At a Glance

Learn effective management strategies through the lens of sports. Carthage’s graduate business track in Sports Management was developed with input from senior executives in professional basketball, hockey, baseball, and esports. Learn from instructors with sports industry expertise, and graduate with skills that align with hiring needs. This 10-month master’s degree program can be completed in person or online and culminates with an intensive nine-day capstone experience in Barcelona, Spain.

Now enrolling for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025! Apply by December 1 to receive a $6,000 Carthage grant. For more information, email John Frese, director of admissions and financial aid, at jfrese@jdzruiran.com.

Degree Earned:

  • Master of Science (MSc) — Sports Management

View Degree Requirements

Earn your Master’s degree in Sports management

Build a Career in the Sports Industry

  • 10

    months to your master’s degree

The Sports Management track in Carthage’s growing graduate business program teaches students effective management strategies through the lens of sports. Input from more than 20 senior executives in professional basketball, hockey, baseball, and esports shaped the curriculum, ensuring that graduates’ skills will align with hiring preferences. Besides courses tailored to the sports industry, the master’s program provides core training in the critical area of design and innovation. Students build capacity for emotional intelligence, human-centered design, and cross-functional team management.

Interact with Sports industry leaders

Get outstanding classroom interaction with industry leaders, including:

  • Craig Leipold, Owner of the Minnesota Wild
  • Peter Feigin, President of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum
  • Jackie Joyner-Kersee, six-time Olympic medalist
  • Daniel Diaz, Director of World Cup, Olympic and Cross-Platform Partnerships at NBCUniversal Media
  • Jason Langwell, Chief Revenue Officer at TMRW Sports
  • Mark Pacchini, Board of Directors of the Minnesota Wild; Former President of Foote, Cone & Belding Advertising
  • Steve Rucks, Senior Director of Accounting and Finance at the United Center
  • Derek Sharrer, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the St. Paul Saints; four-time American Association Executive of the Year

Sports Management Advisory Council

Carthage’s Sports Management Advisory Council provides leadership and guidance for Carthage’s undergraduate and graduate programs in sports management. Members attend regular meetings; make recommendations on aspects of the program and its curriculum; teach classes and/or make presentations; connect Carthage and our students to industry partners; provide experiential learning opportunities for students such as internships; promote Carthage’s programs within their networks; and provide financial assistance including scholarships. 

Meet the Sports Management Advisory Council

 

Sports management alumni successes

Our alumni have secured sports positions like these across the country:

  • Direct Marketing Assistant, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Membership Services Representative, Washington Commanders
  • Corporate Partnerships Account Executive, Minnesota Wild
  • Client Service Executive, Chicago White Sox
  • Account Executive, Marquette Basketball
  • Sales, Dallas Wings
  • Account Manager, Sacramento Kings
  • Account Executive, Windy City Bulls
  • Collegiate Wrestling Coach
  • Graduate Assistant Intercollegiate Athletics Administration

Learn more about our alumni

 

Prepare for an exciting career in sports

The Sports Management program prepares graduates to use effective management strategies, develop skills that top industry leaders suggest to align with hiring preferences, grasp core business principles, and lead cross-functional teams with high emotional intelligence.

Students take core business courses in design thinking and teaming, business metrics, innovative leadership, disruptive innovation. Other courses include Sports Industry Economics and Financial Analysis; Sports Business and Player Analytics; Sports Marketing, Public Relations, and Promotion; and Management and Leadership in Sports.

Beyond the classroom, students participate in key experiential learning components, including the intensive nine-day capstone experience in Barcelona, Spain and shadowing experiences with the Minnesota Wild and other sports organizations.

See Sports Management courses

 

Online and in-person classes available

The graduate business track in Sports Management is designed to fit your busy life. Weekday classes are held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, both in-person and online to offer flexibility around work and family commitments. 

Master’s degree in Sports Management admissions and financial aid

Anyone with a bachelor’s degree, regardless of major, can apply. The 39-credit program can be completed in 10 months. Apply by December 1 to receive a $6,000 Carthage grant.*

See Admission Requirements

*Graduate assistants are not eligible for this award.

For more information about this program, email John Frese at jfrese@jdzruiran.com.