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Yes, you can earn an online sports management master's degree. 

Online degrees are just as respected as traditional, on-campus programs. With distance learning, you'll primarily study through a digital learning management system (LMS), with coursework, tests, and classroom discussions all being conducted online.

Before deciding on a school, make sure that it is an accredited online institution. This illustrates that the U.S. Department of Education (or another regional accreditation service) has verified a school's coursework, faculty, facility, and general educational standards. Importantly, all of OnlineU's recommended schools are accredited throughout the site.

The (COSMA) is an external agency that accredits sports management master's programs online and otherwise.

By pursuing a degree in sports management, you'll discover the business side of professional, collegiate, and amateur athletics. This degree aims to prepare you with the skills needed for the delicate negotiations associated with athletic contracts, launching marketing campaigns for sports brands, managing stadium operations, and the financial management of sports teams.

The top online sports management master's programs require a thesis paper or similar project, where you'll be asked to dissect a relevant sports topic using an evidence-based approach. These programs usually take one to three years to complete 30 or more credit hours. Undergraduate degrees — especially a bachelor's degree in sports management — are generally required to be accepted into a master's in sports management.

Many sports management professionals start off as entry-level equipment managers, program coordinators, or sports marketing associates at a local high school or youth league after college graduation. During an online master's degree in sports management, you'll likely be required to attend an internship or mentorship with a team or organization. This will give you a step up above those who only hold a bachelor's degree with no experience.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that some graduate schools require before you're admitted. However, not every master's degree in sports management requires these scores. Many colleges put less emphasis on standardized testing by taking a more holistic approach to your experience and education.

Requirements always vary by school, which is why it's important to check your institution's officially listed requirements before applying.

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is another standardized exam that is not necessarily required to be accepted into a sports management masters degree. Similar to the GRE, the GMAT's importance in the admissions process comes at the school's discretion.

Coursework in a master's in sports management online degree covers the financial, organizational, legal, ethical, and marketing aspects of professional, collegiate, and amateur sports. 

You'll likely start with general business and finance courses to learn the terminology and basic operational aspects of these subjects. From there, you'll go into more specialized courses and learn how to apply your existing knowledge to a sports environment.

Here are five common core courses found in sports management master's:

• Sports Marketing: This course covers the theoretical understanding and practical skills needed to create a sports brand, launch advertising campaigns, secure sponsorship deals, and facilitate licensing agreements. It will also look at how these facets relate to the sports broadcasts and sporting goods industries.
• Sport Ethics: Sports managers are also team leaders. Therefore, Sports Ethics is an important course in teaching you how to consider the moral dilemmas that professionals encounter both on and off the field. You'll look at performance-enhancing drugs, sportsmanship, race, gender, and the media. 
• Sports Events and Community Development: This course identifies the impacts and legacies of athletic events on communities. You'll look at the processes leading up to events, such as bidding and preparation, before comparing the post-event effects on both local and neighboring communities.
• Technology of Sport: This class explores the way technology impacts sport at every level, including on-field athletics and in the world of sports business. You'll look at the devices used to train, protect, test, and enhance athletic performance as well as the tools that empower sports business leaders.
• Sports Business and Finance: This course provides an overview of the industry marketplace. You'll use practical finance tools to forecast budgets and utilize operational practices to keep projects on tracks. Often, there are discussions about what it means to practice fiscal responsibility in the world of sports management.

Numerous roles are needed to create a functioning sports league, competitive team, or related sports business. With a master's in sports management, you'll be well-equipped to join a sports company's marketing, operations, or finance department at the managerial level.

Let's take a closer look at some of the job opportunities that are available for sports management graduates at the master's level:

• oversee a university's sports programs, including facility operations, allocating athletic resources, organizing program finances, and ensuring the athletic program is aligned with the school's academic goals. Master's degrees may be expected for upper-level university employment. 
• handle the transactions between an athlete and their employers. In the case of sports managers, they negotiate contracts with sponsors, league unions, team managers, and the leagues themselves. They may also organize schedules for public appearances and oversee large business transactions. 17% of O*Net respondents said a master's degree was required for their roles. This position is expected to see much higher job growth than most occupations.
• use their skills and knowledge in brand identity and event promotion in order to create effective marketing campaigns for sports teams, players, and organizations. They create advertising content, find new sources of revenue online, and secure sponsorships that align with the brand's identity. According to O*Net, 24% of professional marketing managers say their employer requires a master's degree.
• oversee the daily operations of sports stadiums, gyms, athletic centers, and arenas. They're responsible for monitoring the facility's finances and inventory levels, onboarding team members, creating guest relations processes, ordering sports equipment, and maintaining the grounds — whether it be outdoor football fields or hardwood basketball courts.

According to a , sport managers evaluating graduate-entry job applicants rely on a set of observable employability signals. Practical experience gives sport management graduates the strongest foundation for signaling their value during recruitment and selection. When you compare online programs, weigh the ones that build verifiable experience, such as internships, practicums, and industry projects, into the curriculum itself.

Sports and entertainment go hand-in-hand. For this reason, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has aligned the two in their analysis of the growth of this unique industry. The BLS reports that sports and entertainment will see an average of approximately through the next decade. This includes roles for professional athletes, coaches, event producers, and other sports officials.

Because many of those openings come from workers leaving the field, employers continually need trained candidates who understand the business of sport.

The BLS outlines the wage average for those who work in the sports industry writ large. Their findings show that the median salary falls at , just over the median salary for all occupations at $50,980. Treat the median as a floor for the field, not a ceiling for your career track.

Recent graduates' own accounts suggest the degree pays off for those who use it strategically. A interviewed recent sport management graduates about their job search and found that securing full-time sport industry employment is highly competitive, and that the graduates who landed roles succeeded by networking deliberately, building targeted experiences, and aiming for a realistic entry point rather than a dream job out of the gate. 

For a prospective student, it's important to choose a sport management master's online that has strong industry connections and internship support.

Some sports management master's programs may require you to take difficult classes in biology and physical therapy, corporate accounting, and public speaking. Depending on your strengths, these are often seen as tough classes to pass. In general, sports management master's coursework can be considered easier than other degrees at the graduate level simply because most students have a passion for sports and athletics. Being enthusiastic about your studies makes you more eager to understand the subject matter.

Earning a sports management master's online can set you up for a fruitful career in a growing field. With a defined career path, you can benefit from a role that fits your academic strengths and passions in the industry.

Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of obtaining your master's in sports management:

Potential Benefits

• Join a thriving industry with a growing job outlook. According to BLS, there are 132,920 professionals currently working in . Furthermore, 106,800 professionals are expected to join the in the next ten years.
• Learn skills that will benefit you in other industries. If you decide to pursue a career outside of sports and athletics, the team management and finance training you earned in your master's program will prepare you for a role in business.
• Get the chance to work with high-profile athletes. With the credibility that comes with a master's degree in sports management, you'll be more likely to start your career with a prominent organization, such as the NFL, NBA, or NHL.

Potential Drawbacks

• Sports managers often work outside of the normal 9 to 5. Sports games at amateur and professional levels often occur during weekday evenings. As a facility manager, athletic director, or equipment manager, you'll likely be required to work unusual hours.
• The gender pay gap goes beyond professional athletes. It's well-documented that female athletes receive significantly less than men. However, according to a , professional women in the sports industry earn $0.82 for every $1 that men earn.
• Many sports management roles do not require a master's degree. Graduates of bachelor's programs can secure some of the same roles as master's students.

Sports is a growing field with a higher job growth outlook than other industries. The salaries are wide-ranging, with entry-level roles falling below the national average. Even the best sports management graduate programs can't guarantee a high-paying job. However, with salaries ranging from $49,000 on average to over $200,000 at the executive level, a master's degree will give you a better chance of earning a six-figure wage.

Similar degrees, such as a master's degree in health education, may allow you to work in sports or athletics, but a sports management program is ideal for students interested in joining a sports organization or sports league. Graduates can go on to land an exciting role working alongside professional athletes, where they may spend their days inside football arenas or soccer stadiums.

In order to study in a master's program in sports management online, you'll need to complete several requirements before a college will accept you. Generally, most programs require a minimum 2.75 to 3.0 GPA and a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Work experience may also be considered, especially if you have experience working in sports leagues or directly with athletes. This will be particularly helpful if a school asks for letters of recommendation as part of your admissions requirements. Once accepted into a program, you'll be required to complete core and elective coursework alongside a capstone or thesis project on a sports topic that interests you.

Read about the most affordable online sports psychology master's degrees to learn more about the psychology science of sports. You can also explore the best online physical education master's degrees.