8 Things to Consider when Selecting a Sport Management Program

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: 

- There is a dense base of international sport federations (like FIFA) and Olympic organizations (like the IOC) in Switzerland

- Pro sports are found most often in big markets like New York, Los Angeles, Boston

- One of the leading sports media companies ESPN is based in Connecticut 

Maybe you need to stay closer to home to save on relocation costs, or maybe a new location is part of the overall experience you’re looking for - it can bring new perspectives. Just make sure the degree you finish with is relevant to where you want to have a career.

4. NETWORK AND ALUMNI POWER!

There is high competition to land sport management internships and jobs so it’s important that you position yourself to connect with industry leaders. Find out who will be teaching you - programs with guest lecturers offer an opportunity to connect with leaders working in the field. Find out if there is an active alumni network - strong alumni groups can be powerful, as alumni typically like to connect with current students and can be powerful door openers. Find out what clients the program works with for class projects and personal theses - this can be a good indication of how much exposure you will get to the industry. Check out how long the program has been around. Find out if there are mentor programs.

5. CLASS SIZE AND DIVERSITY

Most programs are on the smaller side (and therefore they are competitive, so you need to have a laser sharp application). Some will have an international angle with students accepted form all over the world, which can help develop valuable cross-cultural skills. Find out what the class age average is and the average years of work experience. The class discussion is one of the most powerful teaching tools and these two metrics are pretty good indicators of the quality of the class discussions.

6. COST

Programs differ in the level of financial assistance they offer. If you know you need financial aid make sure you inquire if it’s an option through the school. If they don’t, don’t give up on your program of choice just yet - also look for external scholarship opportunities.

7. CALENDAR

Programs are structured in many different ways. Understand what environment you are looking for – is it night classes so you can work during the day? Do you want to be fully immersed in all day classes? 

8. REPUTATION

Talk to sport industry professionals who have the type of job you covet or who work for an organization you are targeting. Ask them how valuable they feel a degree from the program you are considering would be. It’s important that you get second, third, plus more opinions. Find out what accreditation the program has and if it has partnerships with other academic institutions or sport organizations.

Is there something you'd add to this list? Leave a comment and let me know what I may have missed.

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