Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (U-Z)

Mastering the business side of athletics in the “Mother of Presidents” is simple thanks to the large quantity of sports management degree programs from accredited colleges and universities in Ohio. As America’s 10th most densely populated state with over 11.6 million residents, Ohio is located in the Midwest below Lake Erie. Generating a GDP of $478 billion, Ohio has a sport-friendly business climate.


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Ohioans cheer on major league teams like the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Cavaliers, Columbus Crew, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Reds. College football rivalries are famous with the eight NCAA Division I-A teams headquartered here. Sports management majors can visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, attend the WTA Premier 5 Tennis Tournament, or watch IndyCar races on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. To see more sports management degrees in Ohio, visit Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (A-K), Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (L-O), and Sports Management Degree Programs in Ohio (O-U).

University of Dayton

School of Education and Health Sciences

Founded by the Marianists in 1850, the University of Dayton is the largest private, non-profit Roman Catholic research institution in Ohio with over 11,100 students enrolling on its park-like 388-acre urban campus along the Great Miami River. Dayton’s alumni base includes Super Bowl-winning head coach Chuck Noll, sportscaster Dan Patrick, and Mets pitcher Jerry Blevins. Ranked sixth nationally for “Happiest Students” by the Princeton Review, Dayton was recognized by the U.S. News as America’s 108th best university. The School of Education and Health Sciences is also acclaimed for being the 107th best education college in the country.

Sport Management, B.S.E.

The Sport Management, B.S.E. program at Dayton bestows a Bachelor of Science in Education degree upon undergraduate students interested in sports-related jobs on the field, in the media, or at the gym. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of sport facilities, marketing, law, media, sales, and finance to successfully enter managerial roles. Declaring a minor in business administration is encouraged to become MBA ready. Students benefit from two internships, one on-campus with the Dayton Flyers and one off-campus in a local sports organization. The program offers access to the state-of-the-art Thomas J. Frericks Center and Baujan Field. Since 1986, majors have benefited from the $1,500 John R. Schleppi Sport Management Scholarship.

Accreditations

        • National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

300 College Park
Dayton, OH 45469
(937) 229-3146
info@udayton.edu
https://www.udayton.edu/education/learn/undergraduate/sport-management-bse.php

University of Findlay

College of Business

Enrolling around 3,700 students, the University of Findlay is a mid-sized private Christian institution affiliated with the Churches of God General Conference on a 390-acre urban campus in Findlay just 40 miles south of Toledo. Included within the “A+ Schools for B Students,” UF is currently ranked the 54th best regional college and 40th top university for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News. Notable alumni have included NFL player Harold Jones-Quartey, wrestling champion Waylon Lowe, and head coach Dennis Canfield. The College of Business is known for providing real-life business experiences to students through Oiler Enterprises.

Sport and Event Management, B.S.

Fully accredited by the ACBSP, the Sport and Event Management, B.S. program at Findlay is designed for undergraduates interested in entering the sports or event planning industry with specialized knowledge in intercollegiate sports. Students can tailor their curriculum in Coaching, Hospitality Management, Marketing, or Public Relations and Media. Students are given a competitive advantage by working with enterprise resource planning software (SAP). The 120-credit program will cover topics ranging from business law contracts and ticket sales to sports ethics and applied sport psychology. Juniors and seniors with a minimum 2.75 GPA could receive a paid, full-time internship through the Cleveland Browns Edge Program. Students also work with the Findlay Oilers in NCAA Division II.

Accreditations

        • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

1000 North Main Street
Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 434-4704
business@findlay.edu
https://www.findlay.edu/business/sporteventmanagement/

University of Mount Union

Department of Human Performance and Sport Business

Nestled on a 115-acre suburban campus in Alliance just 30 minutes northeast of Canton, the University of Mount Union is a private, non-profit liberal arts institution historically linked with the United Methodist Church to educate over 2,200 students. The Mount Union Purple Raiders compete in NCAA Division III Ohio Athletic Conference in 21 varsity sports, including the football national champions. Given a Forbes financial grade of B, Mount Union is ranked the 8th best regional college in the Midwest by the U.S. News. The Department of Human Performance and Sport Business (HPSB) houses six majors focused on fulfilling careers for improving well-being.

Sport Business Major

Leading to a Bachelor of Arts, the Sport Business Major at Mount Union has earned prestigious COSMA accreditation to produce competent, ethical professionals with extensive sport industry experience. Students delve into key business disciplines to learn how to make sports-related organizations beneficial and profitable in the 21st century. Coursework will explore finance, public relations, marketing, management, international business, communications, and exercise science. All majors receive hands-on learning at the McPherson Center for Health, Gulling Training Center, and Peterson Field House. Each year, students can participate in the Sports Sales Workshop and Job Fair. Majors can also join the student-lead Sport Business Association (SBA). Graduates have a high job placement rate of 98 percent.

Accreditations

        • Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

1972 Clark Avenue
Alliance, OH 44601
(800) 992-6682
admission@mountunion.edu

Wittenberg University

Health, Fitness and Sports Department

Established in 1845 by Rev. Ezra Keller of the English Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Wittenberg University is a premier private, four-year Lutheran liberal arts institution educating over 2,000 full-time students from 30 countries on its 114-acre urban campus in Springfield on the Mad River. Named among the Princeton Review’s “Best 380 Colleges,” Wittenberg is ranked the 148th best national liberal arts college and 105th top school for veterans by the U.S. News. Seven faculty members have won Ohio’s Professor of the Year Award. In the Health, Fitness, and Sports Department, students can major in exercise science, dance, nursing, health science, or sport management.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

Ground in the liberal arts, the Bachelor’s in Sport Management program at Wittenberg equips students with the practical preparation for successfully entering the intercollegiate, recreation, or professional sports industry. The 122-credit program uses an interdisciplinary approach to expose students to the business, global, marketing, media, and cultural aspects of sport. Class activities are seamlessly blended with field practicum and internships. Past students have interned with the Columbus Clippers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dayton Dragons to name a few. Students also work with the Wittenberg Tigers in the NCAA Division III North Coast Athletic Conference. The four-year curriculum culminates with an applied capstone project to synthesize learned sports decision-making skills.

Accreditations

        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

200 West Ward Street
Springfield, OH 45501
(937) 327-6314
admission@wittenberg.edu
http://www.wittenberg.edu/academics/hfs/index.html

Wright State University

College of Education and Human Services

Named after the pioneering Wright Brothers in 1967, Wright State University is an accredited public four-year research institution educating over 17,800 students from its main 557-acre suburban campus in Fairborn and branch location on Grand Lake St. Mary’s. The Wright State Raiders have produced alumni like pitcher Brian Anderson, NBA player Vitaly Potapenko, and PGA champion Frank Lickliter. Wright State was named the 117th best national university for social mobility, research, and service in Washington Monthly magazine. The College of Education and Human Service has been accredited by the NCATE and a proud member of the National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER) since 1993.

Master of Arts in Physical Education: Sport Management

Wright State’s Master of Arts (M.A.) in Physical Education: Sport Management program is structured to prepare graduate students for advancing into leadership positions for collegiate athletics, amateur sports, or professional sports. Within the 44-credit program, students will take courses in research methods, sport administration, physical conditioning, marketing, public relationships, sport law, fiscal management, and higher education athletics. Carrying a minimum cumulative grade point of average of 3.0 is required. All M.A. students complete a three-credit internship with teams like the Columbus Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Cyclones. There’s also a mandatory master’s thesis project for the capstone. Students can add the Adapted Physical Education Endorsement for teaching too.

Accreditations

        • National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 45435
(937) 775-3223
drew.pringle@wright.edu
https://education-human-services.wright.edu/kinesiology-and-health/programs/master-of-arts-in-physical-education-sport-management

Xavier University

Department of Sport Studies

As the nation’s fourth oldest private, non-profit Jesuit Catholic research institution, Xavier University is home to over 6,600 students on a beautiful 190-acre urban campus between the North Avondale and Evanston neighborhoods of downtown Cincinnati. Honored as America’s 70th best private value in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Xavier is ranked the 6th best regional college and 6th top college for veterans in the Midwest by the USNWR. Xavier University is highly regarded for having the third highest graduate rate for athletes at 94 percent. The Department of Sport Studies coordinates student contact with sport industry professionals for rigorous, real-life academics.

Bachelor of Science in Sport Management

Over four years full-time, the Bachelor of Science in Sport Management program prepares Xavier undergraduates with the essential skills to plan, direct, organize, budget, and evaluate real sports organizations. The 120-credit program allows students to engage in nine curricular studies: management, societal ethics, sports law, communications, finance, marketing, economics, exercise science, and sport fieldwork. Each may, B.S. students help organize Cincinnati’s famous Flying Pig Marathon. Students can also intern with regional teams like the Detroit Pistons, Cincinnati Reds, or Pittsburgh Steelers. Access to the state-of-the-art O’Connor Sports Center is included. There’s also a specialized major in Sports Marketing for focusing on the promotion of sports clubs.

Master of Education in Sport Administration

At the graduate level, the Master of Education in Sport Administration program is offered by Xavier University to qualified students wishing to serve as the central leaders of today’s booming sports industry. Students develop the decision-making, strategic planning, leadership, and marketing skills to create optimal experiences for athletes and fans. The 30-credit curriculum can be completed in one and a half years full-time. M.Ed. students are required to complete an internship with Cincinnati sports teams or capstone thesis research. Graduates help run the Xavier Musketeers program for competing in the NCAA Division I Big East Conference. Tuition for this sport administration degree is currently under $550 per credit.

Accreditations

        • Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA)

Contact

3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207
(513) 745-3653
xugrad@xavier.edu
http://www.xavier.edu/sport-studies-department/

Getting your big break in the sports industry doesn’t necessarily mean being drafted as a professional athlete. Even if you’re not skilled with a ball or puck, you can create a successful business career behind the scenes in sports management. According to Forbes, the sports industry grew by $145.3 billion from 2010 to 2015. New jobs for sports managers are skyrocketing faster-than-average by 15 percent, but competition is still heated. Having at least a bachelor’s degree in sports management is essential for an advantage over your opponents. If you’re studying in the “Buckeye State,” these sports management degree programs from accredited colleges and universities in Ohio are industry MVPs.