You've decided to ramp up your game and pursue a sports
management degree - how do you decide on a program? It's a question I get asked
often, as an alum of a sports management program. With over 400 sport
management programs world wide (listed here) it's
important you target those that are best suited to give you the education you
are looking for. I recently spent time speaking with sport business managers
who had completed sport management degrees in the USA, Canada and
Europe. They brought their perspectives to the discussion about things to
consider when choosing what program to go after. There were lots of
considerations that came to the table but there were a few filters that came up
more frequently than others:
1. PURPOSE
It’s important to understand why you want to work in sports,
and it needs to be more than your passion for sport, you need to find clarity
on your passion for the business and industry. What do you hope to gain from
your education? This will inform your decision more than anything.
2. FOCUS
Find out in what department the program is housed within the
university. This will be a good indicator of how the degree is tailored to fit
certain career paths within sports. For example, sport management programs are
typically housed in business schools or kinesiology departments. The
academic track influences what the program is designed to do and the education
it gives you. It’s important to bring solid business fundamentals to the
table to make an impact in the business of sport.
3. LOCATION
The school’s location can give you a great advantage. Choose
a place in a location that is embedded in the type of sports industry you are
most interested to have a career in. It will open up access to
opportunities and can impact your career trajectory in a big way. A few
examples: