Major in Sport Management (BS Degree)

While thorough knowledge of the facts and figures of the athletic industry is essential, in GMercyU's Sport Management program, you will also learn effective strategies for applying these principles to their future careers.

Program highlights include:

• A sport management education that includes a full repertoire of business courses, since professionals working in the athletic industry must understand the fundamentals of business.
   
• Internship opportunities with successful local sports-affiliated establishments that let you apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world setting and build networking connections. Internships are required of all Sport Management majors.
   
• Experienced faculty (no teaching assistants!) who understand business from the boardroom, not just the classroom. Our low student to faculty ratio of 10:1 means individualized attention, support, and mentorship from your professors.
   
• Valuable industry networking opportunities through internships, guest lecturers, conferences, and career fairs. For example, students have attended the Philadelphia 76ers Sports & Entertainment Career Fair and the Philadelphia Flyers First Line Sales Workshop.
   
• GMercyU's Sport Business Association, which students can join to further develop their knowledge of the industry, networking, and preparing for careers in sport. Follow us on Instagram here!
  
  
• GMercyU’s state-of-the-art facilities, including a financial trading room equipped with a real-time stock ticker.
   
• Study abroad opportunities that will expand your horizons.
   
• An emphasis on key skills that employers look for – critical thinking, communications, and problem solving – that complement our students' experiential learning.
   
• The Griffin Edge, which will help you connect the dots between your GMercyU experiences and your future aspirations, so you can ace future job interviews and launch a successful career. Learn more about The Griffin Edge here. 

Apply for this option during your junior year
Boost your employability and earning potential by earning your MBA. With GMercyU's unique  4 +1 MBA,  students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can earn both a bachelor of science degree in sport management and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) in just five years.

Skip the grad school entrance exams by taking graduate credits during your senior year – as part of your undergraduate tuition – and then seamlessly complete your MBA the following year.

GMercyU's sport management curriculum offers specialized sports-related courses that allow you to dive deeper into specific fields. It also offers a solid foundation in business, economics, accounting, and management that teach advanced principles of business and accounting.

In addition to completing general education requirements, you will complete the following courses as a sport management major:

Prerequisites - 3 Credits

Foundations of Business - 13 credits

Sport Management Core - 33 Credits

Major Electives - Select 4 (12 credits)

 Credit Requirements
A minimum of 125 credits is required for the bachelor’s degree in sport management.

Undergraduate Minors
Increase the value of your Bachelor of Science in Sport Management degree by adding an undergraduate minor that best suits your personal and professional goals.

Wondering what your classes might look like as a sport management major? Here’s a glimpse of just a few.

SPMT 351 Strategic Sport Marketing
This course provides an overview of the various techniques and strategies of marketing in the sport environment. Areas to be covered include the processes of the strategic sport marketing, market research and analytics, the segmentation process, the identification of target markets, database and relationship marketing, sponsorship, corporate partnerships, and the development of the sport marketing mix and sponsorship packages. Students will build an integrated marketing plan for a sport organization and event by first describing how the five P’s of sport marketing are applied in sport.

SPMT 353 Introduction to Sport Law
This course is designed to address an increasing need for sport managers to be aware of the legal implications of their managerial performance. This course will introduce the legal issues facing those in the sports industry. The application of legal principles is considered in relation to professional and amateur sports. Student will analyze the legal and regularity aspects, elements, and relationships for all constituents participating in sports; administrators, coaches, athletes, agents, vendors, sponsors, faculty managers and owners, and spectators. Seminal court cases are discussed. Students will examine relevant issues in sport law through case studies and in class court sessions.

SPMT 355 Sport Facility and Venue Management
This course will examine the principles and practices of sport facility and venue management. Emphasis will be placed on topics including facility supervision, planning, construction, operations, security, programming, scheduling, box office operations and concessions, maintenance, marketing, and financing. With new arenas, stadiums, fitness and recreation centers, convention centers and other facilities opening, there is a significant need for properly trained sport facility managers. The principles and applications of facility design, maintenance, and event management as they apply to indoor and outdoor sport facilities will be analyzed. Students will critique existing sport facilities and complete related assignments.

For all Sport Management course descriptions, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Catch up on recent Sport Management news:

Sport Management Class Hosts Flag Football Tournament

Digital Communications Student Interviews Sport Management Major Michael Zayas-Bazan '24

North Penn High School Student Interviews Instructor and Program Coordinator Maddie Herman

Sport Management Program Coordinator Maddie Herman Visits London

GMercyU Hosts Sport Management Symposium: The Business of Sport

Sport Management Students Volunteer at Women’s March Madness Tournament

Principles of Sport Management Course Hosts Guest Speakers

Sport Business Association Members Volunteer at Young Investigator Draft

Sport Management and Sport Business Association Students Attend Career Events

Career Development Partners with Sport Management Program for Phillies College Series

Sport Management Student to Intern with Philadelphia Flyers

Maddie Herman, EdD
Position: Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Sport Management
Did You Know? Dr. Herman has worked for the Philadelphia 76er's and Wells Fargo Center. In summer 2024, she worked and attended multiple international sport events, from the Paris Olympics to the MLB's London series.
Read bio

Alan Harper, MBA, PhD
Position: Associate Dean of Operations in Academic Affairs; Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Finance and Management programs
Did You Know? Dr. Harper has 20 years of management experience and has published more than 15 peer-reviewed articles.
Read bio

Margaret Rakus, EdD
Position: Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Digital Communications and Marketing programs 
Did You Know? Dr. Rakus has held industry positions in marketing and public relations. She holds certifications in Tableau, Hootsuite, Google Analytics, Google AdWords, and more.
Read bio

Melissa Dennis, DBA
Position: Assistant Professor, Marketing
Did You Know? Dr. Dennis spent 15 years working for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products in customer relationship and customer engagement, supporting Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Vacation Club, and the Disney Cruise line businesses.
Read bio

Luigi Corrado, Jr., CPA, MT
Position: Professor of Practice and Program Coordinator, Accounting
Did You Know? Professor Corrado spent nearly 20 years in the accounting industry as a financial statement auditor, corporate controller, and senior consultant with a variety of firms.  
Read bio

Student internships are a great way to put your skills into practice, enhance your resume with relevant work history, establish a mentoring relationship with a sports professional, and get a first-hand view of the inner workings of the industry. That's why completing an internship is a requirement for this major.

GMercyU has developed internship relationships with area sports establishments in a variety of sizes and settings, including:

• All Star Sports Academy
• Boston Red Sox
• BucksMont Indoor Sports Center
• Diamond Nation Sports Complex
• East Norriton Township Recreation
• Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics
• International Sport Training Camp
• Lancaster Barnstormers
• Lehigh University Athletics
• Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
• LIVE- Wells Fargo Center- Philadelphia 76ers
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Reading Royals
• Temple University-Athletic Department
• Trenton Thunder
• XL Sports
• Wilmington Blue Rocks

Service to society is a GMercyU core value, and therefore, part of the student experience. Volunteering within your industry is also a great way to pick up more skills and help you stand out to future employers.

Our Sport Management majors are proud to have recently volunteered at these organizations:  

• Big East Track and Field Championship
• Delaware Blue Coats
• East Stroudsburg University Athletics
• Gwynedd Mercy University Athletics
• Gwynedd Mercy University Intramurals
• Hershey Bears
• Leveling the Playing Field
• NCAA March Madness
• Philadelphia Marathon
• Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative
• Savannah Bananas
• Uplifting Athletes
• University of Pennsylvania Athletics

As sports-related interest grows in the U.S. and abroad, the demand for qualified professionals to support teams and individual athletes will also increase. Earning a degree in sport management opens the door for career opportunities and unique experiences. Here are just a few.

Top Jobs for Sport Management Majors

Sports Agent
Description: A sports agent represents his or her athlete client to prospective professional sports teams and also negotiates contract terms and pay with current teams. Agents also manage client promotional opportunities and endorsement agreements, and some agents oversee client taxes and other financial documents.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The average salary for a sports agent in the U.S. is $132,810.
Source

Sports Scout
Description: A sports scout searches for talented high school and college athletes with the intent of recruiting them for teams playing at higher levels. Sports scouts typically spend a great deal of time traveling and often work irregular hours.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The average salary for a sports scout in the U.S. is $45,910, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $95,620.
Source

Sports Event Planner
Description: A sports event planner organizes facility events like themed promotions or meet-and-greet special events with famous athletes. A sports event planner may also oversee giveaways or fan contests.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree
Average Salary: The average salary for a sports event planner in the U.S. is $56,920.
Source