is designed for individuals who are preparing for more advanced coursework in accounting and is designed for students who have not had finance in undergraduate work. Topics covered include financial analysis, financial planning, asset evaluation, capital structure, and working capital management.
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to prepare students in mathematical, probability, and statistical concepts for their upcoming studies in quantitative methods. The course is intended for those students who have not had any prior statistical education, although students who have had statistics should also consider taking the course as a refresher.
Course Description
This courses introduces microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts that are relevant to contemporary business. Emphasis is placed on using economic data for business decision making.
Course Description
This course is a study in the quantitative tools and techniques used to model business functions and applications. Emphasis is placed on how to set up models, and how to interpret and apply their results. Prerequisite: SYM-506.
Course Description
Management of the marketing function, market environmental analysis, and marketing planning, strategy, and control are fundamentals of marketing management. The course examines the marketing process, marketing research, product development innovation and diffusion, pricing strategy, distribution value drain, advertising and promotion, and strategic marketing issues. Emphasis is placed on case study analysis and current academic research with a marketing plan as a significant curriculum component.
Course Description
This course covers managerial accounting concepts and procedures for internal reporting, including the study of cost behavior, cost systems, budgeting, and performance evaluation. Coursework includes case studies, group projects, and class discussion. Prerequisite: ACC-502.
Course Description
Operations Management examines managerial concepts and strategies relating to the management of operations in both manufacturing and service environments. Emphasis is placed on methods to streamline and drive inefficiencies out of a firm’s internal processes to build a highly efficient organization. The course also focuses on external processes by examining ways to achieve greater supply chain integration with suppliers and customers. Quantitative and qualitative methods and tools are introduced and applied. Prerequisite: SYM-506.
Course Description
This course discusses elements of business financial decisions, including financial forecasting and development of proformas, management of working capital, capital budgeting, capital structure, and raising funds in capital markets. Prerequisite: FIN-504.
Course Description
This course examines the definition, formulation, and execution of strategy within organizations. There is specific emphasis on the role of innovation and leadership in strategic management and an organization’s ability to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Prerequisites: MGT-605, MKT-607, ACC-650, and FIN-650.
Course Description
This course discusses the principles and strategies associated with generating revenue in the sports business industry.
Course Description
This course emphasizes sports marketing research with the focus on teaching students how to obtain the data, insights, and intelligence needed in every area of sports marketing, sports media, and sponsorship in order to most effectively maximize value for brands, rights holders, agencies, and media.
Online
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere. GCU offers the most experienced leadership in delivering online degree programs. Full-time faculty members and fully trained adjunct instructors, equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields, support you every step of the way. Designed with the career-oriented professional in mind, our online classes provide an intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions. Choose from programs across our distinct colleges, in high-demand employment areas. Classes begin frequently.
Evening
Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom. Night classes are designed for a specific number of students, providing a warm and nurturing environment that supports an engaging experience. In an evening cohort, you will progress through your degree program with the same career-minded classmates, providing an opportunity to network and forge relationships that go beyond the classroom. Classes begin frequently at various locations, including our main campus.
* Please note that this list may contain programs that are not presently offered as program availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability of the program.
* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program's published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution's catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who started the program in the same year and then graduated within the published program length.
Online and Evening program disclosures (29 months)* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.