Master of Business Administration in Sports Administration
St. Thomas University’s Sports Administration program teaches the business behind the game, allowing you to become part of the team. You will gain a strong foundation of knowledge in the field of business, examining how the worlds of business and sports interact and how you can make those interactions more profitable and beneficial for every person and interest involved. In addition, you will learn how to market sports effectively and how to plan events, diving into the areas of sports publicity, budgeting, and administration. An interdisciplinary field, sports administration encompasses elements of economics, accounting, marketing, psychology, law, and communications.
We are located in one of the largest sports markets in the world, South Florida – an unmatched natural laboratory setting for students to gain experience in all areas of sports. The Fernandez Family Center for Leadership and Wellness affords students the opportunity to connect classroom theory to experiential learning.
Having started the first Sports Administration undergraduate program in the nation in 1972, St. Thomas University has long been a recognized leader in the business of sports. Our network of over 1500 alumni (Bachelors, Masters, JD, DBA) have careers in nearly every aspect of the sports industry.
Career Landscape
Students who earn an MBA in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University will be fully prepared for a number of career possibilities in a variety of organizations, including professional sports teams, college athletics departments, sports media and marketing, merchandising, leisure and recreational services, and more.
Management positions available in the following organizations: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, ATP, WTA, PGA, LPGA, MLS, NASL, NASCAR, NCAA, NAIA, as well as various events, governing organizations, and manufacturers in the sports industry. Some notable career paths include:
- President / CEO / General Manager
- Executive Vice President
- Vice President
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Revenue Officer
- Athletic Director
- Sports Information Director
- Fundraising/Major Gifts Director
- Business Operations Manager
- Marketing Director
- Facilities Director
- Sports and Wellness Director
- Financial Management Director
- Parks and Recreation Director
- Sports Advertising Sales Director
Program Highlights
- Fully on-campus program
- Affordable
- Year-round enrollment
- No GRE or GMAT
- Evening classes
- Earn your degree in as little as 15-18 months
Tuition
| Tuition per Credit Hour | Technology Fee Per Course | |
| Tuition | $625 | $75 |
Start Terms
The Master of Business Administration offers six start terms throughout the year. Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions to learn more.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the MBA program requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with the following required coursework or equivalents:
- A completed and signed university Application for Admission
- Official college and/or university baccalaureate transcripts from the institution where the degree was conferred
- An undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher
Curriculum
Master of Business Administration: 36-45 Credits
Preparatory Courses (if required)
- ACC 530 Essentials of Accounting: 3 Credits
- BUS 532 Statistical Analysis for Management: 3 Credits
- BUS 724 Foundation for Business Studies: 3 Credits
Core Courses: 24 Credits
- BUS 704 Policy, Planning and Strategy Systems: 3 Credits
- BUS 775 International Business: 3 Credits
- BUS 750 Strategic Marketing Management: 3 Credits
- FIN 751 Financial Management: 3 Credits
- BUS 777 Data Analytics for Business: 3 Credits
- MAN 700 Organizational Behavior: 3 Credits
- MAN 510 Management Ethics: 3 Credits
Sports Administration Specialization: 12 Credits
Take the following:
- SPO 719 Legal Aspects of Sports Administration: 3 Credits
Then choose three of the following courses:
- SPO 503 History of Sports: 3 Credits
- SPO 504 Sport in Modern Society: 3 Credits
- SPO 506 Sports Tourism Development: 3 Credits
- SPO 510 Sports Ethics: 3 Credits
- SPO 540 Sports Media and Public Relations: 3 Credits
- SPO 543 Sports Financial Management: 3 Credits
- SPO 544 Sports Marketing and Promotions: 3 Credits
- SPO 546 Facility and Event Management: 3 Credits
- SPO 547 Principles of Leisure Services: 3 Credits
- SPO 548 Sports Psychology: 3 Credits
- SPO 549 Athletic Fundraising: 3 Credits
- SPO 551 Negotiation in the Sports Industry: 3 Credits
- SPO 552 Governance of Intercollegiate Athletics: 3 Credits
- SPO 717 Seminar/Principles of Sports Administration: 3 Credits
- SPO 750 Issues in Sports Administration: 3 Credits
- SPO 755 Special Topics in Sports Administration: 3 Credits
- SPO 790 Supervised Internship: 3 Credits
Graduation Requirements
For graduation, students need to earn a B or better in every course and attain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Individual advising and answers to questions about courses are available by contacting the Program Coordinator.
Successful Alumni
Some of our successful Sports Administration Alumni in South Florida include Andy Elisburg, Senior VP/General Manager for the Miami Heat; Blake James, Director of Athletics for the University of Miami; Tony Lopez, Chief of Operations for the Town of Miami Lakes; Sean Flynn, Chief Executive Officer for Miami FC; Leonardo Moleiro, Manager of Client Services & Marketing for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers; Manny Colon, Director of Travel for the Miami Marlins, Mitch Morrall, VP of Operations & Special Projects for the Orange Bowl; and Leslie Nixon, Director of Community Affairs for the Miami Dolphins.
Nationally, we have many highly placed alumni in professional, collegiate, and amateur sports. Counted among our many Spo-Ad success stories are Al Avila, VP/General Manager for the Detroit Tigers; Teresa Resch, VP of Basketball Operations & Player Development for the Toronto Raptors, Michael Kelly, Director of Athletics for the University of South Florida (former CEO for the College Football Playoff and Super Bowl Host Committee); Patrick Lindsey, Operations Manager for the PGA Tour; and Dave Gettleman, General Manager for the New York Giants.
