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Accreditation for American Public University’s Bachelor’s in Sports Management

Our online sports management degree is one of 30+ institutions accredited by the specialized agency COSMA, otherwise known as the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation. COSMA is the sole organization that offers discipline-specific accreditation in sport management. 

COSMA is dedicated to acknowledging excellence in sports education, sports management, and the sports field worldwide. The Commission aims to foster creativity and innovation in teaching and learning while promoting ethical practices as they relate to sports. 

Accreditation by COSMA also signals that a sports management program accurately describes its educational curriculum. As part of its thorough evaluation process, COSMA reviews a program’s learning outcomes and ensures such outcomes have been achieved. 

COSMA accreditation also indicates to potential employers a program provides a high level of academic rigor and quality to meet widely accepted educational standards. 

Accreditation through COSMA is given to high-quality programs at the baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral levels. 

What is a BS in Sports Management Degree?

A Bachelor of Science in Sports Management offers students a comprehensive look at how athletics, business, and management intersect in the sports industry. A BS in sports management degree focuses on leadership, business, and operations. 

Students work to develop traditional management skills and then apply them to professional sports and amateur sports environments. Instruction is typically directly related to business topics within the world of sports. 

An undergraduate BS in sports management degree additionally involves learning related to business, marketing, communications, and even legal studies. Our program offers opportunities for hands-on experience related to managing sports organizations and sporting events. For example, a group of University sports management students had the opportunity to participate in activities at the 2023 Super Bowl.

American Public University’s bachelor’s degree in sports management is designed to build fundamental knowledge and traditional business skills often needed for professional responsibilities in areas such as: 

  • Sports marketing and public relations
  • Sports agency
  • Sports education
  • High school, college, community-based, and professional sports
  • Facility management
  • Sports law 

Some individuals with professional ambitions related to facility ownership and management, such as gyms and fitness centers, find a sports management degree can help to build necessary knowledge and skills.

sports management

How a BS and BA in Sports Management Degree Compare

American Public University offers the bachelor of science (BS) versus a bachelor of arts (BA) in sports management. You may be wondering: What’s the difference? Generally speaking, a BS is an undergraduate degree centered around math and science, whereas a BA focuses on the arts and humanities. 

While the same major can sometimes be offered as both a BA and BS, the bachelor of arts tends to offer broad-based liberal arts education. 

BA degrees emphasize the social sciences, arts, holistic learning, and critical thinking. The bachelor of science, on the other hand, may focus on more technical areas. BS degrees emphasize logic and reasoning, quantitative skills, and research. 

A BA program may take a more interdisciplinary approach to management theory, whereas BS pathways can delve into more technical and analytical approaches. 

American Public University’s BS and master’s degree (MS) programs are part of the School of Health Sciences, which supports a multidisciplinary approach to the multifaceted sports management industry.

Curriculum Highlights in This Online Sports Management Degree

Sports management courses in this program are comprehensive, covering diverse and vital areas of the profession. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills will be exercised, and real-world problems will be explored. Topics covered include: 

Examines sports through a financial lens and the influence of teams and facilities on neighborhood economics. Sports franchises, sports agents, contracts, sports industry financing, as well as financial and legal issues, are covered.

Offers vital training in all areas of ticket sales. The course instructs how to create and present sales proposals, overcome objections, as well as navigate closing sales within a sports organization. 

Focuses on the promotions, public relations, advertising, and other marketing functions involved in the multibillion-dollar sports industry. The course covers effective principles and practices needed to communicate effectively to achieve marketing objectives. 

Provides insight into sports law as an intricate blend of contracts, regulatory schemes, torts, unions, contract negotiation, and collective bargaining. This course explores challenging topics like the drug testing of athletes, the role of sports agents, broadcasting law, and gender discrimination. 

The Benefits of Sports Management Programs Online

Sports management students earning a degree online enjoy many of the same advantages as those studying in person with additional benefits, given the virtual delivery. 

Our online BS program is designed to advance your knowledge of management principles and the sports industry while offering some benefits often considered valuable by online sports management students: 

  • Flexibility for working professionals or individuals with other obligations
  • A digital classroom of students and professors from varying backgrounds from all over the nation and world to cultivate a broader perspective 
  • Improved technical skills through advanced knowledge of software programs, online collaboration tools, and an opportunity to become comfortable learning in a digital workspace 
  • No fees for room, board, or commuting 

Additionally, many distance learners find that pursuing an online sports management degree opens up a larger selection of schools. 

Online learning does require discipline. So, time management skills are critical when considering an online versus campus-based program. 

Whether you’re working a full-time job, a caregiver or parent, or want the flexibility to travel while earning your degree—sports management programs online can provide flexibility without sacrificing quality in pursuing your education. 

Funding Your Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management

There are a variety of ways to pay for your online sports management degree at American Public University. Our financial aid advisors can assist both first-time college students and those returning to school. Some funding possibilities might include: 

FSA offers tuition assistance for school through a variety of government loans and grants. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for consideration.  

Employer Benefits can vary from business to business, but some may include tuition assistance with proof of final grades for reimbursement or through a voucher program with a company/university partnership. 

Veteran Benefits are available through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) in the form of GI Bill® programs, Top-Up tuition assistance, Veteran Readiness and Employment Service Benefits, as well as financial aid to survivors and dependents. 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Scholarships and Loans are given to students with high academic achievements and unique abilities. Examples of organizations that have awarded scholarships to University students include AmeriCorps, ThanksUSA, and the Horatio Alger Association. 

Out-of-Pocket tuition payments come directly from students without any outside assistance. Acceptable means include credit cards, e-checks—an electronic debit from your bank—as well as Automatic Debit Plan (ADP), where students can pay tuition in segments on an 8-week or 16-week schedule

Military Tuition Assistance helps eligible active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and Reservists. The University has military education coordinators co-located at base installations around the country who can assist you. 

Whether you’re opting to self-pay your tuition or plan to seek assistance, we are here to help you evaluate which option is best for you. 

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] or call 877-755-2787. While seeking financial assistance, please make sure to check your email often and promptly respond to any requests from our financial aid team seeking transcripts or other documentation. 

transfer student

Transfer Opportunities

At American Public University, we believe in awarding as many transfer credits as possible to ensure you are able to complete your bachelor’s degree in sports management in as little time as necessary. Transfer credits can be earned in a variety of ways, ranging from academic coursework completed at accredited institutions of higher learning to various certifications.  

American Public University does not charge a fee to evaluate or apply transfer credits. Once a request for a transfer credit evaluation is submitted, it takes about two to three days to get preliminary results. 

In addition to coursework and certifications, other transfer credit opportunities towards your online sports management degree include: 

  • Professional training  
  • Credit by examination 
  • Government training 
  • Public safety training
  • Prior learning assessment 
  • Military service and education

Please see the University’s transfer credit policy webpage for complete information. 

Find Out More About Transfer Credits

Frequently Asked Questions

Sports management involves the business side of sports and touches on many aspects within a sports organization, such as sports marketing and facility management. It typically can be applied to professional sports, high school athletics, as well as collegiate and amateur athletes and teams in the sports industry. 
A bachelor’s degree in sports management teaches the fundamentals of management as applied to professional sports organizations, as well as amateur teams and sports. A sports management bachelor degree includes courses on sports-related topics such as sports law, facility management, ticket sales, and sports ethics, among others.  
Sports management students take a variety of classes integrating business administration and management fundamentals that directly relate to sports organizations, sports marketing, professional sports, amateur sports, and other areas of the sports industry. 
For those who wish to be a part of the business aspect of the sports industry or overseeing a sports team or sports organization, a sports management degree may be a great option. Sports management students can combine their interest in business management with athletics to advance their knowledge in a very dynamic industry. They also gain the opportunity to build a network of peers with ambitions to join the legions of sports management professionals worldwide. 
Sports management programs are typically designed to offer knowledge and skills often required for responsibilities of sports management professionals in roles such as athletic director or trainer, college athletic administrator, sports agent, or facilities manager. Other areas of knowledge that may be developed through a sports management degree include sports operations management, sports marketing, athletic team management, coaching, ticket sales, sports communications, and sports event planning. Individuals with goals related to sports facility ownership or management, such as gyms and fitness centers, often seek a sports management program as well.
A sports management bachelor usually takes full-time students four years to complete. It may be possible to accelerate that timeline, given any transfer credits a student may have. At American Public University, it’s also possible, through prior learning assessment, to be awarded credit for life experiences, such as related sports management jobs or industry experience. Even volunteer work may be considered for credit through prior learning assessment. Please see the University’s transfer credit policy webpage for complete information. 
Sports management programs online are widespread and suitable for distance learning students who require flexibility to obtain their sports management degree at their own pace. Through an online program, students are able to connect with peer professionals at a distance who have higher ambitions and wish to expand their knowledge to impact decision-making. Online learning also enables sports management students to connect with sports management professionals to expand their network. An online sports management degree offers versatility for those working full-time jobs or with other obligations who strive to lead in a sports organization through effective management. 
Often, the sports management profession entails travelling wherever an individual athlete or team goes. Additionally, those responsible for the training and marketing of an athlete or team may have to travel. This facet of the sports industry offers the potential for an active lifestyle and opportunities for practical applications in the field. 

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